20 AWAKEN THOSE WHO SLEPT AWAY (4)
"Rules number one…"
"Stay behind, never keep in touch or deal with their matters…"
"Who are they, Azalel?"
"Humans…"
"And what did you do, Azalel?"
"You have just violated the prime rule here!!"
"To be honest, I don't…"
"What??? What did you say??"
Barachiel glared and snapped him back. Amazed by his stubbornness and his stupid answer.
"They started it first and I was just doing rules number two, Barachiel…"
"One of the reasons why our Lord put us on earth is to keep the balance and watch our enemies, right? So they won't be meddling in or bringing any harm to human life. Am I right?"
"So, what's your point here?"
"She was the one that I saved before. I was on my daytime patrol at that time and this demon was scratching her car window. Trying so hard to get in and harm her for sure. In the end, I terminated it…"
"When was it?" Barachiel asked him back while he narrowed his eyes suspiciously. He never heard about this incident before. But if it was true, a further investigation shall do later.
"Around fifteen years ago? I barely remember…."
Barachiel rubbed his face and massaged his temple gently. "Okay then…."
"I'll keep silent about this matter for now. Let this be a secret for three of us…"
"But Reuben, keep your eye on her…"
"Her upcoming power had been attracting too much attention. Ghosts and other demons will come along endlessly in her way…."
"As for me… I'll investigate this matter myself…"
Reuben had no other choice besides to nod his head obediently. While Barachiel walked his steps closer to Azalel.
"And you…."
"What should I do with you?"
According to the law, he should be banished to the Eternal Pool and tortured continuously under Eternity Flame to purify their soul as their penalties and redemption of their past mistakes. The torturing was excruciatingly painful. Not every soul, demon, angel, or ghost can survive this torment.
"I think I should let you watch her as well. Together with Reuben. If you find any suspicious movement, report it immediately to me…"
"Yes, Barachiel…"
....................................…
A few days later….
Iliya was on her way home when she was suddenly surprised by a bunch of demons that suddenly appeared in front of her. Their bloody red eyes are full of hatred and wrath. Those are human spirits who died miserably and hold a terrible grudge against the living ones. Some of them committed suicide. Some of them were brutally murdered and killed by the people they trust before. Some of them were poisoned and betrayed by those whom they dearly loved. After they died, those cursed souls were shifted into a low-rank demons. These kinds of souls were called Vengeful Cravers.
They surrounded her and stared at her with feisty in their eyes. Her scent and power had attached them to her way. Killing and devouring her soul surely will increase their spiritual power to take revenge on those who caused their death. After they succeed, their cursed soul automatically will turn into a high-rank demon. A superior one indeed.
So, these types of demons are molesting and most of the time, are harmful to mankind. Moreover, it would cause an imbalance as well. That's why the angels often meddle in and terminated them as soul reapers.
And as it seems, they have found their new target in this young lady.
"I can feel it, girl…"
"Your power… it was different from other humans. Yet, the scent was deliriously tasty…"
Their mouth drooled hungrily. Their eyes flashed with greed. They come closer at her. Watching the danger all around her, Iliya spontaneously gulped a lump inside her throat and take a stance. She closed her eyes and focused on herself. Slowly, an invisible bubble formed. Shielding her from a safe distance. Stopped their actions. She's unreachable.
Yet.
"A Shield of Innocence…." They hissed excitedly.
"We're right. She's not an ordinary girl…."
"If we kill her and devour her souls, we can improve ourselves…"
They giggled and laughed hysterically. The Shield of Innocence, indeed, is quite impactful. But, it would be effective in duel combat if the number of enemies was not that much. The barrier can hold spiritual attacks temporarily. The stronger the host, the stronger and more powerful the barrier is. As if for Iliya, she had just found her power yet. And her barrier can't be survived to hold more than a few strikes. More or less, there are dozens of them now.
She's outnumbered. One by one, those creatures start attacking her. Most of them hit and landed on the shield. Tried so hard to rip and broke the barrier with their claws. Seeing their ferocious attacks, fear slowly crept into her heart. Her breath was panting. Sweats dripping from her forehead. She's scared.
"Don't be afraid…"
"They can feel it…"
"If you are scared, they will consume it. You're getting weaker and they're getting stronger…"
Azazel's words were ringing out inside her head. Encouraging her. Strengthen her. Don't give up, Iliya! Not now.
"HYAHHHHH!!!"
Iliya exerted her strength once again. Throwing her best effort to defend herself. The demons were thrown off. The cracks on her barrier slowly recovered. But, at the same time, her strength also dropped. Her vision blurred. She no longer can support herself for standing up. In less than a minute or so, the barrier will be disappeared. Looking at her circumstances, the demons clapped their hands happily and keep their stances in a steady position while most of them giggled hilariously.
The bubble blinked a few times. It's losing its power. And Iliya can't keep it any longer either. Next, it's truly vanished. Iliya just let her body drop on the floor while those demons are running crazily towards her. The only thing that she was able to hear and see are fading away. Like a slow-motion scene in a movie.
This is it.
She's done.
She's fucking done…
The last thing that she can remember was the smile of her beloved aunt.
Auntie Donna…
I'm sorry to make you sad again…
CRASHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
A sound of thunder and flash lighting suddenly roared and was seen before her. A blinding light immediately swept out all enemies in a blink of an eye. Terminated them all in one swoop. A rustling wind and howling pain were heard loudly before finally after their bodies dissipated into a black mist and evaporated quickly into the air. Then, everything returned to normal.
A tall man was standing before her holding a huge spectrum of light inside his hand. His towering body was overwhelming and the huge wings on his back made his feature even more impressive. After he made sure that no demon was left, he turned around and helped the girl to wake up.
"W….Wh….Who are you??"
Iliya asked him softly. Stuttered and trembled a bit after what had happened before. Her eyes were red with tears and fear.
"I'm sorry to keep you waiting, Miss Iliya. Let me introduce myself. My name is Raphael…"
"I'm a war angel under command of Mikail. Our main commander.."
"And why are you here, Raphael?"
"It's to protect you…"
"I'm your guardian angel…"
..............................…
I was broken from a young age
Taking my sulking to the masses
Writing my poems for the few
That look at me, took to me, shook to me, feeling me
Singing from heartache from the pain
Taking my message from the veins
Speaking my lesson from the brain
Seeing the beauty through the...
Pain!
You made me a, you made me a believer, believer
Pain!
You break me down, you build me up, believer, believer
Pain!
Oh let the bullets fly, oh let them rain
My life, my love, my drive, it came from...
Pain!
You made me a, you made me a believer, believer
(Believer by Imagine Dragons)