Like Clockwork

-The Prophecy -

The stories tell us of the beginning of our world. How God created light, water, life, and earth. It gives us written accounts of the prophets' failures and victories, like when the Holy Son wounded the Devil with God's strength of the word. Even those cursed by the Devil and the Prophets of other worlds. It doesn't tell you, darkness existed before God's light.

When God's most respected Angel became overrun with envy and greed, he was struck down to the world of Man. When he hit the ground, he took the form of a serpent and slithered to a place so dark, even God's light couldn't reach it. It was said, his anger turned his beautiful blue eyes into a hideous red and his resentment turned his once pure white angel wings black.

Hundreds of years later, the war between good and evil was growing louder and harder to ignore. God grew fearful for his creation and sent for an angel to create a weapon to weaken the Devil. Once the weapon was created, the angel sought to create four keys to energize the weapon. So he went to the world of man. There, he fell for a young mortal woman and the two conceived a child, a daughter.

He created four keys of Elemental Stones, infused with the energy to power the weapon:

Onyx, with the strength of Earth.

Tourmaline, with the life of Air.

Amber, with the passions of Fire.

And moonstone, with the control of Water.

To protect the weapon, the father created five more keys to be used to activate the weapon:

Clear Quartz, with the peace of Spirit.

Topaz Early, with the grief of Death.

Sunstone, with the power of the Sun.

Rose Quartz, with the acceptance of Love.

and Citrine, with the beauty of Life.

Within the heart of his daughter, he instilled another key, which would be used to control the weapon: Sacrifice.

However, word travels fast in Hell. Lucifer charmed a young, gifted angel into agreeing to kill the child and steal the keys. This angel was gifted with the beauty of the moon and the ability of night.

But the Goddess grew fond of the young child, and her family. So instead of killing the girl, she warned the father of the Devil's intentions. The Goddess went into hiding, vowing to protect the girl and her family.

In light of the Goddesses' betrayal, Lucifer became furious. He murdered the father and mother but before he could kill the girl, the Goddess stole her in the night and went to the Holy Son, seeking retribution and aid. She gave the Legacy Stones and the child to God, who entrusted the girl to two angels, who had a child, a son. He was gifted one of the stones to protect.

In guilt for breaking her vow and being unable to protect the father and mother, the Goddess repented and gave herself to God, but God instead had the Goddess vow to protect each stone and the angels who protected them, including the child. So the Goddess created a protection charm that cloaked the child, the stones, and the angels from the Evil that sought to destroy them.

-Muriel-

I looked in the mirror, turning around to look at my back. My wings shifted so that I could expose the full view. My eyes fell to the scar on my back, the skin raised and gnarled in horrible, twisted figures. I looked away, my shoulders falling in despair. I don't know why I feel such sorrow at the sight of it. The scar was a reminder of a battle won but I only remember the pain. Not from the wound, I'd passed out before it could set in but, the pain from the betrayal of my sister. She had been the one who'd given it to me.

I think that's why I was so broken over it. I hated how I could want it to disappear so badly when my other few scars I wore proudly. But this was the only scar that I hid daily. I want my sister back so badly, and the scar is just a reminder that it won't happen.

I turned to the podium by my window. Encased in an impenetrable class case, laid the reason for this rift between my sister and me. The diamonds glistened in the dark light of my homeland, my future kingdom. A part of me hated it but the other part, it's my legacy. It's what I was born for, my purpose. How could I be angry at that?

So instead, I looked away and turned to my clothes, getting dressed. My wings rustled nervously as I pulled the dark clothing over my body.

I rolled my eyes at the shoes. Not much of my style, but they were my mother's choice so I wore them for her approval. I'll change eventually, I thought, pulling my jacket onto my arms and sat down in my chair, looking out the window. My wall was completely clear, a window to the outside world but not the inside. I could see outside, the lights that flickered across the kingdom, and when I focus, I could hear the laughter of the children below. They were young, oblivious to the truth. But the adults knew.

For while they went to school, they thought their parents went to work. In a way, they did. They'd walk into the caves where their leader would walk up to them and shackle their wrists. During the day, they'd live out the punishment for their crimes and at night, they could live the life of their dreams. A price to pay for making a deal with the Devil.

Out a little father, there were other villages and cities that I'd rule over when the time came. This was just one of them, on one of the nine levels. This was just the closest village.

My mind was taken from my thoughts when I heard the click and shove of my large door being opened. "My lady?" Liv's frail voice said softly. As she opened the door fully, I stood up and walked to it.

"I'm ready," I said. She nodded and walked out, me following behind her. As I followed her down the halls, the torches flickered. I glanced at the flames, resisting the urge to smirk as the shadows danced across the dark walls at my beck and plea. I turned my attention to her and we continued to walk down the hallway. No matter how much I tried, the elements responded to me. People too, father told me that was one of the reasons I'd make a great queen because people were always willing to follow my leadership and rule.

As we approached the door, I could see it in the distance now, I steeled myself, my breath slowing as I continued to think about the mission and what was next for me. When we finally reached the door to the throne room, she looked back at me for approval. It took a moment for me to gain my whits before nodding to her. She opened the door and I walked through the doorway. My father and mother stood up from their thrones. My sister walked from my mother's side to mine and without a second thought I turned to look at my father and for the second time today, I said,

"I'm ready."

-Jo-

My head was pounding. The world was a haze in my mind and I did my best to block out the chatter of my loud classmates. They were talking about yesterday's sermon, like always. This town was always the same.

I live in Rachel, Nevada. I go to a little high school, Rachel High, and my name is Joannae. I go by Jo, only my mother and father call me Joannae. Next to me, texting on her phone is my best friend since birth. Bonnie sat upright in her chair waiting for the teacher to call attention from the class. Across from us, the boys were throwing a small football back and forth. Our friends, the twins were football players and Brandon was the school's best quarterback in the past six years. Because of him, we haven't lost a game since our sophomore year. We're juniors now.

The rest of "my group" consisted of my older siblings friends. Uriel, my sibling, is a year older than me, a senior. Their friend group had got to have come out of a High School Musical novel because it was cheesy as authentic mozzarella.

Ariel, the band nerd, worked in the town's garden. She often brought food to the church after school and during lunch so we could make things for the sermons on Sunday. They lasted long, it was a time when the entire town got together.

Camuel, the hottest girl in school, works as a seamstress. She makes clothes for the town's shops and sometimes if you caught her on a good day with a good price, she'd make you something on the side. Many of my outfits were styled or created by her, and thankfully she didn't put me in the same prissy pink "Barbie in the Princess and the Popstar" outfits like my parents did.

Zadkiel, the school's previous quarterback until last year, was now finding his path through the church. He didn't like school so instead, he attended church. He constantly worked on the building and was always with our priest.

Josphiel was the constantly cool one. He was always prepared, always relaxed, always ready. Even for the unthinkable.

We had a friend, Jeremiel, that was going through priest-schooling but he graduated last year and we only really saw him at the church with Zadkiel.

My world was simple. School and then work, and then I had free time until the sunset. On Saturday, I'd help Camuel at the seamstress shop then we'd all go out to the diner, and then we'd go to the local park for the rest of the day and sleepover at one of our houses. We'd get ready for church the next morning and the town brunch, then the family dinner, and then Monday started all over again.

I'm ready for something unfamiliar.

Lost in my thoughts, I barely noticed a new girl walk into my class. She had blonde hair and about my height. Though that might be the heels she wore. She dropped her bag and sat down at the chair, leaning back without a care. I stared at her and it caught her attention. I looked down, the sight of her bright blue eyes zapped me hard. The teacher called for our attention and I turned to look at her, watching as Bonnie put away her phone and sat up too. I glanced at the girl across the room. Her eyes didn't move from the board, clearly uninterested. She had perfect posture and her bag looked more like a satchel.

Something told me, I was going to get it sooner than I thought.

-Chapter Information -

(Chapter Summary: The Chapter begins talking about a prophecy of a baby who is born as a key to a weapon created for the weakening of the Devil and his empire. It continues to give the first view of Muriel's life as the daughter of the Devil and being deployed on a major mission. The beginning of the road to her Royal Trials for the succession of her father's throne. Next to takes you through a brief understanding of Joannae's life as a human teenager in a small town and her desire for something different.)