The Name

The door to Zariels chamber opened without the slightest sound as a shadow streaked in over the oak like a feline cat, noble and silent. The ghost approached.

The silver devil stirred and remained motionless, almost as if in a trance. His breathing remained steady. The lids to his trembled, halting the stranger's step.

And through his lower lashes, his lips picked themselves up.

"What's the matter? Is it already dawn?"

"It's noon," said Ella. "You slept the day away."

Zariel strained to lift himself up, releasing a dry yawn over his chapped lips. "Why are you here? Surely it's not to make me dinner… did I skip a lesson again?"

Ella's lips grew tight, and she shook her head, feeling her insides grow heavy and her cheeks wet. She fell to her knees and pressed her head to the floorboard.

"Help, Aurelia. She is doing badly. Her heart can't take anymore. She's so pale I can see her veins."

Staggering to his feet, the Young Lord maneuvered around Ella with folded arms. "I am starving. What do I want? A steak? Oh! I know Rack of Lamb. I've not had that since Mother prepared them for me."

"Master!" shouted Ella in a whimper. "Please! I'm begging you."

Zariel opened the covers looking around as if he'd not heard a word, and looked around for salt, the most basic ingredient, and sighed.

"Master!"

"Damn it! Who runs out of salt? I need a maid… wait, where is—"

"MASTER!!!!"

Zariel stopped and turned to Ella as something stung his cheek. " Help her!" she shouted through a slap that sent waves through the Devil's Icy heart. "You two have been through so much are you just going to let her fall? She's my sister! She's Sionn's sister. We can't lose her."

"Why the hell are you hitting a cripple! A pox on your house—"

Ella's tears bubbled, and her hand flashed over his cheek again and connected, turning the young master's cheek red like fire. "Stop bloody hitting me!"

'Heal her!"

"No!"

POP!!!!"

"Heal her!"

POP!!!

"No!!!"

"HEAL HER!!!!" Shouted Ella as she broke into tears, balling her heart out into the young master's chest as he stood still, unsure what was happening.

'Why? She tried to kill me?"

"We've all tried to kill you! And you probably deserve it. Have you met yourself? You're an Ass, Master!" Ella rebutted, staggering back as she tried to wipe the tears falling without end. "She'll die in a few hours without you. Please, you have to save her."

"Why?"

Somehow Ella found a smile. "She's family."

A derisive snort escaped as Zareiel walked to the balcony closing it as he looked on at the darkness creeping into the skies with the setting of the yellow sun.

Despair filled Ella's eyes as she turned her back with shattered hope, leaving without another word and a cruel realization: Zariel would not help.

"I truly did not think you'd be so cold-hearted." The sinful voice of Mephisto proclaimed materializing by his side and took a seat on the armchair outside. "Are you really willing to let her die? You'll die, you know. The Ruler of Iluthath will smite you."

"I hold the concept of Severance. The last of the three concepts I have." The Young Master announced, his cheeks turning paler; finding it difficult to remain standing; he took a seat on the outside decor. "But what's it matters to you? Surely you can help her?"

"I can't directly assist. A rule Father made, which is why I make deals. And why I am here now. I need you to save her. I'd thought you'd change your mind. But you're colder than I thought."

Zariel snorted. " Liar. You know what goes on in the Hells. You know what I had to do in the Nines."

"Perhaps… but I'd thought Aurelia would be different." He mused, somewhat disappointed. " Had I succeeded, Lucifer would descend in rage. Shame. Seems your just too young… or broken."

Bursting into laughter, Zariel coughed up a mouthful of blood as he continued to laugh." To young? I fucking hate that excuse. Not after what happened to me. Age is a fucking lie. The universe doesn't give a fuck about how young a person is."

Mephisto shook his head. " I can't let Aurelia die. So name it. What do you want?"

"A name," Zariel said in a fiendish voice. "I want the name of the Bastard who sent me to Hell to burn for all eternity?"

"Names hold power."

"And I hold the Weave." Came the Devil's reply sliding his icy gaze to the smiling Fallen. "So give it up. Aurelia doesn't have long."

"The things we do for love. You're lucky I like Aurelia. Family first." He chuckled and stood to his feet.

"The name of the King of Ilutahth, and Sovereign of the Sea of Chaos, is known as Alister Fel, wielder of the Book of Crowley, Lord of the Black Haze, and the God who tossed you into the Nine Hells."

"Alister… Fel. " Whispered the Silver Devil, with such a smile he shuttered. "Lord of the Black Haze is it?"

Astral Essence racing from his pores, the young master took to the skies heading for the infirmary near the eastern district. Making his way through an open window, he pushed his senses out and headed for the highest level, finding a large crowd outside his target's room.

"Duke Blackwater," Arthur and Aldrich said.

Ignoring them, Zariel walked past Sionn, the dean, alongside a few students he didn't know and pushed open the room, where a heavy medical scent pierced his nose.

"What are you---!" Arthur shouted, but the young knight grew silent as Aldrich pressed his arms to his shoulders and shook his head.

He stepped in, closing the door with his mind. And gazed upon a young woman with long silver hair. Her eyes were wide open and unfocused, but her cheeks were so pale that Zariel first thought he was staring at a corpse.

He stepped closer and sensed movement. Aurelia slid her gaze to him.

"... Have… you… co…come… to… gloat?" Aurelia stammered to say as a tear of blood streaked over her pale cheek. "Go… A… Way."

"I'd thought a dead woman would be silent. Seems not even death can stop your trap from speaking. " he paused and chuckled " Oh, I see. Eldritch is keeping you alive. You should have been dead days ago."

"Go… A… Way."

"Unfortunately, I am in quite a good mood. And a deal is a deal." He said, filling his vision with lines and nodes connecting infinitely.

"Thank Mephisto for this. Not only did he harm you, but he also asked me to heal you. Seems you can't do anything."

Tears falling, Aurelia trembled as her cheeks grew paler; she shouted. " GET OUT!! Please… just…get…."