Darkness, my old friend

Years ago, one of heaven's greatest angels disappeared from the face of the universe. When she returned, she had brought a seed with her. What sprouted from this seed was known as the heavenly sin.

"How do we know he's not just another contractor?"

"Contractors harness malice, the glow seen around that boy was no doubt ,grace. Power of the celestials."

"That's not enough to say he's human."

"It is. A contractor's power is limited to the value of their soul. Things like life span , aspirations and potential hidden talents come to to play, as such ,the power they have is enough for their bodies to withstand. He doesn't have that, a mortal body cannot handle pure demonic or angelic power, that's why it almost tore him to shreds."

"...So we have a Nephalem on earth and his sister who's subject to a demonic possession. What happens now?"

With the festival still ongoing, Emberle's date with Godwin continues. Everyone is in high spirits as the music and activities hype their long gone hope. They visit different stands and are clearly having a good time.

"The best we can do is hold him captive, he will be hunted." (Greed)

"You mean like the demons that have attacked Marcos for the past few days? No, they were after something else." (Fiera)

"And what was that?" (Greed)

"How about I let Marcos tell you that story."

Marcos turns his head as all eyes fall on him. "Just because I hate the light , doesn't mean I should be kept in the dark."

"They wanted the heart of Lucifer." Franklin starts, "Years ago, before the fallen six were imprisoned, they embedded some of their power into three demons. Lucifer , Azazel and Amaros. This power materialized into three golden hearts. He who possesses all three hearts is said to have the power to command the armies of hell, and those who hold these hearts are known as the four princes of hell."

"Four...?you said there were only three hearts." (Greed)

"Yes ,but the second prince is unknown ,neither is the reason why he's considered one of them but there is evidence he exists. That is...the way they are numbered in the scriptures. There is Lucifer ,who is the first. Amaros, the third. And Azazel ,the fourth."

"Well well well, you do know your history, young pope." Fiera mocks.

"Do you believe me about the Valkyrie now?"

"No. I'm afraid not."

"But what does any of this have to do with Marcos?" (Greed)

"Well you see, Lucifer's heart was left with a human ,reasons also unknown.That mortal's name was Estella Redstorm, formally king Marcos' niece and currently known as the black rose of dawn, Eve. Those demons are after the heart she holds. And someone thought it would be a great idea to imprison her inside their daughter."

In the city, the new knights are said to be on their way and people are anxiously awaiting their arrival.

"Hey ,did you hear? they say there's a skirt in the knights this year. They say her name is Elora."

"You don't say. Ignatia finally has it's first female black knight."

"Yeah ,they say she's a squadron leader too, I wonder if she's hot."

"Hahaha, you're hopeless."

Cheers arise as children start pointing fingers. Flying pegasus emerge above the protective wall ,all arranged in an arrow like formation behind a single leader.

They fly over the houses with the whistle of their wings filling the air. Emberle and Godwin look up at them with happy smiles as they do a coordinated loop in the air.

"Emberle ,are you seeing this?"

In the loud cries of a welcoming chatter, her mind was else where. Where stood now was where the ghosts of younger self and Grey first came for their first date. It was eight years ago when Grey turned ten. The happy cheers was just the same.

The echoes of their laughter and a vivid image of what it was like clouded her mind. Perhaps it was because she couldn't see anything else at the time.

***

"Enough with the chatter. What do we do about Heavens?"

Marcos asks.

"Right now ,I think it's best we chain him. There's simply not enough known about him." (Fiera)

"Agreed. What of the one who breaches hell?" (Greed)

"She's rather attached to her brother but is unaware of her curse. She's fine just being kept domesticated." (Marcos)

"But the boy is a different story. We need a place that can hold him until we are sure he is not a threat."

"What do you suggest?"

"My nest of course."

"I'm sorry but I am very much against that idea. Dragonites are dangerous enough as it is and with the added power of a celestial half breed ,you cannot be trusted." (Franklin)

"Says the man who denies the world access to the archives of ancient unbound knowledge written by the angels themselves. As far as trust goes, you and I are not very different." (Fiera)

"The residents of the city of Centurions were tasked with protecting that knowledge, we have no claim in what the archives hold therefore we cannot give what is not ours." (Franklin)

"Oh please, what proof do we have that you're telling the truth. Besides , contractors are bound by the celestial contract to be incapable of harming you flesh bags. We can't do anything even if we wanted to." (Fiera)

"Quiet, Heavens remains in Marcos. The only reason we're gathered is to understand him or find ways to restrain him." (Marcos)

"Marcos ,honey, your city's current state isn't...well...fit to hold a threat of this magnitude. The people are on edge, frankly I think a coup is inevitable at this point. You're precious knights have been reduced to mere hundreds, the entire kingdom is still largely against you...Face it, Marcos is falling apart. She's had enough."

"...As hard as it is, I'm afraid I have to agree with her. You need to focus more on recovering from all of this. If he stays here ,you may never rise again, old friend." (Franklin)

"You're wasting my time. decide what you wish to do so I know for sure that my people are safe and I can leave. The stench of humans makes me sick." (Greed)

"Between Fiera and Centurion, I think the choice is clear."

As the sun went down ,Godwin and Emberle took a stroll around the city. With her hugging his arm, they walked casually back home, reminiscing about old times.

Visiting the old shops they went to as children. Buying sweets and teasing each other on the busy streets ,until they reached the royal academy. Godwin stops across the street from it and just stares.

"Why did you stop?" Emberle asks

"The royal academy," he says, "this is where we first met."

She stops and tries to look in the same direction. "Oh...yeah."

She remembers the spring she first went to the academy. She had requested her glaives to bring her small throne which they set up in the Infront of the classroom. But it was so big it obscured the view to the board for most of the students.

While most of them moved from their seats to get a better view of the black board, afraid to raise their voices, only one person called out to her.

"Excuse me, miss! Do you mind sliding your seat a little to the side? I can't see the black board." said a little boy from the back who had his arm raised so she could see who was talking to her.

"If it bothers you that much then come and do something about it." She replied.

The boy stood up from the back seat and went towards the princess. He carries her from the miniature throne. "h-hey ,what do you think you're doing?"

Then puts her gently on his desk and goes to push her seat outside the room. when all was said and done ,he goes to sit back down.

"You're princess Emberle, right?" he says with a clear smile as he holds out his hand, "Nice to meet you , I'm Grey Harrison. I guess we're desk mates now."

Everyone was just too baffled to speak, including the instructor. That was how they first met.

"Emberle? Emberle."

Godwin's voice brought her back to reality, "uhm...yes, what?"

"You've spacing out a lot today, are you sure you're okay?"

"yes, I'm fine...shall we go back? it's getting rather late."

"Of course." he takes one last look at the academy, "I don't know if it's because this is the only school in Ignatia but I do miss this place."

"Yes...me too."

They leave and he accompanies her back. When they arrive ,he walks her to her room where they stop outside the door.

He grabs her by the hand and steps closer to her. "Well, was I right? Was a little fresh air all you needed?"

"hehe, maybe? But I feel you might be a little close."

"Do you hate it?"

He says this as his head leans closer to her, but Emberle slides her hand away and turns her head.

The smile on Godwin's face disappears and he steps back ,"You know, I suppose I should've asked you this sooner but...how do you really feel about our engagement?"

"... I'm sorry but right now is not the best time."

"I've been waiting 6 years, when will there be a good time? Look ... I know the fact that I didn't propose to you myself makes it seem different... but my feelings for you are real, Emberle."

She opens the door while trying her best not to look like she was running away and enters. "Goodnight, Godwin...and, thank you for today."

The door closes, leaving him standing alone in the dark hallway.

Having locked him out, she slides down against the wall and buries her face in her palms with a puff. When she raises her head, she stands up and slowly walks to the balcony.

Holding some of the furniture to guide her as she goes. She opens the curtains and glass window to step outside where a warm summer breeze welcomed her.

As she places her hands on the small small protective wall on the edge, there was a magnificent view of the city and it's night lights just below her. Though she couldn't see it.

All she saw was her younger self, walking out with a blanket on her shoulders. She goes to meet Grey who was hanging on the side of the balcony, right in front of her.

"What are you doing here? and how did you even get up there?"

He smiled as he hopped over to stand in front of her, "I had to make sure you were okay. As for your last question, I'm a Harrison , it's basically what we do."

She wraps him in her blanket as she giggles and Grey hugs her back. With the sound of the fireworks from the festival, she remembers the first kiss shared with him. At the time ,she was only eleven years old.

However, it was yet again but a fleeting dream.

"Grey ,if you're still alive, please...say something, anything. I'm losing my mind here." she says ,her voice silent but slowly breaking.

As queen Maria watched spellbound by the dancing lights of the fireworks and the strangely relaxing distant cheers, something creeped up behind her.

A dark figure of a goat formed from the dust. When she turned, the shock on her face was clear as day. "No...h-how did you escape?"

The goat steps closer ,"haven't you heard? Hell has been crazy lately. And good afternoon to you too mother, I've missed you just as much."

"What are you doing here, Azazel?"

It keeps getting closer as Maria backs away, "What am I doing here? Simply taking back what's mine , that's all. Starting with the entire world, I'm raising hell from the ashes."

"Not as long as the contract stands, I thought you had let that go already. You were never the smartest of my children."

"Oh but you see ,while you were here playing house wife, I was hunting the holy trinity and pleased to report that all pieces have been found. All I need now are the hearts and the throne is mine."

"...Do you really think the humans will let you? You think Lucifer will let you!?"

It stomps it's hove on the ground, "My brother is dead! And what are mere mortals to a god!?" it stomps again, "I'm coming for that heart," stomps, "I'm coming for the throne!" stomps ,"I am coming for EVERYTHING you tried to deny me!!"