CHAPTER NINE: IMMANUEL

Rafael froze, realizing there was no easy way to break the news to Castiel. He had been sent by their oldest sibling, Immanuel, who had banished him from the Diamond City until the completion of the task assigned to him. The truth was, he would be staying in Castiel's territory for a long time, and he knew his sister wouldn't be thrilled about it. Their last encounter, over two thousand years ago, had ended in a bitter argument, and Rafael was aware that Castiel's enthusiasm for his presence would be nonexistent, despite her being the angel of happiness (a fact he couldn't help but sarcastically note).

"Immanuel sent me," Rafael blurted out hastily, hoping to avoid Castiel's wrath. "There's a war brewing, Armageddon. I'm supposed to help you find your ward and the others... yeah, that's it." He spoke quickly, hoping to get the words out before Castiel's anger got the better of her.

"Armageddon? Holy shit, Samael's making a move and I'm only being told now?" Castiel's voice rose in panic. "Have Mikhael and the others been informed?"

Rafael's expression was grim. "Nope, Mikhael and Uriel are still missing. We believe they're on Earth."

Castiel's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? That's impossible! We need Mikhael to win this war, Rafa. Without her, we're doomed."

Rafael's face was somber. "I know, kid. And you're right in the middle of it, which is why you need to find Emily fast, before the leeches do. You got me?"

Castiel's confusion deepened. "What does Emily have to do with any of this, Rafa?"

"She's the catalyst, Caz," Rafael explained, his expression serious.

Castiel's eyes widened in shock. "What? You mean Emily is the key to everything?"

Rafael nodded, his eyes gleaming with urgency. "Yep."

Without another word, Castiel sprang into action. "Shit, Rafa, let's go get her!"

Rafael's eyes lit up with surprise. "We? Did I just hear you right, sis? You want me, the supposed useless angel, to come with you?"

Castiel's response was curt. "Shut up and move, moron. We don't have time to waste."

—_—

Emily's eyes were glued to the TV screen, utterly absorbed in the Nick Jr. show. She burst into giggles every few minutes, especially whenever Plankton got thwarted by Mr. Krabs or SpongeBob. Meanwhile, Maurie lounged on the blue couch, painting her nails a vibrant red in preparation for her date with Aston Mayfair, a corporate lawyer who worked for Castiel Wellington, the city's benefactor. Ashton embodied the all-American boy charm, with brown hair and grey eyes. They had met at a mutual friend's party and had been inseparable since, this being their third date in a week. As Maurie applied the final coat of nail polish to her big toe, the doorbell rang, its shrill tone piercing the air. She gazed at Emily, who remained engrossed in the cartoon, oblivious to the interruption. Sighing in exasperation, Maurie rose from the couch as the doorbell rang again, muttering under her breath and cursing the early morning disturbance on her day off.

"It's probably the girls," Maurie thought to herself, assuming it was her friends, who were notorious for disregarding her boundaries and showing up unannounced at the crack of dawn. "What do you girls want now?" Maurie said with a hint of annoyance, yanking the door open, ready to scold her friends for disturbing her peaceful morning. But to her surprise, it wasn't her friends standing at the doorstep, but a man she had never laid eyes on before - a complete stranger.

—_—

Moloch gazed at the woman, her arms crossed, her brown eyes filled with distrust and hostility. "Whatever you're selling, I ain't buying," she spat harshly, her tone firm. Moloch was accustomed to the reaction; his features often intimidated others. His raven-black hair curled to his nape, his dark brows furrowed, his pale skin, and aristocratic nose gave him an air of mystery, like an Arabic scholar with his thick beard. But Maurie didn't give him a chance to speak. She slammed the door shut, leaving him on the porch. Or so she thought. For when she turned around, Moloch stood in front of the TV, Emily limp in his arms, a sword at his side, horns protruding from his skull, and eyes that glowed like bloody red embers. His lips curled into a snarl, revealing fangs, two inches long, sharp and menacing.

Maurie watched in horror as Moloch tossed Emily to the floor, her head hitting the ground with a sickening crack. Blood spilled from the impact, and Maurie's screams were trapped in her mind, unable to escape. She was paralyzed with fear, unable to move or speak, as if an invisible force held her in place. The demon's maniacal laughter echoed through the room, and he raised his axe, ready to strike. Maurie's silent screams and pleas were muffled, as if a thick web covered her mouth. The scene unfolded like a nightmare, with Emily's life hanging in the balance.

With the horrific act completed, the demon revelled in his cruelty, his red-stained canines gleaming as he gloated at Maurie. Then, with a maniacal cackle that would have rivalled the Joker's, he vanished into thin air. Maurie, now freed from her paralysis, collapsed into hysterical sobs as she gazed upon Emily's lifeless eyes. A wave of nausea washed over her, and her eyes overflowed with tears. Finally, unable to contain her anguish any longer, Maurie unleashed a blood-curdling scream that shook the very foundations of her soul.

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