Chapter 31 The Devil
Power pulses from Charlie. She’s folding in on herself, with all the energy of a dying star.
She needs an outlet, someone to focus that power on, and Suriel is right here - the archangel that got away with little more than the memories of the garrison he butchered imprinted on his skin so he would never forget how he sinned to protect God.
He deserves more of a punishment and with Charlie devolving, I’m happy to refocus her wrath and confusion. Especially if Suriel’s become a target that will do nothing but take whatever she offers him.
He’s already losing grace. Heaven’s falling – I feel it in my soul, see it in the crispy fried angels falling down from the sky in lovely golden-streaked meteors.
And Suriel, oh, he’s the icing on the cake.
He looks like he’s been shell-shocked by reality crashing around him.
He’s feeling which I’m sure is disconcerting enough, but that doubt flickering in his eyes, the way his gaze lingers on Charlie with hope, with desire, with the kind of reverence that only God is supposed to claim is better.
My brother is weak for my daughter, let himself be bitten, and has lost his wings. He’s little more than an infatuated human trying to claim a woman beyond his reach. My daughter is beyond him.
“Oh, brother,” I sigh gently. “I don’t envy your fall.
Every drawn out moment, all the pain and suffering from the day you betrayed and massacred your men.
I’d say you don’t deserve it, but we both know that would be a lie.
Although, I’m betting my dearest daughter isn’t aware of exactly the pain and suffering you deserve, considering the cruel fate you’re meant to deliver. ”
“You designed the infighting I had to end. I live every day in tribute to the angels you corrupted and ruined,” Suriel says with unearned pride as the tattooed angels on his skin take up arms against me. “You disturbed the balance, tried to influence my judgment and you will not do it again.”
“Hear that, Charlie? He considers you a disturbed influence on his judgment. My poor daughter, constantly treated like a helpless baby who shouldn’t be made aware of her power.
Isn’t that just like an angel? To abuse trust and expect obedience?
” I croon. “Just to lead you to your own sacrifice with a smile, promising it’s for the greater good. ”
“Don’t pretend to care about her when she’s merely a pawn to you,” Suriel accuses.
I put my hand to my chest. “My daughter? A pawn?” I scoff and take Charlie’s hand, feeling her rage, confusion, and lingering pain.
I tsk. “No, my darling, is glorious. She’s hell and humanity, divinity and creation.
A true ethereal being that Heaven can’t tame or tolerate – so far beyond you that all God wants is to ruin her. ”
Suriel staggers forward, his gaze flicking between Charlie and me. “Charlie …”
I rub her shoulder until she looks at me again.
“Heaven’s seals kept me from you. God made me raise hell just to hold you!
God has chosen to let you suffer because his love is conditional.
You know that, Charlie. You’ve felt it. And Suriel, he’s nothing but a tool to increase your suffering.
Has he told you his plan? How he’s meant to save you? ”
“What?” Charlie’s eyes widen, her lips part and she looks between Suriel and me, waiting for an answer. “N-no.”
I gently cup her face. “I would never lie to you about something so important, something you deserve to know. Ask him, my darling Nephilim. Ask him why he came to you, why he devoted himself to you, what his orders are.”
“He … N-no,” she breathes, her whole body trembling. She doesn’t want to hear her belief confirmed. Denial is easier now that she’s given him parts of herself she never shared before.
I tsk, determined to claim a perfect performance for her, for Suriel, for my ravenous demons already chewing on deep-fried angel wings and leaving no trace of their ‘holiness.’ Charlie doesn’t see them. Only me. The morning star, the light of dawn that promises sight, wisdom, clarity.
“Don’t fall for it, Charlie,” Suriel whispers. “Please. You’re the one who said everyone serves themselves. Every twisted truth only serves the Devil, not you.”
“I’m not the one lying here! Not by omission, not with fine print so confusing that even after multiple translations, anyone can twist the words to mean what they want!
” I snap. “You’re hiding plenty; plenty she deserves to know.
After you’ve whispered your sweet nothings in her ear, after you drove her right to me, I think you can be honest.”
“Tell me,” Charlie commands, stepping closer to me.
I wonder if she’s noticed the similarities between us.
Has she found that we have similar lips, that our jaws are so similarly sharp?
Her whore of a mother gave Charlie her eyes, but did her the honor of dying in childbirth. That weak human body couldn’t contain the majesty it brought to life. Good. She was a useless tool anyway. Not like Charlie. She’s salvation and damnation in one.
“Go ahead, Suriel. Show us true honesty if I’m so lacking. Explain what God’s ineffable plan does to the woman you’ve willingly bound yourself to, to the woman you pretend to care for.”
Taking a slow breath, Suriel advances another step. “I was sent to redeem you or kill you.”
Her breath catches and she swallows. “You said you wouldn’t hurt me.”
“It’s Heaven’s will. I tried Charlie. I wanted to help, to keep you from him, so you’d never be the antichrist that did this,” he says, voice softening, sword lowering.
“Instead?” I press. “You were selfish and took her time, her attention, her body.”
Charlie steps closer to me.
“I never did anything by force,” he insists.
“I couldn’t. You have free will. You know that, my sweet dove.
When I dove from Heaven, I lost my wings for questioning God.
I landed. I was going to kill you, to make it fast, painless, but God refused.
He said you had to be given a choice at redemption and salvation.
Either you choose to stand with Heaven, or you receive your last rites.
I never planned for you to change me, to make me want more, to respect you, to understand you, to want to give you more than you’ve experienced.
You are unique, sharp and full of rage, but it’s rage you control which makes it astounding.
A woman beyond imagination, who wants to be soft and deserves a place to do that safely.
I couldn’t tell you, then I didn’t want to because I liked being with you, holding-”
“Don’t make it beautiful, Suriel.” I interrupt before he can confuse her. I feel Charlie’s growing hurt and her need to cover it with anger just to restore her control. “Tell her what happens now.”
He looks only at her, conflict in his eyes. “I drive my blade into your chest to save what we can of this imperfect world that’s worth something in the right hands.”
“That’s why you didn’t let me run! That’s why you tied me up!
That’s why you kept me in place and were trying to be nice enough so I wouldn’t leave!
” She accuses, her voice louder with every sentence, making the volcanic eruption shake the world as the moon tries to burn through the cloud to reflect Suriel’s bloody hands.
“The truth is complicated, Charlie. You know that. It’s multifaceted and two things can be true at the same time,” he says, eyes warm, soft, full of grief.
“You used me! I knew trusting you was a mistake. I knew anything you offered was a mistake. You’d be better off as some stupid religious nut that believes God cares about anyone but himself!” She screams.
His face twists with agony as my smile grows. I rub her back, being the father she needs, the protector she deserves, all while enjoying the angel that’s tried to tame her fall under the weight of his impossible devotion to her.
He refused to fall with me, so now he’s fallen for her.
She’s ruined Suriel, brought him to his knees, twisted his mind, and taken his wings. She’s a punishment wrapped in a view that seems like paradise. My perfect daughter. Playing her part, claiming the stage, and following lines she doesn’t even realize were written before she was born.
Her eyes waver and she looks at Suriel as he approaches slowly, sure each step is a trap.
He’s a blight upon Heaven. If he’d be willing to switch sides …
I could use his sword if nothing else. Perhaps he’d be more leverage to ensure Charlie fulfills all my expectations …
and an easy way to punish her if she doesn’t.
I nearly lick my lips, but keep my calm face, the one that’s hopeful, but concerned. The picture of paternal love.
“Why would you …” she trails off, but Suriel’s love for her is obvious. His silence, his hesitation, how he can’t help but admire her even now, spells it out. “You said you chose to come to me. Why?”
“Because anyone else would fail. That’s less important than why I chose to wait to deal the finishing blow.
God said no after the first day, but fell silent when I asked again.
I chose to wait, Charlie, to put the whole world at stake because of you.
The versions of yourself you showed me convinced me you were worth protecting and appreciating, not just managing,” he whispers, reverent, hopeful, heartbreaking.
“If only you had more time,” she sneers, taking a step back from him. “To really brainwash me, to mold me, to change me, so I fit in the plan.”
I grin, a slow, wicked smile.
She’s mine.
“I recognize a liar no matter whether you have wings, God’s protection, or anything else. I’m just a mistake you’re trying to justify,” she says, walking backwards to me, her hips swaying as she stares at him like he’s something she’s outgrown.
I stroke through her hair. “That’s my girl.”