“ Her sister, Luna. Unfortunately Vita messed with everything and killed her when she was just a day old on that fateful night. But North thought a wrong Chosen is better than none.” Crow responded, his voice was collected and emotionless.

“ Clearly they were wrong,” murumered Helsing.

“ What I can’t comprehend is why the angels aren’t rebelling against her. She holds no real authority over them, but they treat her..well like their goddess,” Crow asked staring blankly at the wall behind them.

“ I’ve discovered recently that Vita’s been brainwashin’ any soul that becomes an angel. Getting rid of their memories makes it easier to manipulate them into servitude. The Winged Archers are either angels born in Heaven, powerful figures who are worth more with their memories, or just angels who all sold their wills to her so they can keep their memories.” Allen added in a lazy tone.

“ I see. Well Allen now that you have all of your pieces. Will you enlighten us on this grand plan you’ve been cooking up?” Crow took another swig from the mug.

“ We start a war,” the mad grin stretched across his face.

* * * * * *

Norah stood on the balcony of her small mansion in Heaven, watching as the luminance sun sank down into the horizon making room for the moon to rise from the other side of the horizon. The sunset’s soft oranges, pinks and blues filled her with warmth and serenity that melted away her anxiety. She closed her eyes hoping to savor the moment before the dreaded moon rose.

She jumps, and opens her eyes when she feels arms wrap around her waist. Norah glanced out of the corner of her eye, seeing Gabriella pressed up against Norah’s back. Why is she always so clingy? I don’t mind being hugged so long as I know I’m being hugged. She thought to herself.

“ What were you thinking about?” Gabriella cooed softly.

“ Just relaxing until you interrupted me Gabby,” Norah teased as she moved out of Gabriella’s grip.

“ Don’t you have another mission soon? I don’t want Vita to get mad at you,” Norah added as she turned to face the angel.

“ Alright, fine. I’ll go. Sleep well, and hopefully no nightmares tonight.” Gabriella winked as she left Norah alone. Norah then did her normal nightly routine but she did it much slower than she had ever done before. All the while the flashbacks of her most recent nightmare flared in her head. Causing anxiety to fill back in replacing the serenity she felt.

She at last rested her head on her plush pillow in her plush perfect bed. Her eyes fluttered closed and her mind began to drift off to sleep.

Norah was now in the meadow once more, but it wasn’t as beautiful as it once was. The meadow was all wilted and the sky was dark filled with smoke colored clouds. The only source of light was the sun’s rays peeking through the cloud-covered sky and an auroran phoenix perched on a tree. Even then its fiery feathers were merely a smoldering ember which provided a dim glow. She walked toward the colorful bird and the wilting tree. The phoenix merely scowled at her.

“ Why are you angry at me? Why aren’t you giving me all of your powers?”

“ You use my powers for evil deeds just like they said. It was never supposed to be you. You abuse me. So until you can get your act together I’m cutting you off.”

“ But I’m doing good things! I killed Azrail! I’m cleansing the world of impurities! Those are all good things! The world will be perfect!”

“ At what cost..I hear their cries...the cries of the dwellers of the North...the cries of so many people and animals craving death. Wake up Norah. The world is overpopulated. Species are starving and can’t die. You’re even torturing innocent people who are trying to bring some sort of balance into the world! The world has gone down the drain and it’s all thanks to you. And you’ve dragged me down with you,” the phoenix squawked.

Burning tears streamed down her cheeks. Out of pure frustration she began kicking and punching the withering tree, but the phoenix stayed on the branch glaring down at her in disappointment. Once she finished beating the tree she cried, screamed, punched, and kicked until she finally fell to the ground. She gazed up at the dark grim sky breathing heavily as the tears continued to fall.

“ All I wanted was for my loved ones to never die...I wanted a normal family, a normal life...and I have it… I have everything I ever wanted..so why-why am I feeling so...so..”

“ Unworthy,” said mysterious voices. Norah looked up from the wilted flowers and saw the statue of her friend Taurus, the crying face of her sister Quiver, the tired-disappointed expression of her mentor Sean, the dying figure of her mother Willow, and the golden-bloodied corpse of Azrail. All circled around her staring at her.

“ At what cost,” they said repeatedly in unison. Azrail’s corpse crouched down to her level.

“ Do you deserve this life? You abandoned who you were for this life. Was it worth it to abandon that little girl who wanted to do good?”

“ I am unworthy of this...this life..I killed an innocent person...I betrayed my sister when she was trying to help...I hurt a friend...all for a normal life where I’m not even completely happy...but it’s not too late. It can’t be too late…maybe I can,” the land began to shake and someone was calling out to her from the dark clouds but it was all muffled.

Norah fluttered her eyes open seeing Gabriella shaking her awake and begging Norah to wake up. Norah looked around seeing Vita and two angel guards behind Gabriella, the guards were holding one of Allen’s mares. The creature was sealed inside a glass chest, and it was rampaging around in the chest begging to get out.

“ Thank the gods you’re okay! The Black Beast must’ve sent this pest after you. But don’t worry I will make him pay for this. Did the creature hurt you in any way?” Gabriella said with concern.

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Norah tuned out the endless questions Gabriella spewed out and began to stare at the ground. So everything I felt….all my power problems were caused by the Boogeyman … so that means I am doing good. I’m doing everything I’m supposed to. He’s just trying to manipulate me. No…maybe he was… trying to help? No he’s evil. He sided with Azrail, and Azrail is pure evil..Isn’t he?

She turned her gaze back to Gabriella and did her best to calm her friend’s worries. Then Norah noticed that Vita was dropping a golden colored flame match in with the mare in the glass chest. The mare burned up to nothing but ash in a matter of seconds.

Vita then sent the guards away like it was nothing, and then looked at the pair.

“ Tomorrow when the sun rises. Gabriella, find the Boogeyman and bring him to me immediately. If you fail. There will be consequences. Norah find Azrail’s skulls. The Black Beast is up to something,” Vita ordered.

Crow, Helsing, Gran and Allen stood at the gates of Azrail’s palace in Tartarus. The hot air weighed on the group, and the scorching ground burned through their shoes causing the bottom of their feet to tingle. Helsing was sweating like a pig being roasted over a fire.

The Boogeyman opened the gates to the palace and walked through the large halls. The halls were barren with little decorations, aside from odd trinkets that were displayed on the walls and photos of him and his family scattered around.

They finally arrived in the throne room. It wasn’t at all what Helsing thought it would be. The throne was knocked over and the whole room looked as if a tornado and a hurricane had a fight. Then at the center of the room lay a body drenched in a dark gray cloak. The body was surrounded by a pool of dried gold, and lifeless his red colored black eyes were wide open. Allen and Crow went to the body and kneeled beside it then began talking in very hushed tones. Helsing watched them in silence. 13 years ago… this was where it happened so that means..that body is Azrail himself. But I was told he had a giant white wolf at his side, where is it? Where are his legions of Hellhounds and demons?

Allen stood to his feet and went over to Helsing with a cold aura. Gran nudged her grandson. Helsing took the hint and shook his head, getting back to reality.

“ His dog skulls are missing... meaning this whole trip was useless. But Crow is looking for it as we speak. I’m thankful that the gods’ bodies never decompose so normally if one of them dies their bodies are transformed into something like a mountain or a tree. I guess leaving his body like this is both disgraceful and a blessing,” Allen muttered the last part to himself.

Crow stood to his feet and went over to them with dried tear streaks staining his cheeks. He swiftly wiped them away and regained his composure.

“ The skulls were stolen off his body by a fallen angel. Luckily I know where the dog skulls are. They’re being auctioned off at the Pearl Tortoiseshell.”

Footsteps echoed in the empty halls beyond the throne room that seemed to be growing louder with every step. Allen unsheathed his beautiful dark fencing swords.

“ Go. I’ll take care of this,” Allen growled.

“ But you’ll be captured! Or worse!” Helsing exclaimed with a worried tone that sounded a bit fake.

“ Plus you’re very useful to us and you could easily get it back!” Crow added on, sounding just as fake. Allen rolled up his sleeve then he bit his scarred arm, ripping off some of his flesh, causing him to bleed gold.

“ That’s a bit-” The blacksmith was caught off by Gran covering his mouth.

The nightmare lord began to chant a spell in the strange language he spoke from time to time. As he chanted his blood began encasing the pair in a cocoon of blood, then they appeared in front of a large white building with a huge dome on top.

The building was withered down and filled with vines and crumbling foundations. Helsing felt sick from the stench of blood that came from him and the sickening smell of decay that was rooted in the ground of the white withering building. Crow touched one of the pillars.

“ This place is or was..the United States of America capitol building it was abandoned years ago. But it was….well now it is the holding place of the Pearl Tortoiseshell.” Crow’s tone suggested he was holding something back.

“ Well thank you, walking dictionary. Now what do we do?”

“ Enter. I suppose.”

“ Nothin’ much else we can do,” She added in, Helsing noticed she seemed worn out.

“ The offer is tempting…but-”

“ No buts. Gran please just rest for awhile, I don’t need you overworked,” Helsing pleaded.

“ You could keep watch so we aren’t caught off guard,” Crow suggested. Gran nodded in agreement then sat on a bench as the two marched into the ruins.

Meanwhile the Boogeyman and the female arc angel, Gabriella, were circling each other their gazes locked on the other with weapons bared. Gabriella’s expression was stern with pure flaming rage while Allen was smiling with joy and a bloodlust gaze in his yellow eye.

“ You infected my Norah with your filthy Mare.”

“ Of course I did. Fear is a perfect persuasion tactic. In a matter of hours Perfect little Norah will be on the right side of history.”

“ Liar! She wouldn’t let herself be filled with doubt and guilt. She is the Chosen One with a pure heart and spirit! She is the one who made everyone immortal! Don’t you dare ruin her!”

“ Blah blah blah. By the constellations, I’ve never seen rage like yours since…. Oh, oh my oh my how juicy!” His maddening laugh echoed throughout the throne room. “ You love Norah! Oh how lovely! I’d honestly ship it if Norah was interested, and if you weren’t complete garbage.” He laughed some more, but Gabriella slashed at Allen.

Allen crossed his swords together to shield himself from the attack. He twisted the dagger out of her hand and slashed at the angel’s body with his swords. The cuts weren’t deep but they were enough to make her bleed.

He kicked the angel down to the ground and pointed one of his swords at her throat ready to slash her throat at any given moment. He examined his other sword that was stained with her blood. He grinned, licking the silver blood off the blade.

“ Ah, just what I needed. A pureblooded angel’s blood.” The wound he caused himself on his arm along with the scratches from the battle healed within an instant.

“ Stop toying with me and fight me for real!”

“ Ha! Ye think yer worthy of fighting my at my full strength, lass? Ha! I’ve fought fleas stronger than you.”

She swatted the sword away from her with the opening the angel shoved him to the ground. Gabriella summoned her dagger back to her and held it over his throat while the dagger fizzed with lightning.

“ I’ll kill you right here for whatever you did to my Norah.” Gabriella glared but Allen chuckled hoarsely with a cocky grin.

“ Oh lass. Ye forget your crush killed the High god of Death and his soul is being held prisoner in Heaven. Meaning you don’t get to kill me and I don’t get to kill you.”

“ No but I get to do this.” Gabriella punched him in the face with all her might which knocked him out cold. She picked up his body carrying him like a sack of potatoes over her shoulder then took his two swords. She flew back to Vita’s palace.