“So, what do we have here?” Officer Mikaela asked, getting out of her car and walking up to her partner.
She was short with an oversized outfit, a dull look on her face and a cup of coffee in her hands. Her blonde ponytail bounced with each tired step she took. Her partner, an elderly man that had been in the force for way longer than her, had a short gray beard and messy ginger hair. He stood before a blue car, jotting down notes in a small leather-bound notebook. The rest of their squad unit was busy taking pictures from different places and multiple angles, carefully gathering samples and thoroughly searching the crime-scene.
“Just one dead, at least a month or more old by the looks of it.” He answered without looking.
“You’re telling me the guy’s corpse has been sitting in the car in this parking lot for a month? And no one noticed a smell or saw the bloody windows?” Mikaela asked, disbelief all too apparent in her tone. She might have been a rookie, but even that sounded absurd to her.
“That’s the thing, most of the witnesses we have so far say the guy drove here yesterday ‘bout five or six and then went towards that library across the street. So far, most of whom we’ve asked said nothing about him coming out, except for one homeless guy that said he ran out after a while.”
“Did you check at the library?” She said, taking a sip from her cup.
“No, I was going to after I finished this up...” He said as he waved his pencil towards the car. “...but then you showed up. Do me a favor alright Mikaela?”
“Alright, I’ll do it.” She said with a false tone of reluctance.
“This feels wrong girl.” The cop said, pacing around with uncertainty. ”By how much blood there is in the car the body should be in pieces… yet we haven’t been able to find any sort of wounds on the body. The guy is practically a mummy.“
“You think we may have another victim?”
“With black blood?” He said, concerned, as he closed his notebook.
“Urhg-wh-what?” She said, caught by surprise.
“See for yourself if you’d like. I have no idea what the hell happened here.”
Mikaela winced, and kindly refused. “I’ll go check out the library, see if I can find anything.”
Ding-dlang
The doorbell sound rang out when she opened the heavy wooden doors of the library. The small brass bell jingled merrily again when she closed them back.
“The Reading Room huh… quaint place.” Mikaela said to herself, echoing the words written outside the library above the door. “Hello? Hellooo?” She called out, but the library appeared to be empty. The sun was shining very brightly through the windows and illuminated the entire room. She walked through the hallway and made her way towards the counter, where a young lady was sleeping with a book partly open in her right hand. On the cover was a drawing of flames in the shape of a woman. The sleeping lady’s face was covered by her short red hair and her very large jacket slowly moved up and down with her breathing.
“Hello? Excuse me, ma’am?” Mikaela gently nudged her awake.
“Uh, wh-what. What?” She woke up and started looking aimlessly around the room.
“Hello Miss. I’m from the police, mind answering a few questions?” The woman stared in her direction, and Mikaela noted her strange white eyes.
“S-sure.” Her voice was soft and trembled with a soft, almost unnoticeable echo.
“Did you see anyone come here yesterday around five-six o’clock?”
She chuckled and waved a hand in front of her own face. “I don't think I’ve seen anything for the past seventeen years madam.”
Mikaela’s cheeks went bright as cherries. “I-I’m sorry I did not know.”
“It’s alright. Relax.” The librarian smiled.
“So did anyone come here yesterday?” Mikaela asked again, trying to sound more stern.
“Not that I’ve noticed no, the bell didn’t ring almost all day.”
“I see, and you haven’t heard or … I don’t know… felt anything outside that you’d classify as strange?” The police officer asked, almost ashamed of her question. God, I feel so stupid. Mikaela thought to herself. She did a quick wave in front of her suspect, and the absence of any reaction or blinking confirmed to her that she truly was blind.
The girl laughed. “No, I'm sorry. My hearing isn’t superhuman. Although, I can tell you waved just now. I could feel the air as you waved in front of me.”
“Alright, I guess thank you for your time. If you don’t mind me asking though...” Mikaela turned away embarrassed, scratching her neck. “I’ve never heard of a blind librarian. How do you own a bookshop and… read books if you’re blind?”
“It’s written in braille. This is a library my parents built for me. It has a large selection of disability-sensitive books. It is my home, and my workplace.” She grinned, showing her the inside of the book.
Well… I feel… stupid. Mikaela thought to herself.
“Thank you for your time, Miss.” Mikaela scurried off until the woman grabbed her hand and stopped her. Her hand was cold and her nails sharp. Mikaela felt a chill crawl up her spine at her touch.
“If you don’t mind. Could you tell me what time it is?”
“Sure. Its uh.. two-ten.” She answered by checking her phone.
“I need to be somewhere by three, would you kindly give me a ride?”
“I’m sorry I can't Miss, this investigation is still well underway. I still need to make sure everything is in order. I cannot just leave, so, I’m so sorry.” Mikaela frowned.
“It’s alright. All is right.” The librarian said. “I-investigation? Did something happen? Is that why you’re here?” She asked, her voice suddenly full of worry.
“We believe a murder has taken place closeby, we’re just checking on any witnesses and gathering any information.” Mikaela confessed.
“Oh goodness, how terrible! This is such a peaceful neighborhood.”
“I bet, now I must get going. Have a nice day!”
“Be safe…” The librarian called back with a subtle grin as she ran a finger over her mouth. At that moment, the sun hid behind a dark cloud, bathing the library in shadows and fading the color of her lips from red to purple. Mikaela saw nothing as she returned to her squad.
“You got anything?” Mikaela’s partner asked when she approached him.
She shook her head. “Just a blind librarian. She said no one came in yesterday.”
“Think she’s hiding something?”
“Unlikely, she’s blind as a bat. Had a walking stick and everything. I find it hard to believe she would be stupid enough to still be here if she did something.”
“I see, well I’m gonna stick around to help bring the car and body back to the offices. Can I ask you to take some evidence to the office first and start getting it analyzed? I already put it in your car.” He demanded of her.
“Sure thing.” Mikaela answered.
“See you later then.” He said, leaving without another word.
Mikaela got inside her car and just rested against the chair for a few minutes before the radio broke her concentration. She then started the engine and drove off. It was sunny today, but the occasional dark clouds passing overhead, as well as more faraway ones, signaled heavy rain to come. The buildings and trees on the side of the street made ominous shadows inside the car when she passed them. After about twenty minutes of driving she stopped at a red light, a tall building on the left blocking out the sun and covering the car in darkness.
“By the way you were driving, I thought you were going to take me right where I needed to be. But I’m gonna have to ask you to make a right here.” Wrath’s voice echoed, as she materialized in the passenger seat.
Mikaela almost jumped out of her skin. She quickly reached for her gun but her arm stopped moving, feeling stiff and numb. She turned her head to the right, and opened her mouth to scream at the person in front of her before it too went numb.
“Make one sound, and I’ll tear out your insides and wear them as earrings.” Wrath smiled as she placed her index gently over Mikaela’s red lips. “Did anyone ever tell you… what pretty lips you have?” Wrath cooed, pulling her hand back into a half open fist. Mikaela felt her body return to her.
“What… the fuck…” She mumbled, too terrified to scream.
“Now drive!” Wrath ordered. “Silently…”
Mikaela began whimpering and crying. She has horns! Her thoughts raced. Jesus Christ almighty, she has horns! Mikaela felt her whole body tremble and her legs go soft. She dared not reach for the radio or try to call for help. Aside from driving her body was fully frozen.
“What... what in g-god’s holy name are you?“ She stammered out, too scared to even turn her head and look at the creature next to her.
Wrath gave her a mean look and ignored her question. “Tell me, do you know where the Kennels are?” She said, the echo in her voice sharper and louder than her actual voice.
“The one in the southern district y-yes?”
“Take me there.” Wrath commanded, her echoing voice soft, yet unyielding.
Mikaela gulped and nodded. A silence lay between them, long and pressing. Occasionally, the sun would return from behind the buildings or clouds, and in those moments the terrifying spectre that was beside Mikaela seemed to return to the form of a regular woman. Mikaela dared not risk anything however, too shaken by such an unnatural sight. After another thirty minute long pressing silence of the ten minute drive, Wrath finally spoke.
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“Tell me your name.” She turned to look at Mikaela with her icy golden eyes.
“M-Mikaela.”
“Are you afraid, Mikaela? Do I scare you?”
She paused briefly and responded: “Depending on my answer, will you spare me?”
“Hah! Who said I was going to kill you?“ Wrath laughed.
“You? You threatened me.”
“If you had screamed, I would have been forced to kill you. But you didn't, so here we are. Now answer me.”
“Well, f-frankly it’s not often I get abducted by a demon.” Mikaela tried to fake a smile but Wrath’s presence was enough to make her choke on her words. And when she finished the sentence, the atmosphere became even more suffocating. Wrath’s brow subtly furrowed with great fury. “I think we’re here.” Mikaela said as she awaited her captor’s next move. The car stopped in front of a tall fancy building on the side of the road. Neon lights flowed on either side of the building, illuminating some tall oak trees in hues of orange and red. The pitbull symbol below The Kennels seemed to watch the scene unfolding below with curious hunger.
“I am not a demon!” Wrath’s dreadful voice echoed out full of hate and rage, her eyes glued on the road ahead, but what she saw was just an empty memory of the past. Mikaela turned to her and swallowed but her spit stopped midway down her throat. She tried speaking, instead coughing and gurgling for breath, as a black tendril tightened around her neck. Life and breath squeezed out of her. Just when unconsciousness seemed to take her, Wrath let go of the grip and got out of the car. Mikaela was allowed a brief moment to breathe as her captor walked around the car. Just as Mikaela recovered enough to attempt to call her station, Wrath slammed the driver door open and grabbed her by the throat, this time with her bare hand. Mikaela's voice cried out as she was brutally pulled out from her car.
“Plea-” She squeaked as her back was slammed against the car-roof, nearly breaking her in half.
“I. Am. Not… a demon!” Wrath shouted, her yellow eyes piercing into Mikaela’s, her black claws sinking deeper into her skin. “I am not a demon. I am not ugly. I am not a demon, I am not ugly. I am not…” She kept saying, her voice trembling while her head and fingers twitched violently. Wrath was shivering, holding her head as if she was in pain.
“G-ghaa…” Mikaela tried to scream in horror but only a deaf sound of short breath came out.
“You said you loved me. I don’t want your love. Don’t leave. Go. Stay. If love could have saved.. If love could have saved… You told me I was beautiful....” Wrath’s eyes shone brightly and her spasmic motions came to an abrupt halt. She effortlessly tossed Mikaela on the sidewalk and stared into her open palms. “You lied.” Her yellow eyes became a fiery red, wings wide open and her left hand clenching into a fist. She raised it into the air and along with it rose the police car, surrounded by strands of dark smog. Wrath flicked her wrist and the vehicle flew across the air, smashing into the trees and sending scraps of broken glass and metal onto the street. Mikaela curled up into a ball, tears streaming down her face and knees. Wrath smiled, but her head vaulted forward, bringing her to her knees as she spewed blood and filth from her mouth. After vomiting for a few moments, she wiped herself off and stood up. Turning up, she looked to the sky. Gray clouds of rain gathered despite the fact that it was sunny just a few minutes ago. Wrath smiled, full of blood in her teeth and gums. “Allow me to ask you again. Do I scare you, Mikaela?”
----------------------------------------
Azazel was resting on his penthouse couch, one foot over his other knee, with a small notebook in his lap. His fingers were gliding over the small keyboard, the letters filling the screen and disappearing as he pressed send. The top room of the hotel building was exceedingly large, multiple tables decorating the space a bit off on the right side, each carefully arranged with silver utensils and black table ornaments. Here a few other people ate, drank and talked, giving a buzz of background noise for him to enjoy. Behind the couch was a giant bar that stretched across the wall, filled with hundreds of bottles each with different sizes and colors. Some were almost a hundred years old, others brand new. In front of him was a coffee table so large one would mistake it for an actual eating table, and on the other side of it was another couch identical to the one he was on. Lastly, to his left were a set of large beige doors that burst open, revealing the winding stairs that lead below. A large man walked to him, interrupting his leisurely, quiet chat. He was a tall burly hunk in a suit slightly too small for him, with messy blonde hair and a muscled body the size of a wardrobe. Azazel’s eye flared, taking an extra moment to realize that it was Baal. He nodded, a sly grin creeping up his left cheek. He then turned to the tables, slightly irritated, and snapped his fingers twice after which he pointed towards the doors. Almost immediately everyone dropped their food or drink on the table and left the room.
“Bring her in.” Azazel said to Baal, closing his device and throwing it on the coffee table. Before him entered a tormented blonde police officer, her face staring into the floor and her left leg limping as she walked. “You look like you had better days.” He remarked. The woman didn’t respond and just sat on the couch as Baal shoved her. Following her came Wrath. Her wings unseen as they draped over her shoulders and back, like parts of her black leather jacket. Drips of dried blood could still be seen from the corners of her mouth. “And you look like you just got back from a vampire orgy.” Azazel said while getting up from the couch and offering his hand.
“And you look like a cunt. I guess some things never change.” Wrath shot back, she accepted the handshake and faked a smile.
“Ah… but I’ve lost an eye since the last time we’ve met. I guess some things change after all, no?” He smiled smugly, waving a hand in front of his bandaged face. He then sat back on the couch and waved towards Baal. The grumpy bodyguard slumped to attention.
“I’ve seen you come back from fouler wounds.” Wrath frowned and shrugged her shoulders, taking a seat on the couch as well. “What even gave you that wound?”
“That's why you’re here. D’you take coffee?” Azazel asked.
“No, already had my fill.” Wrath said.
“Wine?”
“Can’t refuse that now can I?” She smiled, flashing her sharp teeth.
“Right… right… Baal be a dear and bring us some of that cherry red. How about your friend there then?” He waved again and Baal set off to get the beverages with a grumble. He came back moments later with two bottles of red wine and poured some in two finely decorated crystal glasses.
Mikaela jumped and almost screamed when Wrath nudged her shoulder with her elbow. She looked at Wrath, then turned to the man in front of her and a chill ran up her spine. Something she saw in his green eye terrified her more than everything she encountered up until that point. Mikaela felt her very soul crumble in that instant. She began trembling violently and whimpering as water filled her eyes.
“P-please just let me go. I won’t tell, please!” She shouted, crying frantically.
“Christ lady, I just asked you if you want some drinks…” Azazel frowned, then chuckled and scratched the back of his head. “So Wrath, what’s its purpose here?” He continued asking, mildly annoyed.
“A gift for a gift. You offered me your demon acquaintance as an appetizer so I felt I had to repay the favor.” Wrath shrugged.
“It wasn’t necessary. What am I to do with it?”
“Sell her at the auction perhaps?” Baal perked up, licking his lips at his own idea.
“That does not sound half-bad actually…” Azazel said, scratching his chin.
“Oh god please no!” Mikaela panicked and tried to make a dash for the door behind her, but her foot was pulled from under her and she fell face first into the blueish-green marble floor.
“Baal.” Azazel said, his face like carved stone, not betraying a single emotion.
The brute walked up and backhanded her, and Mikaela fell on the floor unconscious. He then carried her off down the stairs. When he was out of sight Azazel reopened the conversation, while shifting his position on the couch to a more leisurely one.
“I’d bet she’s a screamer.” He said.
“She was quiet along the way.”
Azazel grinned. “Well that’s good, but not what I meant.”
“She is a police officer. Aren’t you worried a cop going missing will bat some eyes?”
“Nah. One phone call and the Station Inspector will forget she was ever hired. Anyway, I should properly welcome you to my humble residence.” He said, lifting his glass towards his guest. “Cheers, Wrath, it is good to see you again!”
Wrath hesitated briefly but then took her glass and knocked on Azazel’s, giving him a very quiet and not particularly enthusiastic: “Cheers.”
“So, about what was written on that letter-” He said after taking a long, slow sip from his drink. Azazel made sure to intensely savor the rich aroma.
“Most people nowadays would send a letter demanding a meeting more than just a day in advance.” Wrath interrupted him.
“Yes well, most people aren't exactly pressed for time, as I am.” The last words were sharper than the ones before.
“Alright Azazel what do you want, just get to the bloody point.”
“You’ve heard about the angel I presume?”
Wrath shot him an angry glance and gnashed her teeth, and her head twitched once before she responded: “No. I have not. If you don’t remember, I do not care about what you or your kind does anymore. Maybe the ears have rotted away more than just your eyeballs.”
“My kind…” He smirked. “Baphomet’s bane was sighted almost a year ago. So, the old sin sent a fool to try and retrieve her. I don’t know if he did it out of spite or stupidity but sending the fool in question, Mephistopheles, was a grave mistake. He recently found out the angel was his daughter and then abandoned the mission, and us by extension.”
“His daughter? I remember the bane was… someone else, a divine heir, not some demonspawn. Did you know?” Wrath said, leaning forward with a hint of curiosity.
“I’ve known for a long time. Grisette was there the day Baphomet died, she later told me the truth she’d learned.”
“Your dear Queen was there huh? So I take it this Mephisto person found out you knew the truth all along and got pissed?”
“Yes, and when Mephistopheles was sent here, he became one of my responsibilities. Those were orders of ol’ Bapho. So his responsibility was also mine, and now that he’s unavailable Baphomet will have my head if the angel is not found.”
“I never took you to be scared of Baphomet.” Wrath smirked.
“I’m not but…” Azazel sighed, rolling his eyes. ”...Do you know that sort of friend or family member that you’d rather not deal with their bullshit, so you just accept whatever they ask of you? That’s kinda how I feel right now. I’d rather not have Baphomet come up and make me deal with his bullshit. Besides… I kind of owe him a sort of favor.”
“I understand… But, why disturb me? You have plenty of employees that you can dump the task on.” She asked.
“You are not a demon.” Azazel answered bluntly.
Wrath looked at him stunned and perplexed. “Go on.”
“Despite your appearances.” He continued.
Wrath’s hand clenched into a fist, and black fog began swirling around it. “Careful Azazel, careful, I like you but not enough to stop myself.”
“The blood on your lips tells me you don’t have much left in you as is, why don’t you calm down dear, and listen.” Azazel’s smooth voice cut through her like butter. Wrath released her fist and the smog dissipated as he continued.
“This angel is with The Huntress. Before Mephisto left, he found out where she lives. In a mansion outside of town, surrounded by the Pale Forest. Those with demonic souls can not step on that land, as powerful as I may be, I don’t feel like dealing with something like that. Mephistopheles was one of the few inanimaliats under my command that I could trust so without him no one can get near that angel.”
“I see, so you’re in my pocket now. What would you ask of me?”
“Find her, bring her to me, alive, and preferably sometime before the auction.” Azazel said with a nod.
“Baal mentioned that, when exactly is that auction, and why that deadline?”
“In about a month, and I’ll be quite busy at the time. I’d rather not have to cancel all my plans.”
“And… If she proves too difficult to capture?” Wrath asked, taking a long sip of her drink.
Azazel shrugged. Then he perked up as if he had an idea. “One of her friends then. We could use them as bait. She’ll most likely try and save them by leaving the safety of her holy nest.”
“Maybe she’s a coward.” Wrath laughed.
Azazel chuckled back at her, his voice trembling fake and cold. “She’s her father’s daughter, his stupid heroism flows through her.”
“And what if I refuse all of this?” She said, finishing her drink.
“I’ll kill you.” He said, smiling nonchalantly as he finished his.
Wrath giggled. “Never back down from a threat do you, Azazel? Even when the grim reaper stands before you, smiling?”
“They say death smiles to all, may as well flip her off if you know your time’s up. And besides, it was the only way I could convince you, I know weak-willed fools aren’t exactly to your liking.”
Wrath smiled and ran a trembling finger over her lips. “Very well Azazel, consider me convinced. Let us see what the soul of an angel is made of!”