The jolting sound of destruction wakes me from the memory. I turn to see the newly shattered remains of one of the statues. The rock finally collapsing under its own weight. Clouds now obscure the moon, casting the street into almost pitch blackness. I cross under many overhangs and pass store fronts with shattered windows. The sense of being watched crept back into my mind, hounding me to be alert. My heart starts racing, sweat collecting at my neck and brow. The soldier’s instinct awakens within me. I search the darkness for anything. No movement, no lights. Nothing but the sound of the gentle wind whistling through the city.

A sudden wetness drops on my head, instinct kicks in as I dive forward. Rolling to my feet, I whip around and reach for my weapon. My hand grasping nothing, a panic crept into my heart. Another wet drip. I look up into the black sky, greeted by a gentle shower of wetness. My mind settles, no longer convinced of danger. The melodic pitter patter of the rain on the ground soothes the last remaining tension in my body. The anger subsides, and I take the moment to enjoy the rain. I look down the road, now swathed in a blanket of darkness, waiting for eyes to stare back at me.

Those eyes never came. Uneasily, I continue down the road. As the darkness dances around me, I swear that I see movement. Out of the corner of my eye, a large shadow bolts behind me. Instinct takes over again. I spin on my heel, using the momentum to throw my arm out in a wide clubbed swing. The blow strikes as I feel the shadow cave under the weight of my attack. With a sharp, hollow sound the shrouded assailant crumbles to the ground. The remains of a pillar lay on the ground in front of me. Had it managed to dodge out of the way? I quickly scan the buildings around me; ruined, dark, and empty. The soft beating of the rain on pavement trails off leaving me to wonder if I am truly alone.

As if in direct answer to the question, I hear a small sound. It’s distant but just barely audible, laughter. The assailant was still here, taunting me. What could possibly have survived out here where humans couldn’t? The question quickly escapes my mind as the chuckle grew to a maniacal cackle, which was joined by another, and yet another still. I back slowly down the road trying to put distance between me and the unknown attackers. The dark choir of insidious laughter surrounds me. The darkness in the buildings shifts, the dreaded eyes I feared finally pierce through. All around me the darkness fills with red eyes, hundreds of these shadows look down upon me from the ruined corpse of the city. The laughter ceases as a new chant begins to ring out from the masses of shadows.

“Michael.” They chant in unholy unison; the taunting tone shakes me to the core. In the throes of terror, I turn around and sprint down the road. The shadows continue their taunting.

“You can’t hide from us Michael, we are everywhere. It’s time to pay the toll.” A whisper called to me. The shadows reach for me from every direction, claws desperately trying to hold onto me. I pull myself away from the entangling mass of claws, the hissing of shadows announcing their displeasure of my escape. More and more shadows pour from the buildings, a sea of burning eyes and abyssal wails. The entities block off all of my routes, funneling me further down the street. Suddenly, I was falling. The impact took my breath for a moment. As I catch my breath, I dare to glance behind. A single shadow, rising from a crack in the road, had my ankle in its grasp.

With one violent kick, I pull myself from my ambusher’s grip and use the momentum to scramble to my feet. The shadow’s evil laughter erupts violently. With a quick look around me, I realize that I am surrounded. Snickers and mockery call out from all around me.

“Too bad Michael.”

“Not fast enough.”

“Some archangel you are.”

“Can’t even save himself.”

“You thought you could run away from this too?”

“How pathetic.”

“Pathetic.”

“You’re a failure Michael.”

“God has no need for failures.”

“Enough!” And in an instant, silence. The only remnant of the encounter is my own voice echoing back at me from the empty city. Beams of moonlight cut through the dark clouds overhead, illuminating the street around me. A wake of despair washes over me. What were they? No. I know what they are, but the word is lost to me. I struggle to find it. My body tenses again as I realize they could still be here. Turning to leave the road behind, I glance back at the spot where the dark entity had latched onto me. I reel in horror, my body wanting so desperately to retch. Laying ruined and defiled was a…. sudden flash of pain. The intense burning and throbbing of my head sent me into a spiraling descent of focus. Buildings, roads, and darkness blur together, my body is unable to keep itself from sickness. Bile burns my throat, the intense pain forcing me to double over.

The retching finally ceases, a coldness grips my back and neck, dulling the searing pain. Rain pools around me, rivers of water flow along the sides of the street. Exhaustion replaces pain, my vision blurs dizzily as I try to rise from the ground. kneeling on the ground I give into my exhaustion. My eyes focus long enough to see a pair of red eyes slowly sink into a pool of murky water. As my vision goes black a single name comes to me. It’s called a….

SHADE

“Shade activity spiked drastically around the world during the raid of Sana’a settlement in the land called Yemen. As of yet, it is uncertain as to which squad committed the attack and what their purpose was. Some of the watchers speculate that the attack was an attempt to determine our response times, though this again is pure speculation. Nothing further to report, Sir.” Michael had barely heard the angel give his report. His father’s words still weighed heavy on him. A moment of silence passed. Michael shook his head and looked around the room. The captains of his troops sat around the war room table expectantly. The young angel who had delivered the report stood frozen; his nerves rattled in front of the general of heaven. Michael let the words drift off as he focused in on the task at hand.

“Was anything of strategic value lost in the raid?” The head of the heavenly guard asked from the corner of the war room. Michael didn’t miss the sharp glare of his brother’s emerald eyes towards him. The young angel took a moment to review his report, his hand ever so slightly trembling.

Gabriel was well known in heaven for his heavy-handed approach to command and feared for his equally heavy-handed discipline and training methods. Michael had to admire the angel’s level of composure; most other angels would be incapable of speaking.

“No sir. It appears that the outlying villages and Sana’a had no strategic value to heaven. The areas that were targeted are all mountainous, but it’s too far away from any high value targets to be a forward strike base.” The young angel replied after consulting his report. It was comforting to know that heaven hadn’t lost any assets in the area, but mindless slaughter was unusual, even for the legions of Hell. Either way, Michael didn’t like the implications.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“Where were the sightings most concentrated?” Michael asked from his seat at the front of the war table.

“It appears to have been focused on the outskirts of London, sir.” The angel answered after turning over several pages in his report. “No incidents or possessions were reported at the spike, but investigations are still underway.” He added.

“Very well, at the moment there isn’t much we can do.” Michael stated before his brother had another opportunity to interject. “I want the patrols around London increased and a team sent to Sana’a to eliminate any remaining packs of demons that can be found. Send word to the investigation team, I want to be alerted immediately of any changes to the shade activity. Dismissed.” The angels at the table and the now visually relieved angel who had given the report stood at attention and left the war room. Gabriel stayed in his corner of the room and didn’t take his disapproving eyes off his brother.

Michael ignored his brother as he stood up and walked towards the door, passing Gabriel as he left.

“You need to focus.” He bellowed without moving from his corner. “You have more important things to worry about. If you can’t fulfil your duties, let someone who can take your place.” Michael hesitated at the door, then stepped forward without a word into the training yard.

The light blinded Michael for a moment as he stepped onto the fields. He regained his vision in time to see an angel land the final blow on its opponent. The ring of angels erupted with cheers as the angel turned and seeing Michael immediately rendered his salute. An awkward chain reaction rippled through the crowd as the troops took notice of his presence. The crowd stood at attention as he walked towards them, except the lone angel that lay bested on the ground.

The victorious angel whose emblemed chest plate identified him as the captain of the 2nd hand of the lion, Hamiel, if Michael remembered correctly, stood at his salute until Michael gave him the return. The defeated angel’s armor, though dented, also identified him as a troop of the 2nd hand. This had been a challenge for the post, and clearly the decision was made. Michael sighed as he addressed the crowd.

“So, it has been decided then? The post will remain as is.” He acknowledged the crowd. Hamiel bowed his head and started tending to his challenger and charge. The crowd offered salutes and returned to their respective tasks leaving the three angels alone in the yard. “How many times has it been already?”

“This is the fourth challenge, sir. Thank you for judging, it is an honor.” Hamiel said as he treated the angel, light radiating from his palm.

“How is he? No serious injury I hope.” Michael asked as he looked down on the angel. His battered armor reflected the shimmering of his captain's hand, the bruises and cuts closing and healing as they landed softly upon him.

“I believe so, sir. He is a troublesome one, if I can’t keep him at bay, he may one day decide to come for your station.” The captain chuckled, as he laid the challenger on the ground to rest.

“He wouldn’t be the only one.” Michael mumbled under his breath before quickly changing the subject. “Have your team ready, I’m sending you on a hunt.” Hamiel quickly returned to his position of attention to receive his orders. “The town of London has seen a spike in shade activity, I want you to ensure it normalizes. I suspect that you won’t be the first squad there though. Plan accordingly and report anything you find to me.” Michael knew that his brother would have a squad on their way already to eliminate the shades. He only hoped that Hamiel would be able to recover any valuable information as to why they were there in the first place before Gabriel’s team finished their extermination.

Hamiel saluted and picked up the angel from the ground and made his way towards the 2nd hand encampment. Michael felt the man’s presence before he saw him but allowed the hand to be placed on his shoulder anyways. The warmth radiated through Michael’s shoulder into his neck and chest, a comforting smooth warmth that blanketed his heart and mind.

“Michael, I have heard of my Father’s desires as well as your reluctance to support them.” The soft voice spoke from behind him. “Truly I do not blame you. The harshness of his tone is concerning, but my father’s will is righteous, if hard to understand.” The man stepped past and stood at the angel’s side watching the pair of warriors as they left. “This must be hard for you. You are the only one besides me who truly cares from the creations of my father.” The man was olive skinned and his dark hair flowed elegantly down past his shoulders.

Michael instinctively went to knell for the son of God but was stopped by the man’s hand on his shoulder and the warm kind smile he gave the angel. Jesus had been an advocate for the humans since he was born and often interjected with his Father on their behalf. Jesus of Nazareth often asked for Micheal’s and Rapheal’s opinions on how best to help the humans in the world below.

The angel straightened himself as Jesus motioned to a seating area off to the side that Michael knew hadn’t been there before. They stood and watched the busy training fields for a moment before they sat down in the pleasant warmth of heaven. Jesus sat with a slight recline into the bench. His eyes swept across the training yard before meeting Michaels eyes.

“It must not be easy for you.” He said solemnly. “This war against the demons takes its toll on us all,” He paused and looked towards a group of conscripts training with spirit weapons for the first time. “But you have the distinct knowledge of what it has truly cost us."

Michael sat in awe, not for the fact that the Christ had come to speak with him, but rather at the brazen way Jesus had always spoken with him. It was true enough that they had often spoken about the meetings in heaven where Jesus was always present but rarely seen, but even now there seemed a knowing sadness in his voice that Michael could not place.

“This plan my father has described to you is,” The lords voiced trailed off for a minute, searching for a word. Michael could see Jesus’s tongue change from Roman, to Saxon, to Butut, and finally settling on the word “staunch” in the Hebrew tongue. “Yet his ways are just.”

Michael watched Jesus’s knowing eyes, not wanting to say or think the thoughts they both knew were present. He turned his eyes away from his lord and looked out into the yard. A pair of conscripts looked upon their weapons with confused expressions on their faces. Michael knew the routine, as it was, not too long ago he was the one showing those conscripts how to activate their weapons.

The younger of the pair, presumably 50 or 60 years old, stood tall at 6 feet with a small lions head upon his robe, a light shield, and a silver circlet in his hands. The other, Michael didn’t bother to assume his age, stood a bit shorter but had a bright red rose across his robe. His eyes were fixated on the curved oaken branch in his hand.

“Feel the pull, understand that the vein is pumping from a much bigger source than the heart.” He mouthed along with the words as they came from an angel whose wings reflected like tar pitch in the summer sun. “Let it drift and flow with your will, embody the idea of the reach of your soul.”

In a flash the oaken handle extended, forming a bow in the first conscript’s hand. At the top, grip, and bottom curve was the oak, but in between was a stained-glass coloration of green, blue, and brass. Michael smiled. The conscript was lucky, aventurine, lapis, and bronze was a powerful combination to resonate with. It showed the potential for leadership and a strong resistance to corruption in the further reaches of the Legions.

"Profundos Venator.” The two angels said simultaneously, Michael’s in a whisper and Gardariel’s in exclamation.

“A truly strong soul,” Jesus said, drawing the archangel’s attention. “It’s a pity.” His eyes showed the pain that Michael knew too well. “It is necessary, as are my father’s plans. If it would make you feel better; why not do an inspection of Earth and see for yourself.”

Michael considered the lord’s words as he watched the excitement of the pair raise as a second weapons was activated. This one, a roman gladius, roughly 3 inches shorter than a traditional one. Michael figured it was the weapon compensating for the conscript’s long arm span. The blade shimmered gold and grey along the blade, a lion’s head in ivory at its pommel. Again, Gardariel exclaimed. Both knew however, this conscript wouldn’t make it far.

“I shall do so; I agree that it has been a while since I have personally visited the realm of man. It would do me well to walk amongst the world and see the field as it is.” He looked upon Christ, whose bright eyes were hidden behind a slightly disapproving scowl. “However, I understand that it is my duty to know my charges and should take joy in their presence.” Michael continued, knowing that his desire to see their beauty in humanity was genuine.

Jesus laughed lightly, “Come now great angel, no need to ingratiate yourself to me. I know your heart is pure, if your mind a bit preoccupied with the efforts of Heaven.”

Michael knew the truth of his words and gave a sigh.

“I suppose if you were looking for a reason,” Jesus began, “There is a man that I would like for you to visit. He is a prophet and has recently been silent in his prayers. I do not believe even the watchers have noticed yet. If you could trouble yourself.” He looked at the angel with a kind smile. “Would you go and see to one of my lost sheep?”