Welcome to Gaia! ::

Evelyn’s cheeks burned at the demoness’s words, though she kept a steady grip upon her sword.

"I suppose someone as right on as you wouldn't be interested in spending time with 'the other side'."The demoness sighed.

“You’re correct I will never have anything to do with your ilk other than ensuring you do not harm any more innocents!” The young woman growled. Even with the odds so heavily stacked against, Evelyn wouldn’t back down. She was going to remain true to her duty as a Holy Warrior and protect Jonah!

"Oh well,"the demoness said with a shrug and Evelyn’s could only widened her eyes at what happened next.

Warm liquid splashed all over Evelyn’s front as the snake sprayed its venom all over the young woman. ‘What? Euphoria?’ Evelyn’s brain tried to understand as the demoness giggled.

"Gahh, what the hell is this!?" Jonah groaned from behind the rookie.

Evelyn turned her head quickly, catching sight of Jonah falling over with the same venom splashed upon him. No! She hadn’t even managed to protect him! “Jonah…” Evelyn could only manage to whisper for her pupil’s dilated as her mind felt lighter than the air she was falling through.

The rookie was suddenly utterly incapacitated as she collapsed onto the hard ground. And as her head met the cold cement, a blinding flash of pain swallowed the rookie as she let out a terrible scream.

Evelyn gasped as she came to, completely forgetting that a seatbelt was secured around her as she sat in her car. “Oh, huh...must have dozed off,” The young woman mumbled as she turned the keys to start the car.

Her car was an older sedan and it slightly groaned as she backed out of the college’s large parking lot. Evelyn had to agree with her car, for she felt just like it sounded. Tired and worn out. The young woman pulled out into the bustling street. It had been a long day of classes, ending in a late night class. Evelyn was just eager to get home, wish her parents good night, and flop down onto the comfiest bed she had ever known. Evelyn flipped her left indicator on as she waited for the turn light to signal. Just thinking of the soft downy bedding made her smile up at the green arrow.

The old car putted into the intersection, and BAM! A large SUV rammed into Evelyn’s right side.

The young woman was jostled violently about and blinding pain sizzled alongside her head. Evelyn was completely dazed. Only slightly aware of flashing lights, voices shouting, and distant sirens as her eyes blinked slowly. Warm liquid was now trickling down the side of her head. It felt nicely warm...so why was the rest of body feeling so cold?

“Hey! She's stuck in there! Get the jaws of life, quickly I can see that her head is bleeding!” A muffled voice shouted from the other side of the window. Evelyn blinked, slower this time for she was feeling very sluggish now.

“Come on stay with me, we’ll get you out!” The voice added, but it was sounding so far away now.

Evelyn tried to blink...

Upon the cement Evelyn’s body broke into a high fever as it went into what seemed like septic shock from the reaction to the venom. Her chest was fluttering as she started panting. Sweat beaded upon Evelyn’s forehead as she was stuck in what seemed like a never ending memory of last moments as a mortal.

Zerachiel stopped dead in his tracks, wincing visibly as pain lanced straight through him. Closing his eyes, the archangel could sense his new favoured rookie was in serious pain, perhaps even in danger of losing her soul.

A tugging at his hand brought him out of his thoughts. Looking down at the little child angel, he smiled. "Don't worry. It was just a friend letting me know they need my help." He ruffled the boy's hair. "I'll be back soon. Just play with the others while I'm gone." Gently pushing the child towards his fellows, the archangel turned around and spread his wings.

"Gideon always expects too much of the new recruits," muttered Zerachiel to himself as he took the sky. Moving impossibly fast for a mortal creature, he flew straight for the nearest portal to the mortal realm. Evelyn was dying and he was not going to allow any Holy Warrior to die until he had got to play with them some. Perhaps that was selfish but he did not care. In the end, it helped out the captain when he saved his trainees so it was all good.

Appearing above the city, the pain pulsing in his body made it easy to locate his target. Descending in a rush of feathers and flower petals, his normal smile turned into a frown as he spotted the demoness flipping over Evelyn.

"That's my job," said Zerachiel, landing in front of the two women. "Leave Evelyn alone or I'm going to get angry."

He smiled brightly, recognising Eleanore, or Eisheth Zenunim as she preferred to be called in her demonic form. "I'll let you keep her sword but you've had your fun for tonight."

Bringing her tail around, the succubus took the sword held in its coils and held it in both of her hands. "I wanted the armour too but I guess I'll just have to accept it. I really don't want to get into a fight." She frowned slightly. "Besides, I hate how your hands wander. It's no fun unless I'm the one doing the tempting."

The archangel grinned innocently. "I don't know what you're talking about. I was just defending myself last time."

"Oh I'm sure that was your reasons." The demoness spread her wings before flying off into the night.

Zerachiel crouched down before lifting Evelyn up, cradling her in his arms gently. She was actually around the same height as him if not a little taller but she was nothing to his strength. Spreading his wings, he took to the sky in the direction of the portal to heaven.

A few moments later, they were in Zerachiel's chambers. He hated how cramped the quarters were for training Holy Warriors. His own place was light and airy, a large four poster bed dominating the room. Large open terraces allowed a fresh breeze to enter the chamber. The sound of children laughing somewhere in the distance could be heard drifting on the breeze. They were orphans, the children of parents who had not made it to heaven. It was his job to manage the care of them alongside his duties as a healer and a Holy Warrior.

With great care, the archangel placed Evelyn on his bed. Smiling, he placed his hand on her forehead, his cheerful expression faltering slightly. "Someone's given you a little power to keep you going... I wish I had gotten there sooner." Sighing softly, his hand glowed as his powers flowed into her. Soon the poison was gone from her system. Her body would still be feverish for a little while but she would recover now. Smirking a little, he picked up a nearby cloth. "I better wipe the sweat from your body... Just to be safe." With the ease of someone who had done it many times before, the archangel began stripping the rookie angel of her armour.



((Yes Zerachiel has permission to manhandle Evelyn... Well perhaps not as far as he has taken it. We'll see how Evelyn reacts. lol ))

⋘⋖⋯Hidiyoshi ⋯⋗⋙

The hissing flames from Hidiyoshi’s mouth suddenly halted as the demon became alert to another holy presence of Gideon’s strength. “Dammit!” Hidiyoshi cursed as glowing hot lava trickled from his mouth and sizzled as it dropped upon the asphalt.

Hidiyoshi did not need to turn around to know that the sound of familiar wings flapping, was Eisheth retreating from the battle. The advocate gritted his teeth and hot smoke billowed from his flared nostrils. “Typical, never rely on a succubus in battle,” the advocate growled angrily.

Instead of feeling abandoned, Hidiyoshi used the angry to further fuel the boiling fire churning within him. Eisheth was not as loyal to Lucifer as Hidiyoshi was. She was not worthy of the Master’s attentions.

Unfortunately, the advocate was distracted long enough for Gideon lad two succinct jabs at Hidiyoshi’s abdomen. The force of each blow was enough to make lava involuntarily spray from the demon’s mouth as he coughed and wheezed.

Suddenly, the demon realized that his legs were no longer where they were supposed to be. And just as he toppled backwards, Hidiyoshi threw his two blades right at the Gideon. Then, as the demon’s body hit the ground, it exploded into a plume of wispy black smoke.

There was a reason Hidiyoshi was the Devil’s left hand...

“Looks like you were abandoned too Gideon,” The advocate’s disembodied voice chuckled maliciously into the night.

Then a smoky shadow hovered above the mortal’s fallen body. At least Jonah had been conveniently incapacitated. The wispy smoke formed a shadowy hand that extended downward to plunge into the human’s back. Then it quickly pulled out something, beautiful. A small orb of shimmering opalescent light.

The brightness of the soul’s glow made Hidiyoshi hiss. Quickly the bright orb faded as the demon absorbed the soul into his shadowed phantom form. “Until next time, Archangel,” Hidiyoshi hissed as the wispy smoke was blown away with the breeze.

Soon, firefighters would be making their way to the street. They would be at a loss as they put out the fire and found Jonah’s seemingly unharmed, but lifeless body. Never would mortals know what truly happened that night.

♜ THE LEFT HAND OF THE DEVIL ♜

"So this...plan of yours," Rhode sighed. "I'd at least like to know what I'm committing too. I do hate the idea of being blindsided, but it seems inevitable in that wretched place. Their numbers are, well, you know..." She trailed off, fidgeting slightly.

"Besides, if we're going to be spending a little time up there, I am just slightly curious as to how they work. Might we spend a little time snooping around?" While it certainly wasn't the best idea, she was curious as to what other things they would encounter. Did heaven have its own beasts? Surely they had more of an arsenal than just the holy warriors.

Cystrus smirked as the Devil mentioned that he needed a diversion created in Heaven. Who best to ask other than Cystrus and Rhode? He looked over to Rhode, hearing her ask her question as he turned his attention back to Lucifer. He didn't really care what Lucifer was going to get them into. He was itching for some other excitement to go on. A demon wrecking havoc in Heaven, what better job could there have been? He was all in without a moment's hesitation.

He looked back to Rhode. "You're not worried are you?" he joked. "Outnumbered or not, they still haven't managed to wipe us out entirely. But, nevertheless, I'm sure they've got some surprises of their own for when we visit." He chuckled, looking back over to Lucifer. "You're sure getting one hell of-a party, Set up just for you, I'm sure," Cystrus finished, his smirk never leaving his face. Sure he was cocky at times... all the time. But, was there really a reason to be frightened? They were going to the angels' home territory and there would be plenty of angels to only two of Hell's spawn and Lucifer himself. And granted, the element of surprise certainly wasn't on their side. But, proceeding carefully, they couldn't lose right?

Overall, Rhode was right. It would be ideal to look around and see how the angels lived and prospered. What they were doing while others fought down on Earth. "No matter, though. Whatever happens, I'm with you all the way," he confirmed, his red eyes showing enthusiasm.

Zerachiel was pouting a little when Evelyn finally came to her senses and stopped running around like a headless chicken. "You've really made a mess of my room," he said, looking around and sighing a little. "I brought you in here to give you somewhere to rest and you go crazy." The archangel glanced down at the rookie's bare feet. "At least I got your boots off before you trailed dirt everywhere."

His eyes met hers as she asked about the others they had left behind. "Oh. Last I saw Gideon was fighting Hideyoshi and the mortal had fallen into euphoria. I don't know what happened after that. I'm sure Gideon is fine. As for the mortal, his fate is in God's hands now." The young looking angel skipped over and took the girl's hand. "Now back to bed with you. You're still feverish and recovering. You don't just get over a bad reaction like that after a couple of minutes."

Dragging the rookie angel back to bed, he set her down on the side. While she could likely try to break free or resist, he was much stronger than her if push came to shove. "Now get this armour off. I was trying to get it off you so you could rest properly but then you had your little moment." Inwardly, Zerachiel was a little disappointed the girl had woken up so quickly. He had planned to strip her completely but that plan had been frustrated. He sighed quietly to himself, her reaction was still silly. She had only recently died. Surely she would not have reacted in such a way if she had woken up in the hospital in only a gown?

Once Evelyn had removed her armour, he picked up a bowl and a towel. "We need to wash off the remnants of the venom and the sweat that's covering you. Get the rest of those clothes off and we can do it." He smiled his best innocent smile, something he was incredibly good at. "Once that's done. I'll go to your place and find you a spare set of clothing. You can rest in my bed while I'm away." The sound of laughing children grew nearer. "Oh, yes. If the children are disturbing you while you try to rest then just let me know." His eyes remained locked with hers. "They're good but young. Sometimes they forget I look after sick people here too."