“There,” Father Patrick Murphy pointed at an outcropping of rocks, as Enoch was enjoying flying for the first time. The newly ascended angel wolf-taur had his eyes closed as he felt the rush of wind blow past his white fur on his lower wolf half. Opening his eyes, eyes that are a solid blue, he sees the location in question as he makes his decent. Landing with a bit of a thud, his forelegs buckle slightly before he recovers once his hind legs hit solid ground.
“Sorry for that,” Enoch smiled as Father Patrick dismounted from the taur. “It’s my first flight.”
“You’ll get better with the landings,” Metatron responded as he soon landed next to Enoch. “Is this the location, human?”
“Yes,” Father Patrick shuddered. “I can still feel the oppressive hate coming from within.”
“So it’s not just me,” Enoch felt the fur on his body stand on end. “You might want to wait out here, Father Patrick. I’m sensing that the magics coming from within will kill you.”
“But I’m already dead,” the priest responded. “Can’t get any more dead can I?”
“Yes,” Metatron answered. “You are dead, and immortal in a fashion, but chaos is one of the few forces in the universe that can kill an immortal soul.” Metatron looked at the human. “Be it damned or uplifted. Time will tell if you remain the former or become the latter.”
Father Patrick looked stunned as Metatron readied his blade. Enoch summoned a blade of pure energy, a blade that looked similar to the sword that merged with him earlier.
“Impressive,” Metatron looked at Enoch. “I can feel the power coming from that blade. Yet I sense no malice from it.”
“I’d rather capture our enemies,” Enoch entered the cave. “You get more information that way.”
Metatron nodded at that strategy as he followed behind.
Heka and Qesem felt the presence of powerful angels well before they saw them. Both knew they stood little chance at a prolonged battle, so they quickly readied several traps for the two. While the traps were lethal for the unwary, their true purpose was to delay the intruders as the sorcerers prepared their escape.
“Quickly, my love,” Heka hissed at Qesem. “We mussssssssst be away.”
Qesem nodded silently as he made his final incantation. Pausing to pay a final look at their profane altar. An altar dedicated to Tiamat.
“Now,” Heka pleaded. “The portal isssssssssss open. Our masssssssster needsssssssssss ussssssssssss ssssssssssssssssssssstill.”
Enoch paused at the stalagmites before him. He snorted as he saw the energies crackling about, seeing the wards that would be otherwise invisible to even the most experienced spellcaster. He pointed his blade of energy in front of him and willed a small blast to travel forward; the energy reacted with the wards and caused a loud crack. Seeing the wards are gone, Enoch nods to Metatron and proceeds deeper into the cave.
“They are nearly here,” Heka hissed as the sound of another of the traps goes off. “Leave the remaining humansssssssssssss. We will not need them.”
Qesem nods as he grabs the last of his supplies and bundles them into a makeshift rucksack. Without a word, Qesem signals the wards surrounding the cages that the remaining iron knights are trapped in. The wards begin to glow a deep purple as black eldritch energies crackle and spark, the trapped humans screaming in agony as they feel their life force being forcibly ripped from them.
“We must be getting close,” Metatron felt the air of the cave getting thick with foul energies.
“Be wary,” Enoch saw wards and runes light up. “This looks to be the final trap to stall us. Stand back!” Enoch adjusted the grip on his sword and threw it forward like a spear. The result was instantaneous as the energy of light absorbed the darkness and forced it to flee. Holding out his hand, the energy sword returns to Enoch as he continues to push forward. The sounds of screaming are now noticeable as Enoch and Metatron enter a large cavernous space. Seeing the last of the iron knights flail and then burst into black flames and ash, Enoch growls as he spots his quarry.
“Heka and Qesem,” the angelic wofl-taur snarled; “I should have known!”
“The pup!” Heka looked shocked. “But he issssssssssssssss demon born, not an angel!”
“Think of it as an upgrade, you warlocks,” Enoch spat. “Come quietly or get your teeth knocked out. Preferably the second option.”
“Neither,” Heka hissed as a portal opened up behind her and she and Qesem slink through. Before Enoch could stop them, two shades appeared to halt him and Metatron from following.
“More of these things!” Metatron spat. “Let me handle them.”
“By all means,” Enoch nodded as he looked at the altar and struck it down with his energy blade. The result causing the remaining shades to scream as they are dragged into the rapidly collapsing vortex. “But destroying the altar seemed to take care of them just as easily,” Enoch smiled.
Moments later Father Patrick Murphy watched as both Enoch and Metatron exited the cave. The oppressive energies quickly faded as Enoch looked smug and opened a small portal. Reaching in, he pulls out a small box containing a couple of round metal spheres.
“Each of you grab a sphere and toss it into the cave,” Enoch instructed. “They will seal this place shut so that no one can ever use this place again.”
“What do they do?” Metatron examined the object.
“They make a big boom,” Enoch chuckleed. “While my brother Loki is a trickster, he has a hobby tinkering new ways to blow stuff up. These are a few of his prototypes.” Enoch twisted the sphere then quickly tossed it in. Both Metatron and Father Patrick followed suit.
As the cave entrance collapses and the mountain begins to collapse on its self, Enoch opens a portal.
“Where are you going?” Metatron looked at the angelic wolf-taur. “You need to come with me to heaven.”
“My work here is not done,” Enoch answered. “I may be an angel now, but hell is still home to me. And right now my home is in a state of upheaval. I must help my family put it right.”
“Let me help,” Father Patrick spoke up. “I may be a human, but I feel I need to assist as a way to atone for my actions.”
“This cannot wait,” Metatron shook his head. “Chaos is spiraling out of control. Heaven needs the help of the Lightbringer to prevent another Apocalypse. You have to get there fast!”
“But...” Enoch began.
“No buts!” said Metatron. “All of Creation depends on you and the new Custodia Ordinis. Okay, here's a compromise. Father Patrick Murphy and I will go to Dis to help restore order while you go to Heaven. Is that fair?”
“I suppose,” sighed Enoch.
Metatron tossed Enoch a gold coin. “That will give you entrance to Heaven.”
“Thanks,” Enoch caught the coin, “but I already got one. Jehovah gave me a coin after he had me locked up in a secret vault within the Grand Library. I was researching up on the wards.” Enoch grinned as Metatron’s face dropped. “Someone needed to fix the anti-chaos wards on Earth and then here in Hell. But I'll hold onto this one in case another demon becomes an angel.” Enoch grinned.
“What?!” Metatron looked stunned. “You were in Heaven?”
“For a solid year,” Enoch motioned to Father Patrick to join Metatron. “Ask Jehovah himself. Oh, and can you let Svadilfari know I’m heading up to Heaven and he should take the demons to the court of Dionysus; he’ll know what that means. Dionysus still owes me for what happened in 2500 BC. The angels are mine to escort back to Jehovah, I guess. I’m certain He’ll want to hear what Tarfiel has to say.”
“Right,” Metatron nodded. “I just hope that the people of Dis don't mind an angelic savior. Oh, and tell the Council to convene without me.”