Charles stood guard in Tarfiel and Azure's cell block. All in all, Kushiel had reacted to his arrival about as well as could be expected, perhaps a little better. After all, this WAS the same hard-ass who'd tried to arrest young Abrielle for making crop circles. Charles could certainly see why his father Michael disliked the Inquisition so intensely.
The guard captain was suddenly snapped out of his thoughts when an inky mass of blackness flew into the cell block and slipped through the bars to the door of Tarfiel's cell. The monstrosity began whipping her with its tendrils, dragging her away from her California rolls as it lashed her.
Charles hastily unlocked the cell. He and all the other guards rushed in. They all began shoving their spears and swinging their swords at the thing, but its smoke-like body was surprisingly difficult to pierce. Angered, the smoke thing lashed out at the guards with its smoky claws. Guard after guard dropped dead, their bodies gently dissolving into showers of golden sparks.
Soon, only Charles and another guard named Adbeel were left. Mercifully, the thing seemed to finally be weakening in the face of the continuous assault. Charles plunged his spear into the smoky body. Both smoke monster and spear dissolved into nothingness with a nasty hiss.
"What WAS that horrible thing?!" asked Adbeel. "And why was it so strong?"
"That must have been a Chaos Shade," said Charles. "I'm not sure where I came from, but I'd guess it has something to do with Nergal."
"How's Tarfiel doing?" asked Adbeel.
Charles knelt over the unconscious, green-skinned angel. An oily, black substance dripped from where she'd been struck. "Not great," said Charles. "She's alive, but it will take skilled healers to save her."
"God needs to know!" Adbeel said urgently.
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Semyaza sensed his Chaos Shade's demise. He could tell that it had perished before it could finish off Tarfiel... but it had grievously wounded her. He hoped that would be enough. Tarfiel was more use to him and his conspirators dead than alive. Her memories of her time in the cave might have been scrambled, but Semyaza couldn't risk some nugget useful to Jehovah coming to light. Once way or another, Tarfiel had to die, preferably as food for Chaos.
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Lucifer and Lilith were enjoying a pleasant late lunch with Princess Bithiel Caelestis, one of Jehovah's many daughters. Lilith looked around the ethereal room's baroque decor. "This place is lovely!" She turned to Lucifer. "I can see why you always seem to miss it so much, dear."
"It's been a long time since I've set foot here in my old home," Lucifer sighed nostalgically. "Sometimes I think about retiring here and turning Hell over to Miasma."
"But not to Nergal," Lilith chuckled.
"Certainly not!" Lucifer agreed fervently. He turned to Bithiel. "What's the latest news from Hell?"
"Well, we've received word that 'you' have just been beheaded," Bithiel answered. "Nergal was, by all accounts, quite jubilant."
"It will be HIS head that roles when I get back!" Lucifer thundered.
"And not a single jury in Heaven would convict you," Bithiel giggled musically. "Unfortunately, he has total control of all circles aside from the Eighth right now. By the way, were you serious about abdicating? Dad would be delighted to have you back. We do have ways of making you an angel again."
"I'm thinking about it," Lucifer said. "I'd need to feel that Lilith and I would be accepted by most. Also, it would have to be in a time of peace. I don't want Miasma to have a difficult transition when she becomes the Devil. She may be the Archdiablesse, but she doesn't have any real political experience. Besides..." His usually fearsome eyes filled with tears. "I don't really know where Miasma and Rachel are right now... or even if they live. Could you send someone to look for them, Bithiel."
"I will," Bithiel nodded, a kind smile on her face.
Suddenly, Captian Charles Morningstar and Corporal Adbeel Sunsteel burst in. "Your Celestial Highness!" Charles said, saluting the princess. "Where's your Father?!"
"He's meeting in His throne room with the Council," said Lucifer. "They're all in conference with the New Custodia Ordinis and Lightbringer."
"Drat!" Adbeel shouted. "We need Him! There's a situation in the cell blocks!"
"Are Tarfiel and Azure alright?" asked Bithiel.
"Azure's fine," said Charles, "but a Chaos Shade assaulted Tarfiel. The other guards died saving her from certain death, but she's just barely clinging to life."
"I'll bring her to the healing temple!" Bithiel declared. She turned to Lucifer and Lilith. "I'm so sorry for abandoning you two."
"It's perfectly fine," Lilith smiled. "Do what you need to do to save that poor angel."