Chapter: 5.
******The Ceruleanians are known as the White-winged and to the mortals; angels, the bringers of Goodwills, and messengers of the Third Heavens. They Ruled over the Earth and served directly under the Third Heavens. They were the first celestial beings to be created by the Third Heavens after the Gods created the Heavens and Earth. They Ruled over the Earth and served directly under the Third Heavens. Ceruleanians now known as Angels after Obenis Laws, were allowed to have free will, and it was an angel's duty to serve as a messenger and bring good word and knowledge to the humans. And this is precisely what Azrael did for a long time. He traveled across Plains and Planets and brought good tidings to its inhabitants oftentimes helping in escorting Souls of the Dead across the Black Death River.As a busy Angel, Azrael led a decent lifestyle, adored by many, feared by some. He was friendly and well-suited to his job and the people he served. But even then, Azrael had a tendency to get carried away with his duties; so he made time to go wandering the Unclaimed Grounds. He would often find time to wander into the Silent Grounds to free his Spirits of their many hidden burdens.The Shivvarians after the War and Obenis Laws, became known as the Dark-winged and to the mortals; demons, evil spirits, and bringers of destruction. The Rulers of the Underworld, guardians of darkness, and escorts of Souls across the Bridge into their final place of Judgment after they have been brought to the edge of the Black River by a messenger Angel. But this does not bring a Cerulean and a Shivvarian together, as the Ceruleanians are often guided by bright lights, so great that they are never shown to a Shivvarian.And above all, A Cerulean is given the divine ability to transform and take upon themselves the fleshy bodies of the mortals. But, to a Shivvarian, it was not so. They can only take the forms of wild beasts of the Earth, and when they are cut, they shall bleed red like the mortals. It was a curse brought upon them by Obenis's Laws after the Second war.A chance encounter brought about the two wandering Spirits into the place known as The Silent Grounds; A place of secrets. Now, the Silent Grounds is known as the Unclaimed land. Owned by neither Gods nor Demons. It was simply a place birthed from the Tears of Phiophis the god of abundance, who took upon himself death when he found his one true love deceased even before he could confess his deepest desire.The young god took death as his punishment and the Silent Grounds became his burial mound and his eternal home. It was said that his spirits floated the Grounds, his tears constantly dripped into the Lands like raindrops, and thus the Grounds were often found wet and fertile, drenched by the tears of the god, and bathed in mist and cold. Anyone who bears within themselves a burden they could not speak to another celestial being would be found wandering the Silent Grounds, and muttering their secrets into the endless mist.It was in this place they found each other for the first time.A union that should never have been born.Azrael a white-winged often found his steps within the Silent Grounds, and more often than not, the restless spirit would be found pacing the Grounds, speaking secrets that shall not be heard by another.It was in one of these many circumstances, that he found his eyes lingering on that of a Shivvarian. It would also be the first time he would be seeing one other than the illustrations of them on the stained glass in the Halls of Wisdom. Azrael's eyes lingered on the oblivious Shivvarian, he watched him pace the Grounds, heard his whispers, and his soul melted for him.Azazel felt the eyes boring into the back of his head. He turned and his eyes fell into the Cerulean who watched him from a distance. And for a moment, the Silent Grounds stood still, becoming even more quieter. The constant whispers of the Damned god spirits became silent, and both the Shivvarian and the Cerulean shared an unspoken understanding. Both knew they were not alone at that moment.And a feeling so strange they could not comprehend swallowed their spirits at that moment.Azazel's eyes flickered to the Cerulean once again, his eyes held the same emotion that Azrael's did. A mix of awe and sorrow. He was just as he was told. The Ceruleanians were Heavenly Beings, with golden flawless skin, golden eyes, and elegant golden wings, that he was certain would feel soft to the touch, unlike his which held spikes at the edges. Slender limbs, strong body, gracefully graceful gait, untainted, a picture of perfection and godliness. His robe hung smoothly from his body as if there was no weight attached to them, giving the appearance of being weightless. They held powers, unlike anything a Shivvarian could ever begin to imagine or had ever seen.The Shivvarian found himself lost and confused as the longer he stared into those golden eyes, the deeper his spirits burned, and his soul for the first time began to awaken within him. It felt as if he was in pain, a useless comparison to a Demon with no sense of self or emotion, but the feeling lingered. His body was numb as an unresponsive statue. Still, it was the first time that he had actually felt anything other than anger. He could not deny that his heart screamed with longing as those beautiful eyes looked at him so deeply that he feared the other would find all the secrets hidden beneath the layers of darkness.But he would not look away.Even if he shall die from the cursed feeling surging through his spirits, he shall not look away.********In contrast to his golden skin, the Shivvarian held a darker tone, his eyes were deep and red, like the Gateway to Dreamixar, the Land of Nightmares. Yet, the white-winged could not look away. Strong black wings, and elegant horns, rose from his temples and curved toward his forehead, the tips glistening with Infernal glow, while sharp claws protruded from the fingertips of each hand. His face was beautiful, yet deadly and cold. Their eyes were riveted in an eternal staring contest, never breaking eye contact as they stared at one another. The Shivvarian was a beautiful Being, yet there was something about him that was frightening. Like a predator waiting for the right moment to strike. And his Prey... the Cerulean.The Ceruleanian took a step forward but was pushed back by an unseen force. It was the power of the Second Law. 'Darkness and Light Have Nothing In Common And Therefore Shall Not Meet.’ They were forbidden to stand too close to each other even if they stood within the Silent Grounds, still, the Laws of Obenis prevailed even in this place."What is your name, Cerulean?"A voice like fire rippled into the quietude of the Grounds, filling the silent space around them, startling the Damned god Phiophis. He may have died thousands of years ago, yet his spirits owned this place, and they could feel his presence even in their midst."My name is Azrael." He spoke softly. "And you, Shivvarian?"A smile slit the demon's lips at his use of the word Shivvarian. It seemed so utterly misspoken, like such a name should never be uttered by a Ceruleanian for they were pure heavenly bodies. Yet, it rose a fire within the Shivvarian, and his endless heart raged loudly within. "Azazel." He returned coldly, watching intently at the many expressions which swept across the Cerulean’s face. "My name is Azazel." He repeated, this time holding warmth in his tone.The Cerulean laughed softly, and it was the sweetest sound Azazel ever heard. This was followed by a smile that could melt the heart of any who looked upon it. It filled Azazel with a different kind of emotion. And among the many emotions cursing through him, one stood out above all, and that one was; Jealousy. He longed to keep the angel's smile all to himself. No one else is more deserving of his smiles but him.If only he could snap him away from sight, from all their eyes, and hide him away in a place where only he knows.But, the Damned Laws. It kept them apart, and would not allow him the angel's closeness."It looked like our names matched all too perfectly, my Shivvarian friend."Friend? The Shivvarian thought with a silent chuckle. How can a Ceruleanian call a Shivvarian friend? It was forbidden to behold the face of a Ceruleanian, more so to speak to one. And yet, he called him, friend! But Azazel loved the endearment, he wanted to be addressed as his friend.Just him.And at that moment, Azazel knew that if he were to ever bleed, it would be by the hands of the Cerulean who laughed and smiled at him. Only he could truly hurt, and bring him to his knees. He took a step forward but the Cerulean turned his back to him and vanished before his eyes.And the Shivvarian could not follow.A curse was born.******Chapter: 6.******Steven Martins and his co-officer Murray Gray stood side by side with each taking turns to hammer their fists against the door of the motel where they had learned Logan was holed up. The metal rings on Steven's fist clattered uselessly against the surface as he tried to bang the door again in frustration. "Damn it," he grumbled, "What kind of sleep is he sleeping that he wouldn't wake up even with all this chaos?!" He threw a punch at the door and another round of profanity tumbled from his lips, but it was no good."You think he's alright in there?" Murray asked anxiously as they both stared at the door with growing concern.Steven glanced over at him and then sighed heavily. "No, I don't know if he's alright, but we're not going away until he's out, so we might as well make ourselves comfortable. Maybe it's better if we go back to the car-""You've got to be kidding me!" Murray snapped, causing the other officer to raise questioning brows at his come-back. "We can
Chapter: 7.“Happy birthday to you!!!" Voices rang and hands joined together in claps of excitement as the little crowd sang to the boy who sat with a paper hat seated atop his head. A smile so bright it lit up every face that smiled back at him. It was just past midnight on October 20th, but his parents had managed to hold a party with the help of some friends and relatives who were more than happy to help out with the cake, balloons, and lights strung around the room. They were all having fun, laughing, and having a great time singing the birthday song. When his father, a well-known local celebrity, walked through the door holding a small parcel in his hand, he walked to stand beside his wife and joined them in singing for the boy.His father used to be a well-known Educator in the big city before he was born, and after his birth, his mother had suffered some sort of mental illness which resulted in her nearly drowning her son in his bathwater when the boy was six months old. His fa
Chapter: 8.******The wind whistled smoothly, brushing its tenderness across the sleeping man's face. His eyes moved from their closed lids, fluttering open to meet the cool early morning breeze. He sat up, wrapping his arms around himself to fend off the sudden chill. Glancing around, he realized he had no idea where he was. As his vision adjusted to the dim light of the stars, he identified the outlines of trees and bushes that surrounded him. The sound of water rushing nearby resonated in his ears, drawing his attention toward a river a few meters away. He stood up, the grass crunching under his feet as he walked toward the river. Reaching the bank, he knelt and cupped some water in his hands. The water was cold but refreshing, clearing his mind and making him feel more awake. Suddenly, he felt a tug at the back of his mind, something he couldn't explain. He looked around, but the sensation persisted. As he stood up to return to where he'd awakened, he heard footsteps coming fr
Chapter: 9.*******Azazel stood above the sleeping man. He was shirtless, and his sleeping pants lined his frame so perfectly that, with his deep vision, Azazel could see just what lay within those silk-white materials. His curly brown hair was tousled and framed his face in a way that made Azazel's skin burn with lust. He took a deep breath of air into his lungs and exhaled with a smirk. "It's not fair," he murmured as he lowered himself and sat beside the sleeping man. His long, slender fingers traced the ridges of scars along Logan's arms, causing a shiver to wrack through him.Azazel could tell the tales hidden behind each scar, from the first one on his left middle finger when he was six. He had cut himself with a knife while trying to slice a rubber apple, as his plastic knives weren't up to the task. The curious boy was bent on knowing what lay within the rubber apple, and there was little to do to stop him from reaching for the knife. The Demon loomed helplessly.After all, t
Chapter 10.*******Azazel found himself standing at the edge of the bridge, a place where the ethereal black river flowed endlessly. It was the realm of spirits, where souls awaited to cross over into their final place of judgment. And today, Azazel and his brother stood guard by the bridge. As he waited for the next ferry to arrive, his thoughts were filled with the encounter he had envisioned but was not prepared for. "It has been such a long time since I've seen him," Azazel thought as he looked across the bridge. The bridge connected the two realms of the dead and of life, and it was the only opportunity if ever he were to see him again.Unbeknownst to him, Azrael was also drawn to this place. They were destined to be kept apart, bound by their respective roles as Shivvarian and Cerulean.After their first encounter, Azrael knew with all his soul he may never set eyes on the Shivvarian again, and so he had gone about his duties, keeping as busy as he possibly could. Anything to k
Chapter: 11.******Time in Shivvara passes quickly, and it would take many blood moons before Azazel could meet his father's face. Feziam, the illegitimate son of Yidis, took over the Devildom after Yidis relinquished his rule. Yidis, knowing that Obenis had defeated him, became a broken god who shamelessly caused chaos within the lands of Shivvara. When he could no longer bear his shame, he went down to Earth and spent several years wandering before he met Feziam's mother, a young witch named Azzamu, on one of her walks.She gave him a son, and Yidis's heart was soothed once again. Thrilled by the birth of his son, Yidis promised the witch that her son would rule over Shivvara on her dying bed. Feziam became the ruler by Yidis's words, and all Shivvaraians respected the demi-witch. However, after having his sons, Feziam became weary of the throne. Neither Azazel, his first son, nor Felix, his second, cared about taking over the throne of skulls from their father. They were content w
Chapter: 12.******Logan sat waiting in the dark room, his fingers drumming along the tabletop in a repetitive beat as his eyes darted around the bare walls. His body was rigid with tension, and his breath came out harshly as he tried to control it. He looked like an animal trapped in some kind of cage, waiting for a predator to come and feed on him. The air was thick with the scent of bleach and sweat, which only added to Logan's already foul mood. The small space felt claustrophobic. His heart pounded loudly in his chest, threatening to break through his ribs and burst from his mouth. Sweat dripped down his temple, pooling on the wooden table beneath his fingers and staining the wood grain. It was cold in the room, almost frigid, but Logan didn't mind so much.He was in a state of shock. He couldn't believe that he was a suspect in the death of his co-officer, Steven Martins. As a detective, he had seen his fair share of crime scenes, but this was different. It was personal.He had
Chapter: 13.******As Christopher stepped into his apartment, the dull, dim lighting seemed to add heaviness to the atmosphere. The weight of the information he had just received clung to him like a heavy cloak. It had been a long and tiring day, filled with unexpected twists and turns. He closed the door behind him, trying to shut out the outside world for a moment of solace.The apartment was small and cluttered, with boxes stacked haphazardly against the walls. Christopher's gaze drifted towards a worn-out couch, with faded and threadbare cushions, which served as a testament to the years of use and neglect. A sense of weariness washed over him as he surveyed the disarray that seemed to mirror his own chaotic thoughts.Sighing deeply, he walked to the lone window in the room. The city lights sparkled in the distance, their glow creating a surreal atmosphere. It was as if a separate world existed beyond the confines of his humble abode. Christopher leaned against the windowsill, hi