Fallen Angel Part 3
She awoke in a dark jungle, surrounded by the noise of savagery amongst the native creatures. Personally Fallen did not wish to get mixed up in this native savagery, so she immediately made her way to a small dirt path, a few yards south. After walking the path West for a few miles she came to a very interesting mansion. It was floating above what seemed to be a bottomless pit, and it looked like the only path above the pit, leading to the door of the mansion was a long piece of woven cloth, that was supported by nothing. When she got to the beginning of this path she heard a twisty sharp voice, which though irritating, was entertaining at the same time. "Well, hello there and who might you be, miss," the strange voice asked. "I am Fallen Angel, the new leader of the Blood Lust clan," announced Fallen boldly. There was a silence on the voices part for a minute or two. "Hmm... So Grave Sinner has cashed in his final soul token. Well I must say it is about time. Well seeing how you are here, I am presuming you know the password," said the voice.
"Loveless," responded Fallen Angel. As soon as she said that word the entire path of cloth stiffened into a soft walk way. "Now watch your step, miss Fallen. The path is safe, but the edges are not. Fallen felt herself jitter with fear, and then forcing herself to hold her jitters, so that she could begin on her way across the path. She went from step to step, almost tripping on her fourth step, and finally at the door, which automatically opened once she got there. Fallen then entered the door, unsure of what she would find.
Inside of this mansion was a long staircase, carpeted with bright red velvet. The home had an abundance of decorative paintings, statues, and other various art pieces set all along the hall that was positioned at the top of the staircase. Fallen Angel heard the most beautiful music that she could not identify, while she made her way down the hall. It was low pitched, soothing, and was very different from the music she use to listen to as a child. "Do you like it? It is called Jazz, and judging by the way you are dressed I would say it is from about a century after your time," said the strange voice again.
"Where are you," asked Fallen Angel.
"I am to your right," said the voice. When Fallen looked to her right she saw a very peculiar sight. Standing beside her was figure compose entirely of panty hose. Where his hands and feet should have been, there was nothing. There was a large hole cut in the pantyhose that were wrapped around his head, but nothing was visible inside. It was as if he was the pantyhose suit. "Well are we going to commence with what you came here for or are you just going to stare at me all day," asked the Cloth Man.
Fallen Angel took a moment to clear her head, then saying, "Oh... Umm, yes. Here, I need to know if this is Sanctuary." Fallen reaches in between her bosoms to retrieve the knife from earlier.
"Wow. I certainly hope you are not going to charge me for that, but anyways let me take a look," says the Cloth Man. The Cloth Man takes the knife in hand and begins to look it over. First he looks along the leather bound handle. Then he looks along the 7 inch steel blade. "Nope. It is an Angel's blade, but it is not Sanctuary. This blade is Bless, which if you ask me is just as valuable given its power to change form for a brief amount of time, though Sanctuary is said to have its own unknown power. Now you know that Grave Sinner did not kill himself, but this rises to questions. Who killed Grave Sinner and where is Sanctuary," said the Cloth Man, as he handed her back Bless.
Fallen Angel let out a soft sigh. "Well one thing is for certain, you need to be fully trained before you go back to the manor. I would be honored to train you, miss Fallen, but first you should get some rest," said the Cloth Man. Fallen Angel nodded. The Cloth Man then showed Fallen Angel to her corroders. Fallen did not like this new room as much as she liked the one she had at the Blood Lust manor. This was just as glamorous as the other room, if not more so, but the feeling to the room was different. The feeling was colder, sadder, and lonelier. It was a mirror image of how she felt on the inside. Fallen laid her head down peacefully on her soft pillow, and shut her eyes, letting herself fall in to sweet bliss.
Fallen Angel began to dream. She dreamed that she was being stabbed over and over in the chest by angelic daggers, and as the blood ran down her torso it slowly turned to flame. The flame would lick at her face repetitively, as the figure of Grave Sinner approached her. "Fallen Angel, what did he say of the blade," asked Grave Sinner.
"He said that it was the dagger known as Bless," answered Fallen.
"I see, the transforming dagger. If you ever wish to use that dagger for more than stabbing, say 'Bless me as' and then say what ever or whom ever you wish to transform as, and you only have to be holding the dagger as you say this. You can keep the new form, or transform back to your normal form both with out holding the dagger. To transform back just say 'Blessed.' Dear Fallen Angel, always remember that wishes will wilt. To wish is to beg. Begging never prospers. Wishes will wilt," says Grave Sinner. Grave Sinner pulls both daggers out of Fallen Angel, and stabs them into himself, as he turns into a furious inferno of a body. "Heed my warning, Fallen Angel. You have done your business here. Leave immediately," warned the fiery Grave Sinner. He faded from vision, as he exclaimed one word... "Wake."
When Fallen Angel woke she realized it was the dead of night. In panic she leapt from her bed, dashing to the door. She was surprised to find the door was locked. Fallen Angel took out the dagger bless and tried to pick the lock with no effect. Fallen was more frustrated than had been in a great while, but then she remembered that the angelic dagger she held was more than a common weapon. She thought for a moment, and then said, "Bless me as Cloth Man." Her body began to tremble as she felt her warm skin smooth into an entire different material. She was now made of fabric. She was a splitting image of the Cloth Man, himself.
Fallen flattened the fabrics of her body, so that her whole bottom half was touching the floor, and she was no taller than ½ an inch. She crept under the door crack, into the grand hall, where she reconfigured herself into Cloth Man's normal stature. Geese, his body has some advantages, she thought to herself. She then heard clapping coming from behind her, coming from the Cloth Man. "Bravo, bravo. I would never think you knew how to use the dagger. Well I suppose you are wondering why I locked you in there. You see years ago I was the best hit man there was. I had one policy, which was that I finish every job I take upon myself. Well my only incomplete job has been to find and kill the leader of Blood Lust. Well, let me tell you a little secret. I found Grave Sinner years ago, and I grew to like him, so I made a little deal with him. The deal was he would give me a sacred item, called the fabric sash, which gives me this cloth exterior, and many interesting capabilities. What did he get in return, you may be wondering. Well, I would spare his life and kill his heir. I hate to break it to you, but that is you."
Suddenly the carpet under Fallen Angel swished and twirled like a storm. Fallen still in her cloth form, jumped of from the carpet swaying lightly through the air to the ground. Fallen gracefully, but sluggishly swayed to the floor. The Cloth Man took the opportunity to whip out one of his pantyhose arms to the length of 8 feet, wrapping around Fallen Angels pantyhose leg tightly, and pull her close. Cloth Man held Fallen to the ground and said, "First I am going to knot you up into a tidy bow. Then I am going to light a match, and burn you apart. How foolish. I can't believe you could beat me as me. Who is better at being me, than me?"
Fallen grinned and yelled, "Blessed." Fallen Angel slowly molded back from the fabric look-alike into her beautiful self. She grabbed the Cloth Man by his pantyhose arms, and still on her back, began to flap her wings. The Cloth Man's light weight, caused for him to completely be pulled off the ground, by the wind that Fallen Angel's wings where generating. The Cloth Man's shoulders where now being ripped apart. He was being torn between the fierce winds and Fallen Angel's tight grip.
"Stop, please," screamed the Cloth Man. Fallen Angel continued flapping her wings ferociously, and tightened her grip on the arms. "Wench! I am begging you, release me, please," he squealed.
Fallen Angel smirked and said, "How foolish." At that moment both of the Cloth Man's arms ripped off.
"Ahhhh," screamed the Cloth Man. "I am going to pull myself back together, and then you are mine," threatened the Cloth Man.
Fallen grinned at the Cloth Man, and said, "You talk a lot for a hit man, but you have a point." Fallen Angel walked up to the armless Cloth Man, grabbed around his head, and in one quick tug, ripped the head right off from its pantyhose neck.
"Ahhhh," screamed the Cloth Man again.
Fallen placed the head under her arm, and said, "I guess you will just have to come with me, and I mean just your head." Fallen Angel was confused now. Could that really have been me, Fallen asked herself.
Fallen exited the mansion and looked down to her begrudging comrade. "You know, Cloth Man, you did bring up a good point. I do need training before I go back to the manor. Do you know anyone else qualified to train me," asked Fallen.
The head thought for a moment. "Well there is one... He is a very old and rare demon, but you would not know just by looking at him. His name is Obsuritas," jabbered the lonely head of Cloth Man.
"Where might I find this Obsuritas," asked Fallen Angel.
"Along the path to my home, but to the East, not the West. He is an experienced one, so be careful. He could slay us in the blink of an eye, if he so chose it," said the Cloth Man. Fallen went along the trail to the East. As she past the trees of the jungle, she heard a strange hissing. Fallen Angel continued, paying no mind to the sound. The hissing began to steadily increase in volume, and the sound of slithering followed. "Oh no, not him," said the Cloth Man.
"what is it," asked Fallen Angel.
"When I was a hit man, I worked directly for Obsuritas, and there were two others who worked for him. Those two were Voldon Harethes, a sharp dressed demon, and Serpento, a lethal reptilian creature. When Voldon, Serpento, and I were told that we were no longer needed, Serpento lost his mind. Obsuritas's estate has a spell cast on. The spell renders anyone with ill intentions completely paralyzed until the thoughts are no longer on the mind of the aggressor, so I am assuming that he has been lurking out here for most of his time, waiting for the opportunity for revenge," said the Cloth Man.
"That is correct, my old friend," said Serpento, who just crept out from the darkness of the deep jungle.
"You were once one of the most respected hired hands in the business, Serpento. You still could have found more work in our line of business. Why would you dwell on this to such extremes," asked the Cloth Man. The scaled body would shift and quiver, as a grin rose to his face.
"I will tell you why, my disembodied friend. I spent six hundred years working for that man, and for what? Did I do it for a pat on the shoulder, a 'better luck next time?' I don't think so," said Serpento. Fallen reached into her purse, and slipped the dagger behind her back.
"Your right, Serpento," said Fallen Angel. This caught Serpento off guard.
"What," asked Serpento. Fallen flashed a sexy wink, as she drifted towards him slightly.
"I said you are absolutely right, Serpento. You have every right to be outraged. Who does he think he is," asked fallen. Serpento took a moment to analyze the situation.
Then after a confirming that he understood this woman correctly, he proceeded by saying, "Well... You most definitely have me by surprise, but it is relieving to find someone who actually understands," as he tilts his head to one side, and chuckles bashfully in response to Fallen Angel's advances.
Fallen then sets down the head of the Cloth Man, before saying, "Oh I understand. I understand that a creature as intelligent, as handsome, strong and as experienced as you, shouldn't be treated like some amateur." Serpento nods vigorously, as Fallen now wraps her arms around his back in a series of strong advances to this creature.
"You have quite the personality, you know," asked Serpento.
"Yes," said Fallen Angel, as she planted her daggers tip deep in between Serpento's shoulder blades. The revolting reptile leaked dribbles of blood from his freshly popped jaw.
All Serpento could muster his energy to say was, "Damn you to Hell, you demon, in angel's clothing," before he fell dead.
Fallen Angel got grip of the dagger buried in Serpento's back, placed a foot on each limp arm of the lifeless reptile, and with one swift pull, dislodged Bless from the beast's back. Fallen then sliced of Serpento's lifeless head. "Fallen Angel, is collecting heads a hobby of yours or something," asked the Cloth Man, who was placed on a large oak tree's stump.
Fallen Angel picked up the two heads, saying, "I have a feeling we may need it," and proceeded East along the trail, after placing the two heads and the dagger in her purse.
"The more I see from you, the more you remind me of Grave Sinner. That is not exactly a positive feature though," said the Cloth man. Fallen nodded. About half a dozen miles later, she came to marvelous summer cottage. "This is the place," announced the Cloth Man. Fallen Angel walked up to the cottages entryway. She noticed a large knocker on the door, decorated with a fierce looking gargoyle statue, which held the knocker to the door with in the grips of its teeth. She gripped the knocker firmly and at a light momentum knocked it at a paced and steady rhythm of five knocks. A large echoes voice would surround the two.
"Why should you pass," asked the voice.
"Because I am the leader of the Blood Lust clan, and I seek your aid," said Fallen. Fallen then gasped in fear, as suddenly the statue's features became more lively and detailed.
"I don't sense that she is worthy, boss," suddenly said the small gargoyle in a smaller raspier voice than the other. Despite the knocker in its mouth, the creature seemed able to annunciate clearly.
"What have you done worthy to deserve me attention," asked the deep voice of the unknown source. On that queue Fallen whipped out the heads of Serpento and the Cloth Man from her purse.
The Cloth Man pretended to be dead. "I have slain two of the warriors good enough to serve under you once," said Fallen Angel.
"Interesting," said the voice.
Then the gargoyle spoke, "How do we know this is not a trick, boss? Lets have a test, hmm?"
After a short time of considering the gargoyles proposal, the voice said, "Yes. There shall be a test. You my gargoyle are free from the wall, so you can combat this woman. If you succeed you will be of your own will, free for all of eternity. Now attack, my pet," said the deep voice. The gargoyle then sprang from the wall in a fit of fury.
"So you got wings do you, well I do too. Lets see how well you can use your pretty little flappers, wench," said the nasty snarling gargoyle, before snatching Fallen Angel's wing, and beginning to lift her into dawn's sky. Fallen was being thrashed back and forth through the air, unable to be free of the creature's latch, no matter how hard she would flap her wings.
The creature crackled its raspy voice in hysteria, as he shook poor Fallen faster and faster. "Oh look. The falcon has a little dove in his grasp," snarled the gargoyle.
Fallen Angel retrieved Bless from her purse and said, "Bless me as living stone." Fallen fell nearly 100 feet down to the ground, taking the gargoyle with her. For a moment all that could be seen was a large hole which the stone fallen created on impact. Then heard from inside the hole from Fallen Angel was "Bless me as Serpento," followed by the screams and pleading of the poor gargoyle. Then there was silence. It was a rich cold silence that would turn a man's blood cold. The gargoyles arm made it outside of the hole, though the rest of him did not. "Blessed," said Fallen Angel. She crept out of the hole, with the detached arm to prove her victory.
Fallen Angel slowly made her way to the door once again. She slumped and gasped for breath, as she awaited the voices decision. "Bless might not always be there for you. You need to learn how to fight with out the power of that dagger and that is why you are not worthy of my teachings, new leader of Blood Lust," said the voice. Fallen was confused about what this man's relationship to Bless was, but more than that she was upset with herself. All this time she had been working on her skills to master Bless. She had no idea that in the process she had become dependent on the dagger, and it was just now she was realizing it. The voice continued, "You are not worthy, but you are needing of my teachings, and you have past the test, so proceed." The door, which the gargoyle once was bound to, and where a knocker was once held slowly, but surely opened for Fallen Angel.
Fallen entered the cottage, which was filled with a lonely silence. The ground was entirely composed of very fine cherry flooring. The walls were built of strong insolated oak. And that was all that there was to this room. It was well kept, simple, and impressive. The cottage seemed to differ from the Cloth Man's home. First of all this cottage was built of expensive timbers with detailed work. He had no expensive art pieces, golden statues, or any other frills to speak of. The Cloth Man's home did have those things in great abundance, though Fallen Angel failed to see what intellect the Cloth Man possessed to justify his such things. It was evident that the owner was most likely wealthier than most, but showed it different than the Cloth Man. Instead of buying expensive luxuries and frills like the Cloth Man bought, this man acquired only the things he needed, but all at better quality than the Cloth Man had.
A man dressed in a stunning velveteen robe entered the room. His hair was black hair was slicked back. He had a thin mustache that was attached to his distinguished goatee. He had gray eyes like all demons she knew. The fact that his hair was black, which was not common for a demon, in fact a demon with out silver hair was almost unheard of. His skin did not have any crimson tint, and his horns did not show at all. All of these things made Fallen Angel feel uneasy. "I am Obsuritas, and I am confused as to why the Blood Lust clan would have an angelic leader," said the man.
"I am only an angel in appearance really. As you can see my eyes give me away for what I truly am. I am a demon, whom was only bound to Hell by sin in the midst of flight to Heaven. I assure you I can do anything a demon can do," said Fallen Angel.
Obsuritas nods, and says, "Alright. You are both angel and demon, and when I am done training you, you will be able to tap into the abilities of both. That gives you an advantage on the common opponent, and a lot of unfulfilled potential. Before we begin I have to ask you two questions." Fallen nodded to Obsuritas. "First, what is your name," asked Obsuritas.
"Fallen Angel," replied Fallen.
"Secondly, angels and humans can not see the true form of demons and Hell, because they still obtain a trace of their innocence no matter how foul. If you are both angel and demon, can you see it or not," asked Obsuritas.
Fallen dropped her head, and answered, "Not really. Everything seems normal to me in hell, except for one time... When I hugged Grave Sinner, I think I saw just a flash of Hell and his true form."
"I see. Mind if I test something," asked Grave Sinner.
Fallen shook her head, and whispered, "I don't mind." Obsuritas then would slowly take a few steps towards Fallen Angel, as Fallen felt a weird vibe around his presence. Obsuritas paused for a moment, and then took another few steps forward. At that moment something strange happened. She saw Obsuritas similar to the way she saw Grave Sinner in that sudden flash, but with a few differences.
"Fallen Angel, you look shocked. Do you see it," asked Obsuritas. Fallen Angel nodded grimly. "You must tell me exactly what you see and how it differs from the earlier flash," ordered Obsuritas.
"Well first off, this is not a flash. I see it all, as if I was a pure demon. There is no fire surrounding you like there was around Grave Sinner. You are a lot larger than he was, in fact I would be so bold to say that you are 10 feet tall. You have remarkable hooves; 10 inch claws, horns that do not resemble the average Billy goat, but more like the full-grown ram. And the biggest difference is that you have eyes. You have large glowing red eyes. Grave Sinner's most abnormal feature was that he had no eyes to speak of," said Fallen Angel.
Obsuritas takes a moment to think about what Fallen Angel just said, and then says, "Alright. I believe that the reason you see these things when you do, is because when you get close enough to a powerful demon, his sin level lets you see exactly what you would if you were a full demon. If the demon is relatively powerful you would have to be very close, and you may not even notice when you see it. If the demon is quite powerful, like Grave Sinner you will see it in a short flashes during physical contact. And in more exceptional cases it seems it is not a flash at all, and in this case distance can be with in two yards. The flames you said surrounded Grave Sinner were Hell. I am bigger because I train constantly and I have been around for a while. My hooves, claws, and horns are all mutations of my body from being trapped in hell for a very long time. If it were not for a certain spell book I probably would still be there. After learning each spell in the book by heart, I gave it to a good friend as a gift; in fact it is most likely how you got here. Anyways Grave Sinner had no eyes, because long ago he lost them in a battle with an angel named Wrathless. You, being an angel would not have been able to see such a travesty of his disability with out having gotten close enough to touch him. Grave Sinner had to train all his other senses to be stronger to make up for his loss of sight."
Fallen sat on the cherry flooring, completely dumfounded. How could this complete stranger just break down everything I couldn't understand with in minutes of introduction, she asked herself. If I never ran away after seeing Grave Sinner's true form, would he still be there, thought Fallen Angel to herself. "Don't dwell on such things, Fallen Angel. It is not healthy," said Obsuritas.
"What," asked Fallen. Obsuritas smiled.
"I heard you thinking to yourself, so I gave you a little bit of advice. Don't dwell on things like that," said Obsuritas.
Fallen was confused. "You read minds," asked Fallen Angel.
"Yes. It gets annoying sometimes, like when I am in a room with to many people, or in a room with someone who clearly is no intellectual," confessed Obsuritas.
"Just as I think you are as uncommon as possible, you do or tell me something like this," said Fallen Angel, followed by a light sigh.