Wayward Son

By Dabeagle

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Chapter 18

“No, out of the question, afraid not!” Woolcott raised his hand and held it out flat to Azlea. “Even though you don't seem all that demonic on the surface, it's been the running theory for” he pretended to think hard, “Several hours now. I'm not quite ready to take you my lair and let you slaughter us at your leisure.”

“Wooly, you know if I really wanted to fight we'd be doing it already. Once I'd reduced you to pulp, I'd take advantage of your apprentice just to work out the last of my energy.” She grinned and licked her lips while raising an eyebrow at me.

“I'm not quite so easy to dismiss, and you're not his type.”

“I'm every man's type.” she purred.

“Ithuriel is more his type.”

“Yuck, no! Gideon is my type!”

“Even if you like boys - a lot -I can make you forget them for a little while.”

“As I was saying..., no!” Woolcott actually laughed at her.

Azlea seemed to consider the issue and finally the playfulness dropped out of her voice. “What will it take? Glory Restraints? I don't exactly have a pair of those with me.”

“You? Not have cuffs?” Woolcott smiled.

“I'm traveling light,” she snorted.

“I have a set right here.,” So saying, Woolcott reached into his coat and withdrew a rather plain set of handcuffs.

“Woolcott...you know it would take an extra ordinary amount of trust for me to even consider that.”

“I guess his brain damage doesn't matter to you then,” I muttered, “So much for your dear brother.”

“Don't toy with me little sorcerer,” she shouted. Her wings spread wide, appearing from nowhere and were a spectacular gold color with each feather like shape shimmering as if it had its own miniature spotlight.

“Daniel, how about you go grab the food and Azlea and I will...negotiate.” Woolcott patted me on the shoulder. I shot Azlea a dirty look before accepting my dismissal. As I walked away I could hear her asking him what I'd meant by brain damage. I stomped into the restaurant and slumped into a seat. I wasn't ready to accept this chick as suddenly not the demonic puppeteer we had deduced her to be; and I was less inclined to believe we'd found her long lost brother. Perhaps it was just that I didn't trust her, but it still felt like something deeper than that., some game she was playing.

The girl at the counter called me over and handed me the bags of food and shot me a weird look, probably wondering how long it had been since I took my medication and why my caretaker had left me alone for any length of time. I strolled out and found Woolcott in the breezeway with Azlea in a glowing set of cuffs.

“You can't be serious?” I asked as the bags of food dangled at my sides.

“We're quite safe while she has these on.”

“Do I need to point out that she'd know where we all are then? That we only have her word for it that this guy we have is Ithuriel, that she's his sister and that they are related at all? Remember an hour or so ago she was an evil mastermind feeding the light and dark war?”

“You know, I'm not senile...who are you again?” Woolcott smiled insolently. “Of course I know these things, but this is an evolving game and we have an opportunity we can't afford to miss. As she and I have just discussed, if she can help us reach our goals then this may work out. If she seems to be playing us for fools...”

“You.” I said firmly.

“What?”

“You. If she's playing you for a fool. I don't trust her.”

“Well I don't either!”

“You know, I'm right here you magical idiots.”

I glared at her for a moment and looked at Woolcott. “What's the upside? Why are you risking us all for this?”

“Simple. If we can confirm Ithuriel is her brother and that she's not demonic, then she is an angel and her brother needs healing. Since the restraints applied to Raphael can only be removed by an angel...she'd do the job.”

“What about Azrael? You'd be going back on the deal.” I pointed out.

“Well, you'll recall he and I never settled on a time frame. However,” he put a finger in the air, “Should she prove to be demonic then we can simply call him up, as you said, and then we have our goals reached wither way.”

“And how do you tell if she's a demon?” I asked sarcastically. “Ask nicely?”

“Well, if she doesn't make your head spin around and projectile vomit green puke, it's a fair bet.” Woolcott affected a serious expression, “If I were a demon it'd be the first thing I did, I can tell you that.”

“I don't like this.”

“Yes, I know, it's hardly convenient. However we do have to consider the possibility she is truthful and take the risk. Otherwise we'd pass up a chance for answers that we may need to complete the puzzle.”

I felt kind of like I had to agree with him, but since I'd rather stick a snake in my ass, I just kept my mouth shut. I made us a portal back home and once through it we escorted our new house guest to the room where Gideon had been healing.

The scene was familiar with Gideon floating in the air, his wings spread while gossamer clouds of shadow wandered the room and their larger, thicker counterparts slammed into the unconscious angel's head. We'd been gone for maybe an hour, hour and a half, and I'm sure he'd been healing most of that time. He was going to be starving when he got done.

Aila was in full battle mode, brilliant white wings flexing and her staff ready at a moments notice should our prisoner regain his wits enough to be a problem. She turned her head slowly, perhaps reluctantly since Gideon was expecting her to be protecting him while he healed. Her light infused eyes widened at the sight of Azlea and she immediately took up a defensive position between us and Gideon. I can't tell you how aggravated this made me, but at the same time I kind of understood.

“What is she doing here?” Her question sounded more like a threat, especially with her metallic voice.

“Answering questions, we hope. You'll notice the restraints; down girl, down.” Woolcott breezed past her and to the still form before Gideon.

Azlea followed him, although hesitantly. Either she was a hell of an actress or she was actually pretty defenseless and that frightened her. Of course, I was reasonably convinced Aila looked fierce enough to make most anyone think twice. She knelt down and moved her hands to our damaged guest, stroking his hair back from his brow before bowing her head and, incredibly, appearing to weep. I glanced at Woolcott who had withdrawn what would appear to be a wand, and was now replacing it in the folds of his cloak.

“I take it this is your brother?” Woolcott asked quietly. Azlea merely nodded, moving her hands to her face to stifle a sob. She relaxed on her haunches and lowered her head, and I think we all relaxed just a moment while she expressed her grief. I slowly approached and glanced down at Ithuriel, who looked better than when we'd left. His hair had regained a healthy, just washed sort of look and his face had relaxed. The skin, where exposed, was no longer damaged; in fact he resembled someone simply sleeping now. His face had formed a healthy glow on his cheeks, and rather than looking simply plain he'd gained a strong measure of attractiveness.

“Woolcott.” Azlea lifted her gaze to meet the sorcerer's. “I agree to our bargain, my every action will be to advance your cause, as agreed.”

“A bargain then,” Woolcott nodded and released her bonds. I was immediately on alert as was Aila. The glowing bonds fell away, clattering to the floor and we both moved instinctively to guard the defenseless Gideon.

“Care to fill the rest of us in on this bargain?” I asked angrily.

“One of these days you will learn to trust me,” Woolcott sighed.

“That will be the day you give us a consistent informed choice on the decisions that affect us all, sorcerer,” Aila glowered.

“Especially when we left here she was our enemy!” I snarled.

“All right, fine. I understand you think this is a democracy. It's not. Occasionally I will do what I think is best, especially when there isn't time to go through a vote.” Woolcott addressed us stiffly. Aila's staff pulsed with power and I pulled a disintegration spell into my hand, the purple blue light of the the plane pulsing around the tips of my fingers.

“Unacceptable.” I stated. Azlea slowly backed up from us and Woolcott frowned.

“You indicated we had a bargain sorcerer. You lied; you are not in leadership, not even of your apprentice!” Azlea accused.

“Oh, you want to know who is in charge? A display of power is it? Fine.” Woolcott turned so fast I barely registered it and sent me flying. I smashed into the wall, but before doing so my spell flew from my hand at Azlea. I was sure she was behind this behavior. I shook my head and saw Aila had surged forward and engaged Woolcott one on one. Azlea was moving towards Ithuriel and Gideon while I regained my feet, unsteadily.

I blasted the ceiling over Azlea to halt her advance and she jumped back in surprise, and then snarled as her wings jumped out and she came at me in speed that was incredible. My serenity held, and I juked right before rolling left, her fingers trailing across my arm and leaving deep, smoking grooves. I came up to my knees, screaming in agony, and hit her with a spell in the back before she'd turned. I heard her scream in a voice similar to Aila's metallic one, full of fury.

The disintegration spell didn't work as it would normally, but it did bash her against the wall in pretty spectacular fashion. She stumbled out of the dimple she'd put in the concrete, shaking her head, and I put her in stasis. No sooner did I do this than Woolcott abruptly vanished.

“What the hell?” Aila wheezed, bending double and breathing hard. I held my arm gingerly and approached her position. “He vanished.”

“Something's not right,” I muttered. Aila responded with something rude, but I ignored her and set my serenity to work. While it did so I checked on Gideon and Ithuriel, if that was his name. Gideon was still healing, unaware of the damage around him. I gritted my teeth against the pain in my arm and looked down at the wound. Deep burnt grooves ran across my bicep, making every movement a misery and I tried to push the pain away and concentrate on what I was missing.

“The noise, the light.” I blurted. Aila looked at me much the same way as the girl at the Chinese place had. “When Woolcott travels it's not nice and neat like his portals or you and Gideon; his is noisy and there is a lot of light. So he didn't travel.”

“Where the hell is he then?”

“I think...he may be in big trouble.” I explained the visit for Chinese to Aila and she shook her head in disbelief.

“You should go and check it out then.”

“I can't, you have to.” I replied.

“No way, I can handle the crazy angel. I'm not leaving Gideon defenseless.”

“Hey, I'm the one that put her in stasis. I'm not exactly chopped liver here,” I reminded her. “Besides, I think if I get too far away the stasis will break. I don't know if it will, or if I'm just not strong enough or what. But if I go, you could suddenly have to fight her again with no backup. If you go, I can keep her still till you get back.”

Her face clearly showed this wasn't something she was happy about, but she finally relented. “If it weren't for the fact we need that hare brained sorcerer I'd refuse. Where did you go for food?”

After giving her details she nodded and blinked out in a flash of light. I slowly stumbled over to a folding chair and dragged it between Gideon and Azlea, dropping into it and doing my best to not pass out. The pain in my arm was pulsing and the more I thought of it, the worse I noticed it. I glanced at Azlea, her eyes closed and looking like a living doll. I glanced back at Gideon to see him still hard at work on the puzzle that was the damage to Ithuriel's brain...or whatever passed for one in an angel. I sagged for a moment, my concentration slipping and I shook myself, sending a sharp pain through my arm and the part of me that wanted to slip into painless sleep. I needed no reminder that I was all Gideon had between himself and this crazy angel.

Seconds later Aila traveled in through a portal followed moments later by Woolcott. Aila was giving me a strange look, one that I just couldn't get a handle on. Woolcott looked like he was a proud papa.

“Daniel! What a splendid job you did! Your mind is adapting so well to your new serenity, and even though you only know a few powerful spells you used them with such skill!” his enthusiasm was suspicious. I looked around him to Aila who shrugged.

“I found him in the alley, digging out a demons eye.”

“Yes, she was quite good, the little trickster. That illusion was so complete, I didn't even see you come out or leave.” Woolcott actually sounded impressed.

“You don't have to sound so proud of her, you know.” My arm was ablaze and I was closing in on passing out just so it'd stop hurting for a bit.

“Well, impressed with her deed. All it took was Aila speaking directly to me to shake the dream she'd put me in. Those damn wings, she has a similar ability to the one Lucifer employs, but hers is more subtle. I should have remembered that; but look what you did!” Woolcott clapped me on the back and my arm lit up in pain, my focus collapsed and all of a sudden Azlea was dropped to the floor.

What turned out to be only minutes later I awoke to find Azlea in stasis and fitted with Glory Restraints, hopefully for real this time, and Woolcott with an abashed look on his face.

“I'm so sorry, I had no idea you'd been injured. I was so pleased you'd figured out what had happened that I simply got carried away.”

“I didn't figure anything out, except where you'd last been seen.” I groaned.

“Yes but you'd also controlled an angel, no easy task, and starting your search logically ended well. Now, Aila mentioned that you'd sent her to find me because you were afraid of losing your grip on the suspension spell, and we'll need to work on that. You see,” he began to lecture.

“Not right now, okay? My arm is killing me. The more you talk the more I want to disintegrate your face.” I groaned.

“Not into noble suffering, eh?” Woolcott grinned.

“What did I miss?” Gideon asked as he started walking towards us. “Danny? Holy shit what happened?” Without waiting he slipped back into his dark angel form and began to heal me.

“You know, after all this, I'm hungry. I'll just warm up the food and afterward we can use a wilding stone on Seth to decrease his light level and feed your growing serenity.”

“Wait, what?” I mumbled.

“You recall the dead demon in the alley? Well I plucked out his eye and made a wilding stone, fortunately there was still enough fire in him for it. Since we had that I figured we should make use of it, give Seth some space since I'm sure his light is building again and it will feed your serenity. Adding energy like that is like putting your serenity on steroids.”

“Whatever, as long as it's not going to hurt Seth.”

“I still wonder though...what shall we do with Azlea?” Woolcott said to the room.

“She's plainly a danger,” I replied.

“Give her to Azrael,” Aila offered. Gideon continued to work on my arm. I glanced down and saw it was mostly healed, just itched a little. A few minutes later the pain was gone.

“Well, let's sit down and eat, Gideon must be starved, and we can go over the options.” Woolcott clapped his hands like a happy four year old and went to get the food ready. Gideon squatted next to me and asked me what had happened, so I gave him the short version. In the end it had worked out, just not the way we'd planned. I kind of figured that Woolcott was probably a little embarrassed about getting caught up in Azlea's little plot, but we could talk about that at dinner; I could be wrong, after all.

We sat down to eat and as I had surmised, Gideon was famished. In record time all the food was demolished, interrupted only by Gideon innocently asking how my illusion attempt had gone. Woolcott took great enjoyment in embellishing my failure. I just shook my head at him, clearly understanding that he was trying to balance the groups somber mood with some humor considering all we were up against. Hey, if they could laugh for a little while, let them.

Once the meal was done and the trash disposed of a sullen air filled the room, the dread of the conversation to be had. I knew, because part of me felt the same way, that we should drop Azlea off on Azreal's front step and go from there. She was clearly dangerous and, if she could fool Woolcott, who knows what else she might put over on us. But clearly it wasn't the only option. The real question was if any of us would admit to it or even consider it.

“So,” Woolcott smiled at Aila, “How was your day dear?”

“Standard, you know. Watched shadow boy heal, played nursemaid so nobody would pick on him. Was kicking your ass till you disappeared on me.”

“I beg your pardon?” Woolcott's eyebrows shot up.

“Yeah, Well, it makes sense doesn't it? Azlea figured if she showed up without you we'd fight her. So she created this image of you and really played up the subservient part and then she attacked.” Aila wore a contemplative expression, “Actually it was pretty clever. But still, I kicked your doppelgangers ass.”

“I see. And you 'shadow boy'? Anything come of your healing?”

Gideon's gaze had drifted down so that he was looking at the space between his feet. He shook his head slowly. “I can't be sure if I did much good. There was so much damage, so much...” he spread his hands out in frustration, “It was like looking at a nest of wiring and not having a diagram to put it back together with. But...I don't know if there is any more I can do. I thought maybe, after a break and some food, I might just look again and see if a fresh look makes it any more apparent if there is anything else I can do, or something I missed.”

“Whatever happens to him, he's not your responsibility,” I said softly. “You're doing your best to help him from an impossible situation.”

“I know, I know. It's just...” Gideon sighed and fixed me with his gaze. “I'm a healer, above all else. I can fight, yes, that's true but before any combat or whatever, I'm a healer. It must have been excruciating what was done to him and...I just don't know if I can help at all. I have no idea if what I did was a benefit or not, the brain is just so complex.”

I nodded, not feeling competent to say much else. I could have agreed or tried to be flip to break the somber mood that was taking hold again but the time for laughter was past. Now we had to make decisions as best we could.

“I see a very few options.” I steepled my fingers and glanced around the room. “First we could get Azrael over here and hand her over, we'd certainly be in our rights and no one could argue that point. She's deceptive, she's dangerous – no question. But I can't help feeling like we're being manipulated, like chess pieces on the board. I can't figure out if a master player is moving us or if it's a novice, but something here isn't right.”

Aila wore a thoughtful expression. “You know my gut just wants her off so we can get our information from Azreal. What would be our downside to doing that?”

“Well, as far as our dealings with Azreal are concerned, we'd play all our cards if we hand her over. I'm not convinced Azrael will play by the rules as we know them.” I replied.

Woolcott smiled knowingly, “But I did explain he had to stick to the rules of the bargain.”

“Yes, you did. But,” I held up a finger as Woolcott looked on with, what I think, was pride. “The bargain doesn't say that he'll tell us exactly where either of them is. For we example he could say they are on Earth and technically fulfill the bargain. True?”

“True,” Woolcott nodded.

“Second he could tell us where they are, but what if we can't go there for whatever reason? Or they are someplace that doesn't leave us enough time to get to them in time for our purposes? Worse he tells us what we need to know, and kills us all.”

“What makes you say that?” Gideon asked.

“Anyone else remember than nasty smell, the demon smell before he showed up at Azlea's strip club?” Everyone began to nod. “If there is anyone else besides Azlea that could be behind this, that we know of, it would be him. If he had that demon stink on him, if he's the one that's falling...”

“There is some logic to that,” Woolcott said tapping a finger on his chin as he leaned against the wall. “He has always been quick to kill, and he has always been portrayed as Death throughout his many incarnations. If he were falling though, what would Azlea's part be in all this?”

“Well, it's only speculation,” I replied guardedly, “But like you said, the best illusions always have a grain of truth to them. Maybe that is Ithuriel in there, maybe he is her brother and maybe he has been missing for a long time. But for some reason her story as a whole doesn't ring true to me. She's deceptive as well, but about what?” I held my hands out showing my lack of hard facts.

“So what are our choices then? Are we agreed that turning her over right now would be...premature?” Woolcott asked. There was agreement among us all and so he started again.

“That leaves us with our two guests. With Azlea in Glory Restraints, we could try to question her. Or we could try to wake Ithuriel, if that is his name. With Azlea in stasis, the Glory Restraints are unnecessary, but if Ithuriel should prove to be aggressive, then they would be better used on him.” Woolcott seemed to drop into deep thought again, so I picked up the options as I saw them.

“I'm leaning towards waking Ithuriel first. Azlea was trying to reach him, but I don't know why. She could be trying to kill him to keep her secret or free him to help her kill us or...”

“Or she might actually be trying to help him.” Woolcott finished.

“We just don't know.”

“Well, I think that Gideon should take that extra peek in Ithuriel's head and we should try to wake him first. I'm not sure we can trust anything she says, but at least we have an idea why Ithuriel acted the way he did.” Aila said. “But I will also say that if he is her brother and she's trying to help him, she doesn't know us and has no idea which side we're on or what that means to him.”

“That's true, it makes us a wild card to her in that scenario,” Gideon nodded. “Before any of them wakes we should all be on hand though. Might be good if you showed Daniel how to tie off a spell too, in case we need it.”

Gideon went to wash up and Aila went to check on our guests while Woolcott instructed me on, more or less, tying off a casting. “You see,” he lectured, “There are a few basic things you can do with a spell, one of which you did instinctively during the stress of combat. Granted you may have seen me do it, perhaps during that combat and not realized it; your serenity would have stored it for recall. But you did manage to hold the power of the plane and make it a much more powerful discharge than it would otherwise be. The other half of that is tying off the power, as if it were thread and placing a knot in the end to keep it from unraveling.”

He and I talked about it at length until I felt I understood the concept well enough to implement it. He had me try it by suspending an object in the air and then tying off the power so that it remained suspended even if my focus wasn't on it. Once I said I thought I had it he slapped me, hard. I reeled and glowered at him preparing to strike back when he burst out laughing and pointed at the object, still floating even though it was clearly not on my mind.

“You,” I pointed at Woolcott, “Are an asshole.”

“Ah, but a well meaning asshole.” He smirked. With the return of Gideon we walked over to Aila where she kept a watchful eye on the sleeping guests. Gideon slipped into his dark angel form and began to probe Ithuriel's head while Woolcott led me over to Seth and we used the wilding stone to drain off more of his deadly energy and he seemed to be better than I had seen him in weeks.

Gideon dropped out of his shadowy phase and gave us a look of confusion. “I wish I could be more certain of what will happen when he wakes.”

“Well, let's have a try with him first,” Woolcott transferred the Glory Restraints from one to the other and then released the power holding Ithuriel.

His waking was a slow process, his breathing gradually becoming less shallow and a low moan climbing out of his throat. His eyes fluttered and flashed a silver color before settling into a dark gray. He struggled to sit and Aila helped him reach a sitting position. He looked confused, looking down at the restraints he wore and then at the rest of us.

“Where am I?” he asked in a raspy voice.

“You are in our care, for the moment.” Woolcott replied. He produced a glass of water from thin air and placed it carefully in Ithuriel's bound hands.

“Do you know your name?” Woolcott asked.

“I am Ithuriel, prince of the holy sefiroth under the ethnarchy of the angel Sephuriron.”

“Can you remember anything prior to your waking?” Woolcott asked.

“I...cannot be sure. My...mind is...disconnected. I recall some, but only...whispers, shadows of...” Ithuriel trailed off. Woolcott lifted his glass and guided it to the angels' mouth, who consumed the water and seemed to gain some strength from it.

“Do you know someone named Azlea?” Aila asked softly. Ithuriel turned his head towards her voice.

“Yes, child of light, she is my sister.” Ithuriel's gaze was soft, a far cry from the wild attacker Gideon had faced.

“Do you recognize me, Ithuriel?” Gideon asked. Ithuriel turned his silvery gaze on Gideon.

“I do not, child of darkness, although I feel as though I should. There is...” he fell silent, studying Gideon's face. “My mind is unreliable. I can see you in great pain and that I had a hand in that; yet here you are now, whole and healthy.” He shook his head regretfully, “No, my mind is not to be trusted.”

“He healed you after you tried to...unmake him,” I said. Ithuriel's gaze turned to me.

“Child of clay, you have shown me compassion then? For clearly he belongs to you.” I met his gaze, not seeing hard iron in his eyes but soft, pliant silver. I approached him and slowly squatted down so that our gazes met evenly.

“He is mine as much as I am his,” I confirmed.

“You say that I tried to unmake him?” Ithuriel said contemplatively. He glanced at Gideon and then back to me. “That makes sense in reference to some of the images in my mind, but I cannot understand why.” Ithuriel looked around for a moment, took in Azlea and Seth in a glance. He studied Aila and then Gideon and Woolcott before coming back to me. “You said I was healed. How was I injured?”

“Your mind had been altered,” Gideon responded. “There was scarring, trauma that did not leave a physical mark on your skull. Someone with an ability to reach inside and manipulate matter changed your brain.”

“To what end?” Ithuriel asked.

“That is a matter of some debate.” Woolcott replied as he conjured a chair and assisted Ithuriel into it. He then took another and addressed our bound guest. “If the version of you were are seeing now is indicative of your normal state of mind, then the damage was done to cause you to participate in the light and dark war.”

“I could not do that without Sephuriron's direction and I do not recall that being his wishes.” Ithuriel's brow furrowed, “Although I cannot recall when I last saw Sephuriron.”

“What do you remember about Azlea?” Aila prodded. Ithuriel turned his gaze to her.

“She and I fought often, teaching one another the ways of combat. When Sephuriron collided with Lucifer I was dispatched to locate him.”

“When they clashed?” I asked.

“Yes,” his silvery eyes returned to me. “The ten sefiroths were often at odds, the only thing they had in common besides fighting was the gift of tongues. Many had a gift for creating a following among the children of clay, but just as many could not be swayed to that view. As decay set in, as our kind began to fade, panic set in. Many searched to find a way to stop or reverse the decay and yet others welcomed it's embrace, claiming it not to be decay at all but logical evolution; a path we must follow in order to understand ourselves.”

“So Sephuriron is not involved in the nephilim battle of light and dark?” Gideon asked.

“Not that I can recall, none of the ten were. Others, perhaps, but if any of them were it would have been in secret for openly doing so, for causing so much pain and death to the nephilim of another would have caused outright war on a scale never before seen.”

“Ithuriel, will you give freely your bond to do no harm while here in our care?” Woolcott asked.

“In truth I must ask more before saying such a thing,” Ithuriel replied.

“You wish to know why your sister is restrained?” Woolcott ventured. Ithuriel nodded. “Azreal seeks her, claims that she is decaying and he wishes to erase her from the book.” Ithuriel's brow creased severely at this. “Additionally, she has betrayed our good intentions and attacked us here; however you may have been her goal.”

“Was she seeking to rescue me from a perceived threat?”

“We can't be sure. Our first theory was the damage to your brain may have been caused by her, intentionally, to facilitate the war and hide her decay.” Woolcott responded.

Ithuriel nodded his head, “Yes, I can see how such a plan could succeed. Creating the conditions to perpetually exist once a body had decayed to a certain point. I do not believe that she has taken this course, however, because she has not fallen and has not shown signs of the decay.”

“What signs would you see first?” I asked.

“The first is the wings. When created the angelic have a single color in their wings. Mine are silver,” so saying he spread his delicate wings and we all saw his silvery light, each wing appeared to be made of fine filigree. “Azlea has a gold tone. Lucifer gained his name of Morningstar for the great beauty of his wings which projected so much light. But once the decay begins, the wings cannot retain their intended color and may begin to display many.

“This will move into the rest of the body. In addition, the smell is unmistakeable, the odor of decay.”

“My god, he just described Azreal.” I whispered.

“What role does the sleeping nephilim of light play?” Ithuriel asked. Gideon explained his predicament and how he was healing him. Gideon went on to add that he had also been trying to heal what was wrong with Ithuriel's brain as well.

“Your healing talent must be a very strong one to have been able to heal me, a rare strength. Who is your father?”

“Raphael.” Gideon replied. “We are trying to reach him to get help for Seth,” he indicated Seth's still form.

“So from your father you receive the healing gift, and your mother? Who is she?”

“I don't know,” Gideon admitted. Ithuriel seemed to ponder for a moment.

“My mind is slowly organizing my thoughts, memories. Sorcerer,” he turned his silvery gaze to Woolcott. “Your bargain of no harm is agreeable.”

“A bargain then.” Woolcott removed the Glory Restraints and placed them on Azlea before glancing at the others. “Gird your loins and lets hear what she has to say.”

Her eyes fluttered open, golden light muted in her irises. Gradually her gaze took in the room and finally settled on Ithuriel. Tears, golden tears, streaked down her face at the sight of him. “Ithuriel...you're all right.”

“I am not quite myself, but I am well enough to remember what you did to me.”

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