(Ascension is the third installment to a series. To read the others, message me for a link.)

Time for the decision was coming. He had only a few days before the two most powerful beings in the world were to come and lock away part of his power. Knowing this only added stress into making the final decision of what side he was going to choose. There were more then just supernatural powers involved, more than a lifetime of new adventures and mistakes.

There was her.

There was him.

Zareh had to choose between two warring factions, species if you wanted to call them that. The winged angels never liked the horned demons, and vice versa. After the last year or so, he had come to make friends on both sides. Ageoth, his angel partner in a trio that they used to be part of, was waiting for him in Heaven. On the other side, his love interest, a demon, was waiting to start a life together in the dark, fiery abyss known as Hell.

Whichever he chose, he'd be essentially giving up the other. If he was to get his wings back, he'd no longer be permitted to see Sayeth, the demon he had fallen for while watching over her under God's very orders. After he disobeyed the command to smite her, God pushed Zareh onto Earth, making him go through the most devastating event of any angel's life. The Fall.

If he chose his love for Sayeth, Satan wouldn't allow Ageoth to see them. In fact, Satan had promised an immediate wedding if the two of them so pleased—as long as Zareh picked the demon side.

Whichever he didn't chose also meant that side of him would be locked by both of the Gods. When it came out that Bael had been released from the prison in Heaven, Zareh unleashed too much energy. The warning was the truth, the answers he had been seeking for what seemed like ever.

That he was both the world's savior and destroyer, that whatever he wanted to do with the world was his call.

In a way, that meant he was to one day be stronger than God and Satan, but to prevent it, they wanted to try locking a side of the powers away. Thus, Zareh would have a hard time ever moving beyond them.

Bael was still hiding, though. He had killed Sayonia's baby, and Fenzon. The man was a tyrant, a monster. The only thing Zareh really wanted to do was to find him, and when he did, destroy him slowly and with as much pain as possible.

That is what lead Zareh to believe he should pick the demon side. Not only to stay with Sayeth, but to be able to track down Bael. To get revenge for every one that was protecting that baby.

“What protects me from disobeying and going through the Fall again? I'm not going to let Sayeth be killed by an angel.” Zareh told God. The white, glowing man only looked into the man's soul. He told him, as an answer, that no angel will be after her and that he won't be able to touch her himself. Zareh couldn't watch over her, though, and would have to take his world. “That may not be good enough,” he said.

Again, the decision had been put on hold. Day after day, until it couldn't be anymore. The two powerful entities told Zareh that he only have a week left, to stay in the field and think about what it was that he'd be doing. That it needed to be done, they said. Even Satan, who was against mankind most of the time, was standing there next to God and talking about saving the planet. They both weren't what they seemed, and it only made it that much harder to come up with an answer.

Day seven was about to start, and like every day, both of them would teleport in front of Zareh and asked, “What is the side you choose?”

And he'd tell them, “I don't want to decide.”

Sayeth had returned to Hell, taking up a mission to find her father, take care of her sister, and begin to slowly build up trust in the demonic community. For now, she was locked in Hell with the ability to teleport disabled.

Ageoth was recovering in Heaven. He was told what was happening, and waited in his small, hospital room every day. He hoped he'd see his friend walk through the door any minute. There was no word on Rilano, so he didn't know how he'd handle losing two close friends so soon. But he even knew he had the odds against him, and may have been on the losing end.

“What is the side you choose?” Satan and God said in sync. They had just teleported into the field with their flashy magic, high powered and on a whole stronger level than Zareh's. The man in the white robe controled the pearly, golden gates in the cloud. The red skinned creature with the black robe was the result of Hell's corruption, and he had a sly smirk on his face.

“Why is it that I have to pick? I mean, can't I learn to control both sides?” Zareh asked, stalling. It had been sitting on his mind, but he already knew the answer. It was to prevent his rebellion, the side of him that could surpass them. They had told him before that it was to only stop him from destroying the world as he looked for Bael—even though that would never stop, so long as he lived in either supernatural world. Only one made it easier for him.

“We need to protect Earth, or else we will bored,” Satan spoke up. He ignored the disapproving looks from his opposite.

“If you have both sides, it is too easy for you to destroy things. If you learn to control them, it would be a matter of time before they ate away at your mind.” God seemed to be more truthful, but it was him who shot Zareh to the ground he wanted to preserve without wings, without grace, without any help. “You have to understand, Zareh, this is for the future of humans and life.”

There was no part to understand. It was a stupid decision, one he never wanted to face, one he never asked to face.

One he couldn't make.

“I can't decide.”

“If you don't, we will have to destroy you,” Satan said. The only reaction he got was the flare in power from Zareh, the two sides coming out. “Go for it,” Zareh warned him.

“Stop it, Zareh. We have to do this,” God stepped between them.

There was no need to have to do any of it. “I don't see it. Let me learn how to control both.”

“No. We don't have time for these games, kid.”

“Please, Zareh, let us do this.”

“Fine. I'll choose. Let me just say goodbye to the opposite side.” Zareh brought up his magic and tried to grab for either Ageoth and Sayeth, forcing a teleporting spell onto one of them. Whichever appeared meant he was going for the other side. It took him a while to finish the spell, but when he was done, the person looking at him was stunned.

Satan was surprised as to who he had summoned. Both he and God disappeared for the moment, letting the farewell commence, the only polite thing they could do to honor Zareh actually making a decision finally.

“Have you finally come to a decision?” Sayeth asked. She was smiling at her former-demon boyfriend—or whatever he may be. There was no doubt in her mind that he had finally chose to become a demon again and start a family with her.

She was oblivious to the deal he had just made.

“Actually, I have,” Zareh started, “and I am so sorry.” Tears began to stream from his eyes, falling to the grass from his chin. The pain of what he was doing started to rip at his heart. “I have decided to become an angel, again.”

“What? Why? We have something so special,” the demon girl's face distorted into what was between upset and devastated. “At least, I thought so.”

“We do. We will. Listen, I plan on coming back to you. The only thing you need to do is give me time and trust me. No matter how long it is, we're unable to age. Just stay alive and out of wars, fights in Hell, and out of your father's path. When I learn to unlock the cage they'll put my demon side in, I plan on changing the world to my rules.” It was big talk coming from someone who just shattered her heart. Sayeth could barely look up into his face, but she did, and it pained her too. He had been promising something that she knew could change in the time that he wanted her to give him.

“If you don't come back, I'll haunt you in the afterlife. Or I'll come kill you myself.”

“Sayeth, I will come back.”

She disappeared. But it wasn't Zareh, and it wasn't God or Satan. Sayeth had teleported away on her own, leaving Zareh alone and speechless. There was so much hurt in both of them.

How would she ever forgive him for doing this?

A day later, the door to the hospital room opened. Ageoth looked up, shocked. Visiting hours for over. To his disbelief, the person walking in was the very person he didn't expect to. His eyes went wide, his mouth formed a smile, and if he could jump up to greet him, well, he would.

“No way,” Ageoth mumbled.

“Yes way. Going to have to be way.” Zareh returned the smile with one of his own, a bright and handsome smile. There was a light on the man's back, illuminating the walls of the room.

“What is that?”

“My wings are repairing.”

“That means,” Ageoth choked on his words, “You're back to being an angel?”

“I'm back to being the Divine Punishment,” Zareh said, the air spinning and picking up around him.

2: Chapter 2: Forming the Divines

It had been a week back in Heaven, a week after getting his wings back. Already, Zareh had plans to change a lot of things. God had given him permission to start doing small jobs, missions for him that would require his power and get him back into the flow of things. Of course, none would be going after Sayeth or Sayonia.

“You may get together the Divines again, if you wish.” God had told Zareh, who countered with the terrible story of Rilano switching sides and going against God in the first place, aiding the new, uprising rebel. There was bordem in God's expression, like he couldn't be challenged by the likes of one of his followers. “You don't need Rilano. Fine a new Divine Judgment and Justice, if Ageoth cannot or won't join again.”

Just than, Ageoth walked through the white doors. He had a very updated look. Standing next to Zareh, he looked taller, but it was probably just the strange, dramatic set of armor he sported. “I'm not going anywhere, unless it is as Divine Justice.”

“Good to see you up and walking, buddy. Are you sure you're ready for anything too physical, though?”

“Yes. As ready as I'll ever be,” Ageoth said, in a low volume. He eyed God, who had nearly killed off his best friend a year ago. Now he was allowing them to put together the Divines ones once more. It seemed strange without the original members, though. “Zareh, where are we going to find another member?”

“Not sure. We'll start with the Angel Academy for the newbies.”

“Why them?”

“Who else is going to be crazy enough to join us?”

“You have a point.”

Zareh had turned away from God, using a spell to suit up in his thin, armored battle suit. It was much more fitting and made for a quicker offensive than Ageoth's had offered. He knew why the angel had such bulky armor, to keep safe on his weakened body, but it would eventually get in the way.

They headed over to the school of newbies, new angels that wanted to move up ranks. Just because the Divine ones were being made, it didn't mean they'd have the special jobs they used too. No, not for a long time. One member was hurt, one was nearly insane and was back and forth with demons, and now fresh meat was their tag along.

The whole idea seemed nuts.

“Hey, new recruits!” Zareh called out to a group of young men and women. They all filed over in a straight line and saluted the armored angels. Even though they looked important, there was no need for it. Clearly, the recruits didn't know who the two angels in front of them were and their track record was unknown with the kids. “We have a special opening for one of you. Anyone interest?”

“What do you mean?” said one of the guys in the back. The kids in the front eyed Zareh. “Is it for a job to fetch something stupid?” said another one, maybe one of the girls.

“It is a job. To be a Divine one.” The group gasped at the sound of divine. Yeah, that didn't last long. The kids' eyes grew as they put the puzzle pieces together to realize who Zareh was. “I see you recognize us now. Great,” Zareh mumbled.

“You're a traitor and he is close to one,” one kid pointed between them. The very kid suddenly was lifted into the air, wind swirling around them like a tiny tornado that wasn't pulling everything in. The group looked and Zareh's eyes had been glowing a bright blue and his powers were being used. The tornado was his.

“Now, I don't use the word traitor. God had kicked me out for something that I did, that now is in our past and behind us. If you don't want to be a Divine one, leave now.” Zareh put the kid down. He stared at them with a mean, authoritative look. “And don't aggravate me to the point of tossing you around.”

A large portion of the group left, whispering the word traitor under their breath to poke at the Divine one. The ones that stayed looked worried, a little timid towards the two stronger angels. Amongst them were two girls and three guys.

Ageoth gave a look to Zareh that said he was surprised any stayed after him using his powers on one. At least, that is how Zareh took it. The two let out a small giggle.

“Surprisingly, you five stayed. You must have some interest in becoming a Divine one,” Zareh looked over each and every one of them. One girl had long black hair, the other was blonde. The guys all pretty much had brown or dark brown hair in a few slightly different lengths. The idea of Divine Judgment being female played in both Zareh and Ageoth's mind. It would be different and a special approach to what they had been doing.

“I am,” the black haired girl said. The blonde one stepped up and repeated it too. “The Divines were three great, powerful angels. They work under God for the very special missions and are always out working. They get the best rewards and know super strong spells. Each one usually has an element affinity.” The black haired girl stepped forward once more, examining Zareh. He could tell she was Asian, and had potential to be a quick fighter.

“You know your stuff. One point goes to her. What is your name, girl?”

“Ayumi Sakamura,” she said matter of factly.

“Nice to meet you, Ayumi.” Ageoth said from behind Zareh.

The others told the Divines their names, as well. Upon coming into Heaven, you had a chance to create a new name for yourself, or keep the old one. The blonde girl said her name had been Artemis, one guy was Apollo, another was Hermes, and the last was Ares. They all seemed to like their history classes when human.

The Divines had their work cut out for them.

The trainees followed Zareh to a custom battlefield generator, where he programmed it to just be a spacious void of time and space for them to use their magic and skills, to show him what they had in them. One by one, they filed into the dome, suited up, and waited for the start signal. Ageoth was outside of the dome, looking in through one of it's large windows. He gave a thumbs up as he pressed the button to close the door. The lights started to flicker and the background began to change to it's space wallpaper.

“Come at me with everything you have,” Zareh instructed.

“All of us... At once?” asked Artemis.

“Of course. He is a Divine one, he isn't worried,” Ayumi told the other four. She lead them into the battle, using a spell to suit up in her noble knight armor. She rushed at Zareh, showing off her adept speed and swung at him with a shiny new sword. Zareh disappeared and reappeared off to the side. Ayumi stopped, turning to find her opponent. “You stepped aside?”

“You caught my movement? I'm really quick, especially with my powers back at almost one hundred percent. If you were able to see that, than that is amazing.” The compliment didn't go well for the others. They felt left out and it was noticeable. “C'mon, rookies.”

It was Ares, charging like an angry ram. Zareh simply moved to the side, his quick step. He was a distance in front of Ayumi and had her behind him. Artemis summoned her bow, like the actual Artemis. The arrow curved with the step Zareh took, but he was able to bend to the side and dodge at the last second. Hermes was quick, but he wasn't Ayumi, and he wasn't Zareh. The last one was Apollo, who summoned up his red armor and cast a low leveled fireball spell. It soared past Zareh and nearly hit Ayumi.

“Don't go hitting each other. You're supposed to be a team and take me down,” Zareh said, glancing between them.

The group went back and forth trying to catch the Divine one before they grew too tired to actually do anything useful. Ayumi was the last one standing. She moved in to take a swing at the angel, and had gotten close. But Zareh put his hand up and grabbed her blade. No blood had come out of his hand, because it never cut.

“You're all tired. Practice is over.”

“Which ones did you like?” Ageoth asked Zareh as they sat down at a small table outside of the dome. The rookies were inside resting up a bit and doing small drills. Ageoth had been watching, not fighting, but he knew exactly which ones he wanted to continue and which he didn't.

“Ayumi, of course. She has great potential. Artemis wasn't bad, just slower than us. Ares was a bit reckless,” Zareh glanced over his shoulder at the dome's door. “Apollo is a magic user, not a close combat fighter. We could use that. Hermes is quick, and uses magic to propel himself to great speeds. All have potential, really.”

“We have to sort through them some how.”

“Yeah, I just don't know how.” Zareh took a sip of his drink, gently placing the glass cup down on the table. He had to think of a way to get through all five of the new recruits and weed them out, one by one they'd have to be evaluated and cut. “Some kind of test.”

“When do we start?” Ageoth asked, anxiously.

“Tomorrow.”

3: Chapter 3: Tests Begin

The students—not being referred to as rookies—lined up in the dome with Zareh facing them in the distance. Each one had been unarmed and no one was able to suit up before the meeting. The test was made on a whim, and a part of Zareh still didn't know how it'd work out. Maybe break it into two tests, two stages that they would have to make through. Or an eliminating contest. Everything sounded good at this point, but it was time to decide.

“Beginning today are the tests. You five all show a lot of promise, in certain ways and styles that Ageoth and I feel could benefit the trio. But we don't really know how to cut the five of you down to one and pick right now. So,” Zareh paused, taking a look at each of the students. One of them wouldn't be a student today, but going back to being at the academy. “The first day tests will eliminate one of you. The four that remain move on to the test in two days.”

The group of young angels gasped. They weren't exactly ready to go through an eliminating challenge, whatever that meant. Ayumi had a feeling that they'd be fighting each other. Artemis thought they'd do obstacles, some that she wouldn't be able to do compared to the guys. Apollo hoped it dealt with magic, while Hermes hoped it was a race. Ares stood still trying to look tough with his muscles flexing.

They all looked as if they weren't phased by it in any way.

“Let's begin. You will fighting each other in pairs. The strongest looking in the first two will fight the one who doesn't have a partner. The weakest looking will be put on the eliminating ladder, where the final two will fight it out for the spot to continue.”

Ageoth spoke over the loud speaking, his voice blazing through the dome. Ayumi would be fighting Hermes. Apollo was fighting Ares. That meant the stronger of the two fights would go on to fight against Artemis, who took her bench time as a praise of strength.

The first fight started immediately. Ayumi sped to Hermes, swinging at him with lightning speed. But her opponent moved quicker, side stepping the sword and kicking her in the back of the leg. As she retaliated with another swing, he dodged to kick her in the other leg. Quickly, it had looked like the speed of Hermes would overcome her.

He couldn't help it, but Zareh gave a disapproving look in who he thought would be a star pupil. Maybe it was the look, maybe it was the angry filling her, but Ayumi didn't accept defeat.

There was a sort of power flowing around the room, and within seconds, a black dome of energy created a barrier for Ayumi. When she emerged, her suit of armor was black as night, styled in a much stronger looking fashion. The sight of it gave off a vibe that made Hermes worry, but his armor wasn't on. As he tried bringing up his own spell, Ayumi had moved to the front of him and knocked him away with a swift swing up her fist.

“Whoa,” Zareh whispered to himself. Ageoth exchanged a look with him.

Hermes got up, trying to summon his armor again. Ayumi was already on top of him. But the boy had used a spell to speed himself up and get away before a migthty broadsword could come down on top of him. It was her way of saying she wasn't taking this fight lightly anymore.

“Don't just use magic to bring out fancy suits, or run away. Use everything you have to fight and win. Make the other give up and admit defeat,” Ageoth told them via the speaker.

A spell on Hermes' part gave him a thin, rogue-like dagger. He used the quickening spell to propel him towards Ayumi, than bounced around her to get behind her. He brought the knife up to the back of her armor. It bounced off, clearly too weak of a metal to handle her defense. Ayumi swung around and in a swift motion, knocked Hermes over into a wall.

“Winner is Ayumi,” Ageoth said, putting an end to the fight. Hermes looked out of it as it struggled to get up.

The next fight took off the same way. Apollo hastily summoned his mage robes, increasing his magic's power. The fire balls he fired off were quick like a bullet, but Ares' defense was the greatest of the five. He summoned his ram shield, modeled after his name. The real Ares would probably just laugh at the wannabe.

As fireballs were being blocked, Ares kept progressing. Closer and closer, he got up in Apollo's face. The mage tried backing up, using a flamethrower type spell to create some obstacle for the massive guy. For the first time, Ares used a magic spell. It was to make him quicker, obviously getting it from Hermes. The mass rushed through the flames and rammed into the robed student with the shield. It was an instant win for the big guy.

Artemis also lost to Ares, who began looking like a promising student like Ayumi had. All that was left was Artemis and Apollo and Hermes. The three of them were in a three-way fight, each fighting for their own spot. In the battle of sexes that soon took over, Apollo and Hermes teamed up to take out Artemis. But her powerfully, magical enchanted arrows ended up being their downfall. The first was Hermes, who was put in a bad spot.

“Unfortunately, Hermes, you did not make the cut. You won't be making it to the next round.” Zareh frowned as he sent the boy on his way out of the dome. The four moving to the next round looked beat up, exhausted was an understatement, but all looked sad to see their friend go. “Next test is a small mission that each will be going on, each one different, but all picked from the same rank. Don't die on us, please.”

The Divines used a spell to teleport to their rooms, leaving the students alone to prepare for what was to come in two days.

4: Chapter 4: Day Two of Tests

The group of angels all meant at the golden gates that allowed souls to enter and exit from Heaven. It had been a while since Zareh had set eyes on them, and now that he did, it was weird. Nostalgic, maybe.

Ayumi led the students up to where Zareh and Ageoth was standing, waiting to pass out their day's assignments. The test—or contest—to become one of the Divines had left only four strong, young angels fighting for the chance. Even with Hermes cut from the group, the others remained strong and only grew to yearn for the title a little more. And Ayumi seemed to be smiling bright and standing with confidence.

“Everything okay, Ayumi?” Zareh, who took notice of her, said. She shook her head and kept her smile wide. He waved his hand, dismissing their slight conversation. “You've made it to the Gates. Now for the missions. These were randomly selected and paired with you with a random number.”

Each took a paper from Ageoth, each with their own personal mission they would go on. Ayumi was to smite some drug trafficking criminal in a small city. Ares had the lucky mission to defend a politician from a gunman. Artemis had to take out a sniper before he could take out another politician, in the same meeting as Ares's target. Apollo had to help a thief fail a mission, which had a chance to encounter a supernatural who would be helping the thief.

The students had, surprisingly, fitting missions for them. Now each had their risks, and Zareh ran over them all. Supernaturals and demon encounters, how if they came in contact, abandon the mission. There was no need to risk a fight or death over these missions.

“Once you pass through the gates, you'll be transported to the day of the events on the paper. Find the targets and do what is asked of you.”

The four students left. Each disappearing to their own locations, with Zareh putting a secret tracker on them as they left. None of them had an idea that he did it. From Heaven, he and Ageoth were able to watch them and their progress. Ayumi was close to her target, but something didn't feel right to Zareh. Ares was guarding the politic, and Artemis was having a hard time finding the sniper, and only had a few minutes. Apollo seemed to be having trouble using magic to keep the item out of the thief's hand, which was not looking too good.

Something about Ayumi's mission got Zareh started, worrying about her star student. Ageoth asked about it, but there wasn't a clear answer. Then suddenly, a horned figure moved from the shadows and hit Ayumi away from her target, who was gathering drugs into a bag.

“No way,” Ageoth said, “Zareh, don't think about it. God told you that you can't interfere and Ayumi will have to retreat.”

“There is no way for her to run, and we both know that. You know she is too strong for Ayumi.” There was no helping it. Zareh had whooshed away, appearing in front of his student and stood in between her and the attacker.

“No, not you,” the figure said. The angel and her locked eyes.

“Sayeth, let her go,” Zareh said, struggling to remain calm. He knew that Ageoth was probably panicking right about now. “Your mark can finish whatever he is doing.”

“No, he can't,” Ayumi made a move toward the criminal. Sayeth lifted a hand and increased the weight of air around the younger girl, making her slam into the ground. There was no way Ayumi could combat the magic being sent out by Sayeth.

But the Divine one could. He canceled the demon's spell and allowed Ayumi to stand up. He held Ayumi in place with a weak binding spell. “Enough, Ayumi. We're returning.”

“Ayumi? Who is she, Zareh?” Sayeth asked.

“A student. A candidate. Ageoth and I are looking for a new Divine one.” It was a bad move to tell their plan, but it was Sayeth. He trusted her, he loved her. It felt like he couldn't hide anything from her if she asked. A devilish grin on her face told Zareh that maybe he was wrong.

“You're a fool. You gave up the plan that easily?” Sayeth let out a dark laugh. The sound twisted in Zareh's ears. Ayumi stared on, keeping her eyes on Sayeth. “You and your pet may leave. I'll spare you both today.”

“Deal.”

Zareh and Ayumi disappeared. The criminal went on to selling drugs to kids, who spread more around with their friends. Sayeth had protected him from a unit of cops, obviously wanting to continue to taunt Zareh with his failure to stop her.

Ayumi was pissed, though. Her mission was a failure, putting her in the bottom spot. The other three hadn't returned, but worry set over her and she wasn't handling it well. Zareh had already talked to her, and he apologized for saving her—as strange as it sounds. The young angel felt she could complete the mission even with the daughter of a missing commander of Hell there.

Ageoth waited at the gates for Ares, Apollo, and Artemis. Zareh joined him an hour after his return to Heaven. Suddenly, Ares appeared. He had a huge smile on his face as he walked past, explaining his victory. Apollo and Artemis appeared next, together. Both failed.

“Artemis, Apollo, and Ayumi are the candidates who did not complete their missions. They must fight a three-way fight. The first one eliminated will be cut from the program,” Ageoth announced in their heads, using a special spell he learned a while back.

The fight was close, but it ultimately came down to the girls just teaming against Apollo to pay him back from the first eliminating round. He was taken out by a combination attack from an enchanted arrow and a powerful punch. Zareh had announced his departure from the group, which sat sourly with Ares.

With a two-zero lead, Ares was looking pretty good and there was no reason for him not to feel as cocky as he did. He was the only one completing the tests. Ayumi and Artemis eyed each other, knowing next time they came as close as they did, there would be no holding back.

“Semi-final test in a few days. Let's take a test from this,” Zareh said, disappearing from the dome.

Ageoth kept watch over them from outside of the dome, through the window. But he had the appearance of the window off, so he kept watching in secret. Artemis was trying to take to Ayumi, who blew her off. Ares took the opportunity to comfort Artemis. The two looked like they were discussing a plan against Ayumi.

Ageoth wasn't dumb.

5: Chapter 5: Semi-Finals

It was day three of tests. Between the last one and this one, there had been a four-day break. It was nice for the students in the new Divine program to relax, but now they had to come back for the second-to-last test. The three survivors—as they referred to themselves as—were on time to the meeting in the dome. Ageoth was behind the window, sitting with Zareh, both were just watching them.

Ares and Artemis seemed oddly close, talking and laughing with each other. Ayumi cleaned her shiny, black sword.

“What did God say about the other day?” Ageoth asked, not looking over at his friend. He knew that there would be some kind of consequence, he just didn't know how bad it might be. One of the warnings was that Sayeth could be off limits to angels, but that meant Zareh. His friend had disobeyed again, and Ageoth struggled with the idea of him going through the Fall again. “Please say it isn't as bad as I'm thinking it can be.”

“I'd say: insane.” Ageoth's face distorted. He looked devastated without actually knowing any real information. “He wants us to go demon hunting, for low demons. Ones that Satan may not worry about. I told him it could start a war, but apparently there is no chance of it happening in their head.”

“You're right. Insane. These kids can't handle demons,” Ageoth agreed.

“They can't handle the Divine title, either,” Zareh whispered.

A long sigh was shared between the two. The test was about to start, and it was coming down to harder and harder things. God wanted demons to be their next target. It could kill the young angels, but he insisted. A part of what was being asked worried Zareh, making him think God had become a bit ruthless.

“The semi-finals are,” he paused. Zareh would regret to say this. “Finding and fighting a demon. Of course, survival is the main objective.”

Ayumi perked up. From her failure of the last mission, which Zareh interfered with resulting in her being in the eliminating fight, she had the urge to find the female demon. “Do we pick which ones we go for?”

“Yeah, I guess.”

“I want the lady one,” Ayumi said, calmly. Zareh held up his hand to shut her up. “What?”

“She is off limits.”

“Why?”

“Her name is Sayeth, and God has ruled her off limits.” Ageoth chimed in, seeing the increasing tension between the girl and Zareh. He wanted to beg the girl not to contest Zareh, but he saw it was too late in her eyes.

“That is unfair,” Ayumi said, crossing her arms.

“No, it isn't,” Zareh said with no hesitation. “You will not go after her, and if you do, I will strike you down.” The student's eyes all went wide. They were stunned that Zareh didn't look as if he was playing, and there was no hint of a joke. In his eyes, anger shouted out, struggling to not come out in the form of magic. “I won't be warning you again.”

“Buzz kill,” Ayumi mumbled. She was testing him to his last nerve. “Then who do we go after?”

Ageoth stepped between Zareh and her, again, making sure the tension steadied. He didn't really know the answer to Ayumi's question, but thought chiming in was the best thing. “I assume any low leveled demon, ones that Satan wouldn't take notice too. High ranking demonic officers would draw attention and start a big battle between angels and demons.”

The students looked at each other. Of course they didn't want to go for the higher ranking demons, but the fact that killing demons would start a war was enough to make them want to all back down. No way did they want that kind of responsibility on their hands.

“Ageoth is correct. Any low leveled demon is yours. We even have a place as to where finding them will be a breeze. You all leave immediately.” Zareh turned to the wall, where he started saying the incantation for a powerful teleporting spell. A purple colored magic circle faded into view of Zareh and the students, but a pitch black hole opened in the middle and swallowed the entire thing, leaving only a thin, glowing purple outline. “Go through and be safe. I want to see you all again, sometime.”

Ayumi took the first step towards the hole. It was frightening, looking into it's emptiness. Artemis brushed past her, nudging her shoulder as she pushed her aside. Ares came up from the other side, also nudging her arm and pushing Ayumi to the side. Both walked together, nearly hand and hand, slowly taking their steps into the void.

Ageoth grabbed Ayumi's arm and pulled her to the side before she walked into the teleportation circle. From what he saw yesterday, his mind had been racing around and worried about what the other two were planning. Aside from Ares, Ayumi and Artemis were in the bottom yesterday. Out of the two girls, Ayumi was the tougher, more skilled fighter. Ares knows he could beat Artemis, and that is why, Ageoth thought, he'd plan to team with her to take Ayumi out—saving the weakest for the finale. “You have to be careful out there. Believe it or not, Zareh is rooting for you and the other two are not going to let you just win so easily. The way you fight and whether or not you survive is a big key factor in this trial.”

Ayumi was taken back at what Ageoth was telling her. She never thought her one mentor was actually rooting for her, especially not after their small exchange just minutes ago. It brought a small smile to her face. “I'll be fine. I'm going to win and kill a demon today.” Deep down, though, Ayumi was terrified. There was nothing in Heaven to really prepare you for a demon fight, only the older angels who knew what it felt like. And none of them really told any stories of the battles they've been part of.

It came down to her. Only her. Artemis worked with her, and she thought she could trust her. Ares was a punk, a tough guy. He'd surely beat his demon and mess up one of their fights. Angels didn't always fight fair, Ayumi thought. They sometimes were just as sneaky and unpleasant as their opposites.

She stepped through the portal. It closed behind her, leaving Zareh and Ageoth to watch on a large, television screen wired to the dome. It was up to their students to find a weak demon, kill them, and come back.

Zareh looked away for a minute. His gut twisted in knots.

He had a feeling none of them would be returning.

6: Chapter 6: In the Field

The portal behind them spat them out in the alley of some busy city. It closed up immediately after they were all out. The air was different from the dome in Heaven, and the noise was overwhelming. The three students had never been to a place like this, and all of them grabbed their ears and looked in pain.

Ayumi stood up first and examined the alley they were in. The buildings on each side towered, reaching up towards the sky. It must be a skyscraper—the type of building Zareh warned her about. She stepped past the other two, looking into the vast opened streets.

Artemis and Ares exchanged a glance at each other. It was a great opportunity to take her out, but they wanted her to be more worn out. Each lowered their head, acknowledging they weren't going to go through with their devious plan just yet. Ares got up and walked to Ayumi's side. “What is this place?”

Artemis looked on the other side of them, down the opposite side of the alley. It was the same down there. The skyscrapers stretched for a little while and the other side had tons of lights and noisy people walking and talking and occasional yelling. “I don't know, but I don't like it.”

“I think the humans call it a... city,” Ayumi told them, struggling to keep her eyes open with all of the bright lights. Even though a hundred people walked by her by now, none seemed to notice a strange looking young girl in the alley hiding out with a tough, burly guy. “It is like we're invisible. I doubt we really are, though.”

Ares gave a small chuckle. “Being invisible would be too easy, and we never prepared any spells for that. My concern is how we're going to find three separate demons to finish this test.” He was examining and carefully studying all the people that walked closely by the alley. None seemed to be showing signs of a demon, they didn't have any demonic vibes, and none of them had tinted gray skin. It was definitely going to be a difficult task.

The wind picked up just then, and hitting Ares in the face was a flying piece of paper. Written on top of it was the word: “News”. Ayumi grabbed the paper off of her friend's face and started to look it over. It shared news of what was going on in the human world, the city, and major events. Although, this was only one page, so most of the stories weren't really there or finished. The events happening around the bright, light up city at night had been on this page.

Their lucky break.

“This says it is the news. There are special gathering events happening all over, so we're bound to run into at least one demon,” Ayumi pointed to the section on the paper to show a curious Artemis and a now angry Ares.

“Ayumi, one isn't going to do it. We need three,” the female archer stated.

Ares smiled, letting out a stronger chuckle. “That is the thing, Artemis. It may mean only one of us will be graduating tonight.”

The girls frowned. Ayumi wanted to pass together, bringing on another round of the test to match her skills against the two warriors. Little did she know that Artemis was planning something, lieing to her face as they frowned and stared into each others faces.

“Let's get going,” Ares spoke sternly. He moved out into the crowd of people and went to the right. Artemis followed, but Ayumi stayed back.

She had the paper. They didn't know the city, and had no clue what way the gathering was really in. Ares took the leader role for a group that was supposed to break up and race for the demon. What was he going having all three go for it.

Hours pasted. Not a single demon sighting or word of one appearing throughout the streets and crowds. It was late into the night, yet hundreds—if not thousands—were still awake and walking around. The night life seemed insane, busy, and strained the two females as they began to get tired. There was no way to go home and try tomorrow, and if there was, Ares would probably stay and hunt down his own demon the entire night. The lights began to lightly burn their eyes, their heads rattled and throbbed, and from walking around, their legs began to become weak and noodle-like.

“I think it is time to return and try again tomorrow,” Artemis suggested. Ares gave her a hard look. “Or not. Listen, tonight is a miss. We can try tomorrow. I'm sure Zareh would allow that.”

“Zareh does not care about us. If we get into a fight with a demon, he probably won't come down and help. This may be a suicide mission,” Ares said, looking between the girls. His expression was beyond serious. There was no fear in him as he spoke about the test, no fear in facing a demon. “Forget about those angels.”

“They are our way home,” Ayumi pointed out. She had a strange feeling about something, and it began to eat at her mind. “Unless, Ares, you're suggesting we don't return at all.”

Artemis let out a gasp. “You want to become human?”

A sinister look erupted over Ares' face. He had a dark look in his eyes that burned bright like hellfire. He turned to face the girls. Artemis was studying him, thinking it might be time to take out Ayumi, but her partner made no such sign. While Ayumi was looking into his eyes, she sensed danger. He wasn't the same, he was thinking strange about the whole situation.

“Not human,” Ares said in a low volume, “but a demon.”

“You can't mean,” Ayumi started, but Ares put a big, heavy hand over her mouth. Artemis thought it was the time. “Art-” Ayumi tried calling for her friend.

The two of them stared at the third like she was an alien, isolated by her skill in fighting and catching their mentor's eye so quickly. Artemis summoned up her bow, only this time it didn't have the same angelic design it normally does. The bow used to be a light green, but now it was a dark green, so dark that it nearly appeared pitch black in the night. Ares brought out his ram designed shield to hold Ayumi against, protecting him from the penetrating arrow that was being aimed at Ayumi's head.

Ayumi wiggled, forcing Ares to release her mouth and hold her body down.

“You guys are trying to become Fallen Angels, like Lucifer?” Ayumi asked, frantically. Even in the face of death, she wanted to gather all of the facts. Unfortunately, no one had really told her about the afterlife of supernaturals. “God hasn't thrown you away.”

“Screw him,” Artemis spoke, clearly. “We're more like demon spies. Angels working for the dark.”

“Dark Angels,” Ayumi mumbled.

Ares looked bored and rolled his eyes. “Artemis, finish this.”

“What will you tell Zareh and Ageoth? You have to keep a cover story to remain spies.” Ayumi was thinking of anything to say to stall. She had a powerful spirit arrow pointed at her, and a really strong man behind her that could snap her neck in an instant. Her odds were slim right now.

“They don't have one,” a voice said. It came from above the three students. Ares and Artemis looked up and were shocked at who they saw. They had picked a wide alley to pull off their stunt, but even in the crowded city there was one who could find them. Zareh. He was floating in the air with his wings stretched. “Ares, Artemis, it is over.”

“Ha!” Artemis laughed. “It isn't over.” She turned her aim from Ayumi to Zareh, firing off an arrow. It soared through the air, going straight up to the Divine. The floating angel easily flicked the arrow away, having it shoot into the side of a building and creating a dent in the metal.

Ares turned to Ayumi and grabbed her neck, when he was just about to break her neck, Zareh appeared next to him and grabbed his hand, twisting it. The burly man yelled out before being pushed into the building behind him. Artemis shot another arrow that Zareh stopped with his hand, turned it and pushed it into Ares' left shoulder.

“You son of a-” Ares yelled out.

“Tell the demons you work for that I will be watching them,” he walked to Ayumi, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. They both disappeared in thin air, leaving the two angel traitors in the alley. Mercy was shown, but not deserved.

As Ayumi and Zareh returned to the dome, Ageoth had already gotten a nurse for the girl. As she was being looked at and watched, Zareh had filled his friend in the whole thing. And likewise, Ageoth admitted to having suspicions.

“Ares and Artemis are working with demons, and may try to force a Fall on themselves. We don't know if any of the other recruits are also traitors,” Zareh stated.

“You don't think they are trying to copy the original zodiac warriors and form a new team of demons, do you?” Ageoth was concerned. He spoke in a shaky voice.

“That would be bad. For all of us, really.”

7: Chapter 7: Zodiac Past

The day after the strange event of Ares and Artemis turning against Ayumi and nearly killing her, the scared girl stayed in the hospital. The doctors told her she only had bruises, that they never got to do any damage physically, only mentally. She couldn't believe that two angels had turned against their kind, but remained in Heaven. The darkness in their heart had not been rejected upon returning to the Gates, which puzzled her.

Zareh had visited earlier in the day. He told her that he was leaving to find out what was going on, that Ares and Artemis will not live long if being spies was their only mission. But finding a way to deal with the events was something in his top priority. Before leaving, he left a strange, old fashioned book on the table next to the bed.

Ayumi picked it up. It had an old, black leather cover. It's pages had turned yellow from age a while ago. As she opened the cover, she saw words that she wasn't really expecting. Before opening it, she didn't know what the book was, maybe some light reading or old poetry to help her relax. Instead, she saw the word: Zodiac. Instantly, Ayumi knew what this meant. Zareh was giving her a head start in the event of a new threat from Ares and Artemis.

Zodiac. A word that Ayumi had never really paid attention too, nothing she ever imagined feeling threatened by. The zodiac are astrology signs that originated from the Greeks. There are twelve, one for every thirty degrees in a division of celestial longitude. Humans say that they are born within certain zodiac signs depending on the month they are born in. In ancient times, God had brought the zodiac signs into existence, creating an elite group of angels. They were created before the Divine Three, and a group that protected a variety of things, like people, art, the belief in themselves, and Heaven. Each zodiac had some sort of animal or thing to represent them.

The chart in the book labeled all of the information she needed to study up on. Ares, a name where he only took out the I between the R and E, used the ram design for his shield. Artemis wasn't the name of a sign, but she modeled the bow that was showed in the book for Sagittarius, the centaur archer.

Ayumi wondered if everything she knew about the two warriors she was going against in the test to become a Divine were really who they were. She bet that they hid their names when Zareh had asked them. It wouldn't surprise her, she thought. Ares was probably trying to become the next Aries, and Artemis was eventually going to become a supernatural that looked like a centaur.

She wildly shook her head—which didn't help her headache—and began to focus more on the book instead of her straying thoughts.

The pages went over their history as God's warriors. They were by his side for centuries, until they felt bored. They had asked God to be frozen in the stars where the humans believed they were. They'd continue to watch over the Earth like that and eventually, God caved to grant their wish. All twelve were cast from Heaven into the stars using a special cannon that they created. Lucifer was jealous that he had to have gone through the Fall instead of being placed in the sky. From the dawn of Hell, he had been wanting to create Zodiac Warriors for himself, but never got the chance.

That is where Zareh and Ageoth must think is coming. Lucifer, or Satan, must be trying to gather up strong warriors to create his own group of zodiacs. Their worry was whether or not there were angels they could gather to counter this, as if the Divines weren't enough. As much as Ayumi knew, maybe the Divines weren't.

“This is going to get really ugly,” she said out loud to no one in particular. She continued to read the book. In the next hour, she felt as if her head would explode with all of the new information. Ayumi started to get tired, closing the book and placing it back on the table next to her bed. She turned over and closed her eyes.

Ayumi wanted to get better quickly, because she knew she had to redeem herself against Ares and Artemis, wherever they may be. Zareh and Ageoth would bring the new, dark zodiac down. And Ayumi planned on helping.

8: Chapter 8: Bad News

Four days.

It took Ayumi four days to get out of the hospital and feel completely ready to return to work. Whatever work was. With the recent events with Ares and Artemis, whose files went into the Zodiac file, Ayumi was bumped up to the high candidate position for the Divines. The only thing keeping her back was Zareh was unsure whether she still had the proper strength to match their own.

She was going for Rilano's position, which was no easy one to bare. His role was judging soles, as well as being able to smite and save souls if Zareh or Ageoth weren't available. Ayumi was more of a fighter, more than a thinker during some situations.

With the waiting process going on, Zareh had called Ayumi to his new office. God had apparently made him an office to take of paperwork as he was now the leader of the Divines. Ageoth was outside of the office filing some paperwork on the uprising demons and possible zodiac candidates.

She knocked on the big wooden door.

“Come in, Ayumi.”

She opened the door, slowly. “You wanted to see me?” Ayumi moved from behind the door and stood by one of the comfortable looking chairs in front of his desk. When he gestured with his hand for her to sit, she felt compelled too. She had too. “Did some new information come in?”

Across the big, dark wood desk, Zareh had interlocked his fingers and was holding himself up on his elbows. His eyes were dark, and studying Ayumi's condition. He had to make sure for himself that she was okay. “Yes, kind of.”

“Well, spit it out.”

Her attitude returned and she seemed lively enough. Zareh frowned and moved his arm to grab a folder on the corner of his desk. “These are Ares and Artemis' files. A source confirmed that they are in fact going for Aries and Sagittarius positions. But we also have some news that will shake you. Are you prepared to hear it?”

Ayumi didn't know what it was, obviously. But hearing that they have news for her, specifically, made her move to the edge of the chair. Her curiosity peaked. “Yeah, what is it?”

“Before turning into an angel, your file said that you were a human girl that was very much into the ninja culture, much like what your new appearance resembles. However, one of the candidates for the zodiac was also linked to you.” Zareh moved the file around and let her see for herself. “You're very abusive father died trying to find you, and was killed by a police officer that also was looking for you. But you had died of suffocation before anyone could find you. You became an angel, with the help of us Divines. Your father was one of the souls that I had fun smiting down into hell. He is back, and very powerful.”

The girl's eyes shot open, wider than ever. Before coming to the Divine training grounds, she barely remembered her first life, life on Earth. With Zareh telling her about it, it felt like a flood erupted in her mind. Every bad feeling and nightmare coming back for her to relive it. Ayumi began to sweat. Her hands were shaking violently, and her lungs started to expand and collapse rapidly.

“Ayumi, are you okay?” Ageoth poked his head in, feeling a slight disturbance. “Zareh, I think she is having some sort of panic attack.”

Ageoth was late in the assumption of the panic attack. Zareh jumped across his desk, placed a hand on her shoulder, and they instantly teleported inside of the training dome, where anything was possible. Zareh moved back, sensing trouble.

Ageoth moved to the viewing room, shocked at what was going on.

Ayumi started to glow. Her wings burst from her back and spread apart. She began to scream, but it didn't sound like pain, only absolute anger. Zareh remembered what it was like, he had done the same thing from time to time around his transformation as a demon and then as a hybrid. There was no way Ayumi was awakening as a hybrid, and it wasn't possible for an angel to shift into a demon without the Fall.

“You need to calm down, Ayumi,” Zareh told her. He had stayed calm until the floor began to shake. The walls began to spark with lightning, an electric malfunction. Ayumi was releasing too much power for even the dome to handle. “You are ready,” he whispered.

Suddenly, Ayumi stopped the tantrum. The yelling stopped, the powerful shockwaves of energy stopped. Everything seemed to return to normal. The girl turned her head to look at her mentor, scared. “What?”

“You are ready. You're going to go through the Awakening.”

“What is that?”

“I've approved you in becoming a Divine. It's a hard process to jump to such a level, and this news helped break the barrier. You are the new Divine Judgment.”

That was how the day ended, Ayumi played it over and over before falling asleep. Tomorrow was going to be an even bigger day.

9: Chapter 9: Going through the Awakening

There was nothing to describe this feeling she was having. Her mentor had approved her, talked about her to God, and helped open a power within her that she never knew was there. The position she took in the trio was a very important one.

Divine Judgment.

It used to be filled by Rilano, an angel that was friends with Zareh and Ageoth. On his file, it claimed he was deceased. Zareh wasn't sure about this, though, but he was eager to have Ayumi fill the spot and start training. He called the process the Awakening. And Ayumi didn't know it now, but when she was complete with the training and Awakening, she'd be a whole new person.

At the dome, Zareh was standing there inside of it. She was late by ten minutes, one of the reasons he was frowning for.

"You're late," he plainly said. He moved back, into position for what she had guessed to be a sparring match.

"I am so sorry. My alarm-"

"Save it, Ayumi. It is time to start." The dome's door closed behind Ayumi, the engines roared, and the fans swirled. The interior of the dome became that of space, an open area for them to practice with. Magic started to appear and twist around Zareh's arm before it moved down to his hand. He had cast a ball of magic at Ayumi will great speed.

She dodged, barely. The blue lights of the magic trailed past her and connected with the wall. Shaking her head, Ayumi looked over at her mentor with no intention of fighting back. “Zareh, why are we sparring?”

“You need to be a great fighter, not just a good one.”

“Yeah, of course, I knew that. But the Awakening started yesterday with the power surge going through me... Was that it?”

“No, not quite.” He didn't know how to answer the question. The Awakening was a rather new process, one that only begun around the time that him, Ageoth, and Rilano were chosen to be the Divines. It was a promotion in power, in rank, and in life. Your life literally filled over the top, making you feel more alive than ever before—maybe even making you feel invincible. The power that you once held was nothing compared to it, to the point that Ayumi may even be able to take on Ares and Artemis at the same time, until they get stronger, of course. But it also came with pain. The Awakening takes a large toll on the body, one that Zareh wasn't ready to tell his student, and soon to be fellow Divine. “It's a large process, actually.”

Ayumi sighed, disappointed. She looked around the dome and wondered how long she'd have to stay in here. “When are we going to end sparring class?”

“Whenever it starts.”

“When the class starts, it ends? Is that some kind of riddle?” The girl looked annoyed. She gave her mentor a weird look, stumped at what he was saying.

Suddenly, a pain crept up on her. It started in her head, maybe in her brain. It was agonizing from the minute she could feel it. Her body fell to the ground, and as it did, Zareh flew over to her side. He held her hands and tried to keep her body as still as he could. She began to scream, yelling out for help. The Awakening was coming, the pain level rose as the area of pain spread down. Soon, her arms hurt to move them, her hands shook but with every shake caused more pain.

“Ayumi, hold on. You need to stay as calm as you can and accept it,” Zareh told her. His grip on her pulled her into his body. “It'll pass soon.”

“I can't do this much longer,” the girl was able to say through the screams. Zareh told her she had too, that it was all part of this messed up process to unlock secret potentials within her. Something, of course, that she didn't understand.

It was hours later when it all ended. Zareh had released Ayumi from the hold, but only because she was clearly exhausted and possibly even passed out from the agonizing pain she endured. Her face was blank of expression, sweaty, and very red.

With a struggle, Ayumi opened her eyes and tried looking to the side. Her muscles were sore, and she could barely move.

“I wouldn't move if I were you. Lay here and rest until you know you can get up,” Ageoth said, leaning over her. Zareh nodded in agreement.

The girl was stubborn, though, and wanted to try and sit up. She barely moved an inch before falling to the ground, breathing heavy now. She caught a glimpse of herself, though. Her usual black clothing that were designed after japanese female ninjas, had turned into something new. She was now wearing a new set of ninja clothing that felt a bit too big, and a large cloak or coat that was gray with black flames at the bottom of it, rimming it all of the way around.

Her clothes were new, than what else was new?

She felt different, free, and powerful.

“Is it over?” She asked Zareh.

“Yes, you made it. You're one of us.”

10: Chapter 10: Rising Threat

God had ordered the Divines to start immediately. Their newest member, Ayumi, was just settling into her new living quarters, a luxurious white room in the same house as Zareh and Ageoth, the other Divines. They all had to live together and watch after one another. And it seemed that the house welcoming gift was only work, work, and more work.

Ayumi had been behind a desk in the living room, off in one of the corners. Ageoth had brought her a large pile of books to go through. She would occasionally look over her shoulder, only seeing the other two angels in their own chairs studying up on the history of the Zodiac warriors that God had created so long ago.

Satan's new army of Dark Zodiac—as they were being called—hadn't really made a big appearance on Earth, but Zareh felt it was only a matter of time. In fact, he had called a secret meeting with Sayeth, his demon girlfriend that he was told by God not to have contact with. However, he was using Ageoth as the middleman. She was ruling a portion of Hell and had to have some information in the Zodiacs had moved within her territory.

The meeting wasn't going to happen for another two hours. It gave them plenty of time for reading up.

As if a rock went through a window, Zareh shot up out of his chair and yelled out for the other two. He had found something that he thought was either exciting or useful.

“It says here that while God had granted their wish of putting them in the stars, he retained some of their powers. He holds it in special holding cells within the inner region of Heaven, where he lives. In a note written in the bottom, it says they were moved to an outer storage unit,” Zareh's eyes were glued to the page. He continued. “The holding cells are really heavy, and chances are that Aries had to lift them and bring them to Satan.”

“What are you getting at, Zareh?” Ageoth questioned. His book had nothing useful turning up. A bit of disappointment flashed over his face. “Are you saying that all of them were stolen by the traitor?”

It was the first time Ayumi had heard them refer to Ares and Artemis as traitors. For the sake of the new operation, the two were dubbed Aries and Sagittarius, respectfully, after their matched up Zodiac signs and powers.

“Possible. Aries would have to have a lot of free time to steal all of them. Unless they were working with more angels, which I doubt. There is a chance that some may still be in the holding cell.” Zareh stretched his wings. “Ageoth, keep reading. You'll find something faster than us. Ayumi,” he turned to the newly made Divine, “come with me.”

The two disappeared in a flash. They reappeared next to God's own storage units, where apparently he had held a fragment of the Zodiac's power. Zareh matched up the rumored unit number with the hallway and shed. As they lifted the metal sheet doors, the moment of truth was creeping up on them.

Much to their disappointment, all of the cells were taken.

“No way,” Ayumi sighed. She walked inside and placed a hand on one of the empty holding parts. Each cell had been forcefully removed, no doubt at all it being Aries who did it. With each gone, it meant that Satan had free reign over remaking new Zodiacs—all twelve. “This is the worst.”

“We can't give up yet. We have to keep reading those books for anything new, and once Ageoth meets with Sayeth, it might bring up a lead.” Zareh closed the metal doors as Ayumi stepped out. He looked exhausted, having not slept since Ayumi's Awakening. Their hunt for the new enemies were an endless effort. “Let's head back,” he mumbled.

As they returned, Ageoth had just gotten off his phone. Even in Heaven, smartphones existed. He pressed the end button and looked at Zareh. His face showed terrible news.

“What is it, Ageoth?” Ayumi asked, softly.

The angel seemed to lock up. He closed his eyes and looked down to the ground. “There had been an attack on a scout unit. They were able to release a last transmission to their headquarters. It said their attacker reminded them of a crab, and killed all six of them very swiftly.”

Zareh's face remained cold, stone-like blank expression casting over it. His anger pooled inside himself and didn't always show. Ayumi could see a dark fire erupt deep in his eyes. There was no doubt that the angel had been thinking the same thing she was. And that was the time for the Divines to show their faces on the battlefield was now.

“Father was notified?” Zareh asked.

“Of course. He is troubled by the fact they said crab. We all know what that means.” Ageoth looked at his chart he hung up on the empty spot on the wall. Running down it, the only Zodiac with any relation to the word crab was Cancer, the crab, obviously. “It has started.”

“While the war may be beginning, it still doesn't mean we should get into it,” Zareh said before sitting down and picking up his twenty-eighth book. Ayumi had counted. “If Satan sees that we arrived, he will send all of them to us and we'll only be killed. We need to wait for them to be weakened or single them out in a better way.”

Ageoth flopped down, showcasing his anger and own exhaustion. “While we sit here reading history books, fellow angels will be killed.” It was a statement. He wanted to remind Zareh of the cost of sitting back.

The only one standing was Ayumi, who drifted off to the side of the room where her desk was located. When Zareh and Ageoth argued, she liked to stay out of it. As much of a Divine as they were now, there was no way she'd get in between two senior Divines. “What if one of us goes after Cancer the next time he shows up?”

Suddenly, the debate as to what to do stopped. Zareh sighed and looked at Ayumi, while Ageoth shot an approving glance.

“That might work, Zareh.”

“It is just as risky as all three of us showing up. They could ambush you.”

“Ageoth is right, we need to do something. But Zareh, you are also right, we can't take any big risks with this operation of winning the war. However, we need to step in at some point,” Ayumi was struggling with herself as to whose side she'd end up on. Both angels were correct in thinking the way they did. The only difference was that while Cancer was let loose on Earth, humans and angels who stood in his way would die. “Maybe they only have Cancer, beside Aries and Sagittarius.”

“That is enough to match us. Maybe we can go after them. As for now, let us drop it.” Zareh closed his book and leaned his head back, resting it on the soft, white couch cushion. “Ageoth, don't you have to go?”

“Oh, yes, I do!” In a flash, Ageoth was off to see Sayeth.

They met at an abandoned barn, where she had first met Zareh when he traveled hundreds of miles from his city alleys and porch homes. She had a friendly face that Ageoth had only seen once from high above Earth. There was the demon ruler and her new pet, a giant black cat.

“Ageoth, remember to tell Zareh that Salem said hello.”

“Will do,” the angel said, looking off to the side. “Down to the news... Anything good?”

“Hell has been pretty quiet. Even our crime rate against each other has slowed with the new enforcers.” Sayeth gave a heavy stroke to Salem's thick coat of fur. She looked between the angel and the cat, giving both equal attentions.

“Enforcers?” Ageoth looked over, worried.

“The Dark Zodiacs. They are Satan's new pets, his new warriors that govern most of Hell. Sagittarius has nearly taken over my land.” She scoffed at the idea. “They are running around acting tough. But I hear that two of them left, like, right away. Pisces and Capricorn.”

“Left?”

“Capricorn's demon vessel absorbed his power, but it didn't take long for him to turn into some kind of chimera monster. Apparently, he ran off to the Great Lakes and kills sailors. Pisces' was just never settled on, but Satan can't make his choice about it.”

“And the others?”

“Well, that is the bad news. They are being made right now. It is a long process, but by the end of the week, you'll have almost all ten remaining up and operational.” Sayeth smiled, but disappeared with Salem in a giant cloud of smoke. Her news was down, Ageoth took it. He too flashed back to Heaven.

Zareh was less then pleased to learn what Satan was achieving. There was no fighting back.

A great war was approaching.

11: Chapter 11: Cancer

The news was flashing over the television they had in Heaven. As Ayumi spent more time in the Divine house, she realized that Heaven had a lot of what Earth had, like the technology, but more. It was strange to see the angelic newscaster cautiously trying to get close to what looked like a monster. It was what they were waiting for, just a bit late in her opinion.

Cancer had made his appearance on Earth, attacking a small town. They had no idea why he was there, because it was just some random town. Zareh worried that it was to draw them out, but as they all sat in their seats watching what was happening, no one wanted to stay still.

“He looks strong,” Ageoth pointed out. Cancer had just punched another man's head clear off his shoulders. Blood covered the street. “His arms, they are huge.”

“His stance is just like the symbol for his Zodiac. This guy is the real deal,” Zareh said, looking up from a book to see Cancer form a stance of his one claw over his head, the other underneath his chin. It looked like the sign for Cancer, the sideways sixty-nine. “His arms are disproportional to resemble claws.”

Ayumi pointed to his clothes. She thought they were odd, to be so clean and normal looking. “Zareh, look at his shirt.”

“What about it?”

“It is from the modern generation. I have a feeling that they rushed some newly made demon into a Zodiac.” Ayumi stood up. It caught the attention of her fellow angels. “We have to do something,” she said as Cancer ripped a man in two, separating him at the waist.

Ageoth lowered his head. Zareh looked off to the side. It seemed like they didn't want to argue as to what to do, or maybe they didn't even know what to do. There was no way that Ayumi could take such a strong looking demon so soon. She had just awakened as a Divine.

“I'm not physically strong like him. I can supply magic from the back,” Ageoth looked over to Zareh, worried. There seemed to be something he wasn't saying.

“You're looking at me for what reason?”

“You know exactly why,” Ageoth said.

Zareh let out a sigh. “We both know that I do not have the same power I had before, and as I stand now, I'm only on the normal level of Divine. The Zodiac's were more powerful then us, and when God locked those powers away, it was for a reason.”

Ayumi took a step forward. “If we all work together, do you think we could do it?”

“Having all three of us go will leave Heaven open to Aries and Sagittarius, which is what they might be planning to have infiltrate more storage units.” Ageoth grabbed a book, studying the contents on the pages he had saved. “There is a powerful locking spell, so I can stay here and keep that up in case the two come here.”

There was no excuses left. The battle would have to be brought to Earth, right to Cancer, where they wanted it. Zareh got up and his blue magic swirled around him. His clothes turned into a suit of holy armor, like a powerful knight from a book.

“It seems that there is no escaping this,” he said. Zareh looked like a powerful fighter from a war, the hero of it all who would attempt to kill the opposing side's most dangerous general. Only in this case, he was going to fight someone who had been infused with ancient powers that went beyond his. “Ayumi, be my back up. If I am to fall in battle, bring my soul back. To not confront the enemy.”

“If you need me, I'm going to jump in,” she told him. Her eyes were wide, scared, but most importantly determined to make sure he stayed alive.

Ayumi could see the disapproving look he was giving her. “No, you need to only bring my soul back. If I fall to the first Zodiac, Heaven may have it's dark days ahead.” With that, he disappeared.

Ageoth pointed to the screen, “here he goes.”

Ayumi let out a small cry, worried for her fellow Divine. She summoned up her wings and stretched them, disappearing to a spot behind a building that was a good distance away from Zareh and Cancer. Humans ran away, but a few were yelling out about how evil and good were coming together, that God's angels were there to protect them.

Could they really see Zareh?

“You're the first of the Zodiacs, huh?” The angel was studying the man with monstrous arms. He looked like a normal guy, light skinned with short black hair. He wore basic blue jeans and a shirt without sleeves. Cancer's arms were huge, like the claws of a crab compared to it's little legs. “I don't know whether to feel unlucky for you, or what.”

“Why would you do something like that?”

“Because you have to fight me,” Zareh said. The air turned and twisted around the field. The clouds started to become over cast. “I am Zareh, Divine Punishment of the Divine Three.”

“You already know who I am,” the monster man said. He got into his stance of one arm over his head and the other under his chin reaching for his armpit. “You're just a magic user, and it feels like you use wind.”

“You catch on quick.” The wind twisted around Zareh's arm, turning into a tunnel. He thrusted his arm out toward Cancer, which shot the tunnel of wind.

The tunnel collided with Cancer, who instinctively squared his body into blocking it. His feet, not as big as his arms, began to move back. For a second, Ayumi thought he'd trip backwards. However, when the wind stopped hitting him, Cancer broke into a dash. He was going right for Zareh, who stretched his wings and jumped over his opponent.

As he hit the ground, Zareh fired more magic. This time it was just a normal blast of pure magic. It hit Cancer's back, but didn't look like it did much. The man turned around and got into his stance, ready for another blast. They stood there staring each other down, both trying to predict the next move.

“We seem to be at the same power.” Cancer smirked.

Zareh bit his lip. His opponent had a very good defense, a high resistance to magic it seemed. And he knew from watching Cancer rampaging that he had a lot of strength going into his two arms. As he was now, he wouldn't be able to win this so easily. It had been a while for Zareh, a while without his second source of magic. God and Satan had locked away the demonic side of Zareh prior to this. It seemed to fall into place, taking away the world's strongest supernaturals power, or at least half. Now Satan puts this into plan.

Ayumi was over on the side, watching the fight unfold carefully. She was studying Cancer and his power, his movements. They weren't necessarily like a crabs, which gave her the impression that maybe they don't all act on their zodiac sign, but their strength were intense. She fought back the urge to step in and really test out her powers as a Divine. Maybe two of them could take him.

Zareh would never approve.

“Damn,” she mumbled under her breath.

Cancer had finally moved, breaking his stance and rushing for Zareh again. This time, he didn't try to go right into him, only catch up to him and engage in hand-to-hand combat. Zareh did well to protect himself, but Ayumi could see the struggle behind blocking each punch. Cancer's huge strength in his arms would eventually break through Zareh's blocks, and that was exactly what he hoped for.

If she didn't step in now, it might get ugly. As she tried to go forward, she found her feet wouldn't move. Zareh will literally kill me, or strip me of my new status, she thought. Ayumi cursed to herself.

“You can't keep this up, angel,” Cancer said, smiling as he threw punch after punch. The angel had stayed calm, looking almost bored in the face, but the demon could feel the power behind each arm dwindling over time. “I'm going to break you, every piece of you. And then I'll mail it to Heaven for your little Divines to see.”

“You are very confident,” Zareh said, but now you could hear the struggle in his voice. His eyes had been shaking, looking around the entire time. Trying to predict Cancer's punches were easy, but required the attention. “What you didn't know if that I've found what I need.”

“What do you mean?”

“Watch,” Zareh sent out magic from all around him. It threw the demon's arms outward away from his body. He cupped his hands and brought them from his side to Cancer's chest. The burst of magic shot Cancer backwards. Zareh caught up with his wings and summoned an angelic blade, spinning mid-air and slicing at his enemy's knees.

Cancer fell on his back, screaming in agonizing pain. He grabbed for his legs. Zareh had cut from his knees down, and they were cleanly down. The wind picked up around him, and then he saw Zareh. They were both in the air, flying. The angel blade shined in the light, and dripped with a thin line of blood.

“It's over.”

Zareh flew into the whirlwind that held Cancer, and swirled him around. As he flew through, several times, the blade sliced and cut Cancer. After five minutes of the gruesome slashing, the demon's body fell to the ground, hard. The angel floated down and fell to his knees, instantly.

Ayumi ran out from the building to her former mentor's side. “That was awesome, Zareh.”

“It was no walk in the park,” he said, breathing heavy. “He was really strong physically, but left himself open for certain methods of attack. It was a lucky break, at best.”

What he said shut Ayumi up, and drew her back. That if he was considering it luck, they really had to take this threat seriously. She had to stop thinking so lightly on everything and really train harder. She reached down for Zareh's hand, “let's go home.”

“Let's.”

It was one fight won, right?

12: Chapter 12: The Stitch Twins

Zareh walked to the vault where they kept the prisoner souls. He put in a code at the door's numpad, and a loud click sounded. The door swung open and revealed a large hallway with small metal shelves lining both sides. On the shelves were containers, each other a soul. Zareh walked down until he was halfway through the hallway and stopped. There was one empty in the middle, which he carefully placed the Cancer soul in there.

Ageoth had done some digging on the man who they used as Cancer. He was just a normal guy who worked in the city, and had been into fashion, swimming in his spare time, and wealthy. There didn't seem to be anything special about him, nothing that stuck out to them that would make Satan go after him as a vessel for the zodiac's power.

“A normal guy,” Ayumi mumbled to herself. She had scanned over the paperwork Ageoth produced after his research. Nothing was sticking out to her either. “There is literally nothing that makes him better than the next guy. Did Satan really just pick some guy up off the street?”

Zareh joined them, after locking the soul away. He sat on the couch opposite of Ayumi, and turned to watch Ageoth scribble words on the whiteboard they had in front of the room. “The only thing I can think of is the swimming. Cancer had slight control over water, being from a crab.” Zareh picked up a picture of the guy from a few years ago. “We can see that his arms weren't enlarged in this year, so the soul probably transformed him.”

“Swimming. Water. Makes sense, but all that over that small detail?” Ageoth seemed disappointed by Satan's action. They couldn't figure it out.

“Maybe he had something against a group of people,” Ayumi spoke up, “something that would drive him to go on a rampage with his new power.”

She had a point. Ageoth pulled up his computer and began a new search. All that was heard from his side of the room was the buttons being pressed down, hard. After a few minutes, he found something. “Found it,” he announced. He printed out a copy for each angel, then handed them off. “This guy, Cancer, had a big fight with a group located not to far from the small town he attacked. They had bought one of his companies and ripped him off of something in their contract. It says that all but one guy is dead, a guy by the name of Nathaniel.”

Zareh let out a sigh. “Satan picked him for that reason. He wanted Cancer to go on a rampage, to test their strength and ours.”

“The whole thing was a test?” Ayumi asked.

“Yes, and he knows that I could barely keep up. Which is bad for us,” Zareh lowered his head in his hands. A few hundred thoughts were popping up and scattering in his brain. If the next zodiac showed up, he wasn't in shape to fight again. There was only one way he could get back on that level, and it was strictly forbidden. “I will be back.”

“Where are you-” Zareh disappeared before answering Ageoth back. “Where in the world is he going at a time like this?” He asked to no one in particular.

The angel had teleported to a familiar place, where he knew a contact of his would be staying. As Zareh walked inside of the old, red barn, Sayeth perked up and ran to him. It was the same barn that he had met her, and knew if things were going bad in Hell, she'd be staying here for a few hours. They swung arms around each other and embraced each other in the tightest hug two supernaturals could.

“What are you doing here?” Sayeth asked first, over Zareh's same question. They laughed. “You first.”

“Needed some air,” Zareh said.

“That is never good.”

“Things aren't good.”

“Tell me about them,” Sayeth said sarcastically. “Satan has captured as many zodiac souls as he could, and is still searching for a few of them.”

“Who is the latest?” Zareh pulled out a notepad, out of thin air. He felt that any information she gave should be recorded and brought back to the headquarters. “Don't spare any details.”

“I never do,” she said with a smirk. “Taurus and Virgo are still trying to come into their powers, Leo has been a psychopath lately. Satan told him his daughter would kill him for revenge.”

That last part struck Zareh. He wrote it down, word for word. There was a bad feeling festering in his gut, and it all led to who he thought was Leo. And there was only one obvious reason for it.

Sayeth continued. “Libra and Aquarius were just brought in. Scorpio isn't found yet.” She paused, trying to remember the others, if there were any. Zareh hadn't disturbed her either. “Oh, yeah. Pisces is incompatible. Rumor is that the soul was damaged in the retrieval. Capricorn, the only other, decided to not care about Satan's plans. The soul was corrupted and turned him into a monster. Capi, as I call him, left to go leave in the Great Lakes and eat any boats and sailors.”

“Some troop he has going,” said a worried angel. “Four terrible demons.”

Sayeth frowned. A part of her expression looked more scared then anything. “I forgot something really important,” she mumbled.

“What is it?”

“Gemini. They're twins. That means six.”

“Great,” a long sigh followed.

“Zareh, they are right behind you.”

Zareh turned around quickly, seeing a duo of figures standing in the dark of the doorway. His eyes went wide and he summoned all he had, his wings and his sword. The cloths he wore were slowly turning into armor, with a solid white glow.

“Oh, no, no,” said one of them. They moved, in sync with one another, forward towards Zareh. The moonlight coming through the roof's missing patches hit their faces and showed Zareh who he was talking to. “We haven't come prepared enough.”

“What do you want?” Zareh asked. He felt the question was a little stupid, knowing full well they were after either him or Sayeth.

They looked happy, each showcasing their own creepy smile. Both of their faces looked as if they were painted with makeup. One had a completely face, with red lips and stitches that were either real or also painted. His eyes looked like small, red dots inside enlarged eye sockets. The other had a broken up face, painted white, but had several stitch designs lining it. One line went to the side of his month and wound up his face, up to the top of his forehead. The other branched off and went towards his ear on the opposite side.

The one with the mostly white face, the less stitched up, wore a red suit that looked like a fancy, old tuxedo. He was the one who stepped forward and started talking first. “We have a message for you.”

“Yeah, from the big red man!” The more stitched up guy wore a stripped shirt underneath a purple sweater vest.

“Satan?”

“Yeah, the big red man.”

The suited guy coughed, clearly his throat and stopping the other Gemini. “He says that if the two of you want, you can join us. By us, he means zodiacs, of course. He told me that Sayeth could replace Aquarius or Virgo or Libra. You, angel,” the guy turned to put his small eyes on Zareh, “could have any soul you'd like. The big man even told me to tell you he'd release his side of the lock, whatever that means.”

Zareh and Sayeth glanced at each other. Did they really just receive an offer from their enemy to join them? There was no way Zareh would join, and he was hoping that Sayeth wouldn't either.

“I refuse,” Zareh firmly said.

“I'll think about it,” Sayeth spoke from Zareh's side. It made them exchange looks again. “Don't give me that look.”

“What do you mean you'll think about it? You can't join Satan!”

“If you're forgetting, I'm a demon. One that you chose to go against and become an angel again.” The angry demon disappeared in a puff of black smoke.

Zareh turned to look at the twins, but they had also disappeared. The stunned angel had nothing left than to teleport back to Heaven. His demonic lover may very well switch to his demonic enemy, very soon. It pained him inside.

He wouldn't be able to finish off the zodiac now.

13: Chapter 13: Struggling

The next day was the hardest. From the couple of days prior, Zareh's energy was completely sucked out fighting against Cancer. He wasn't the warrior he used to be, and wouldn't be for a while. Being away from the scene has made him a little weak, and without the other power, things only got worse. Now he had more to worry about. Sayeth was somewhere in Hell, lurking in the shadows, considering the Stitch Twin's offer.

If she became a Zodiac, there would be no way that he could defeat them all. And there wasn't a chance he would let one of the other two Divines try and take her out. If Satan had her on his side, there would be no way to win. He knew it, and that's why he played that offering card to both of them.

“I need the dark power,” Zareh told Ageoth, who was sitting calmly on the couch. The two of them were sitting across from each other this morning drinking tea. Zareh had green tea, while Ageoth had some weird tea that he probably put together himself. “God won't give them to me, so I need to go to Satan.”

Ageoth took a sip of his drink, slowly. “There is no way he will unlock that side within you without you joining him. If you try to trick him, he will just have all of the Zodiacs attack you. Do you think you could handle them all with both powers?” He took another sip.

“Doubt it.”

“Me too.”

Ayumi walked in, looking at the two older guys, watching them take the smallest sips of their tea. She placed down a pile of old books on the desk, turned to Zareh, and opened her mouth. “We have a bigger problem.”

The other two angels let out long sighs. “It is always bad news.”

“According to these books, there might have been another Zodiac. And according to this strange, all-seeing news channel you have on the television, Satan released another Zodiac. It seems like it is a female with powers, lots of it. Angel headlines are calling it a Zodiac but fail to recognize which,” Ayumi clicked a button on the remote, turning the TV on and changing it to the news channel. It showed the news caster lady pointing to this strange woman sitting down outside of a cafe, looking dark and mysterious. There was a particular dark aura rediating from her, and her smile was filled with evil.

Zareh looked away, bringing his eyes to the empty wall behind him. He sighed, “it is Virgo,” he said. The way he said it told the other two that he knew for sure, that it wasn't just some guess. The woman wasn't just sitting there, she was waiting. For him.

“What is she doing?” Ayumi asked, looking over to Zareh for answers.

“Probably for us.”

“And can we win?”

“Not without a big struggle,” said a voice. The three Divines sharply turned to look into their doorway. It was God, returning with a box in his hands. “This is for you,” he handed the box to Zareh.

As the angel took it, he felt a strange power emit from it. Even though he didn't initially know what it was inside, touching the box's smooth surface gave him a jolt of electricity that traveled throughout his body. It was a secret key to something he had been long waiting for.

“What is it?” Ayumi asked, peeking over Ageoth's shoulder all nosy-like.

God smiled, then moved to a chair that was vacant to sit. “It is what he wanted, what he thinks he needs. But only a temporary key to it.”

“Temporary,” Zareh said, repeating God's word and thinking what he could do with it. “What do you mean temporary?”

“Just what it means. It will unlock your dark powers for a certain amount of time, probably long enough to defeat Virgo. After the timer runs out, the key will be gone and the dark powers will be locked again.”

“I need them permanently. That is the only way I can fight the Zodiacs!”

“You think you need it,” God said, calmly. He held up a finger to hold Zareh's next statement waiting. “Zareh, you have the potential to become stronger than you are without the combination of powers.”

“I know,” Zareh said, “but to deal with the threat now, it would be easier. I can grow stronger with the two.”

“Easy. You're afraid of hard work.”

Now he was just teasing the Divine angel. Which seemed to be working by the looks of two clenched fists. There was a boiling point in everyone, and God was certainly close to reaching Zareh's. Ageoth had to stand up and intervene, standing between his friend and Father.

“Let's think about this,” he went on to say, “Virgo is waiting. Who knows how long she will be so still. We need a plan.”

“I vote for getting out of this weird, supernatural filled room,” Ayumi threw out there. She slowly backed away but stopped half way to the door by the most concerning of glares by Ageoth.

“You won't let me have my powers because you know I can ascend, higher, higher to the point of becoming a God.” Zareh wasn't done fighting, against other angels or Zodiacs. “It is the only reason Satan and you agreed, because not only can I destroy or save the world, but I can replace you.”

“That is furthest from the truth.”

“You said I could save the world, and I need to now. Why won't you help me help the world when I need you the most?”

“This is unbelievable behavior out of you, Zareh,” and with that, one less supernatural was in the room. The three Divines were left blinking in amaze at how quickly God was able to slip out of the room.

Completely defeated, but with a temporary solution, Zareh flopped back down in his seat. The box sat on the table next to him, teasing him. The urge to feel the demonic powers had turned into a hunger, one that he didn't share with Ayumi or even his best friend, Ageoth. The feeling tugged at him.

The room stayed quiet, to the point that Ayumi was finally able to sneak out. Ageoth stared at the floor, occasionally taking more of his tea until it was gone and he flipped the cup upside down to prove it to himself.

No one knew what to do.

“Zareh, I know you are watching,” a voice said from the television. They turned to see Virgo staring directly into the cameraman's camera. Her smile didn't falter from it's evil vibe from when they first saw her. It was as if she could see through the lens and into Zareh's eyes. “You should meet me here. Because every hour, on the hour, one of these poor innocents will die. And I have to say that my powers are some of the most devastating out of the group.”

Ayumi ran into the room. Her eyes were wide, her mouth gaped open. She slowly turned to look at the TV, not believing what she was hearing. “No way,” she mumbled.

It was nearly the breaking point, again. He couldn't wait by and watch Cancer kill people, and rushed in. Virgo was waiting, staling for the hours to go by until he met her there. Zareh had no choice. He looked over at the box with the key, and then the clock, and then the TV. Virgo looked at her wrist, where a shiny black watch was strapped on. It was five minutes to the first hour of someone's Hell. Time slowly ticked. On the strike of the hour, Virgo's smile widened. When she stood up, she appeared average height, around five-five, maybe six feet. Her black, Gothic style dress straightened out she stood.

She walked through the street, the cameraman pursuing her. When she stopped, the camera shifted to the left and revealed a lady walking down the street with her nose in a book. The unsuspecting lady never saw what was bound to happen come next. Virgo reached out and held her hand an inch or so from the stranger's forehead. That is when the screams began. The pain couldn't be missed, and instantly stacked on top of more and more pain. The girl's eyes closed shut, tightly. Her body collapsed to her knees, at first, before entirely flopping down. In mere seconds the girl was announced dead by the news reporter, who stayed at a safe distance.

Virgo wasn't playing around, and Zareh couldn't either. He reached over and grabbed the box that held the mysterious, mystic key. Temporary or not, it was time to fight and time to show God that he was trying to protect the world—not destroy it. The angel froze when he caught a glimpse of Sayeth in the side of one of the frames, spying on Virgo. The demonic leader's eyes looked deep in thought, nearly intrigued by the sight of such power.

“Damnit,” Zareh said under his breath. There was little time for hesitation; only about fifty-nine minutes left to be exact. “Ageoth, watch Ayumi. Make sure she doesn't follow me. This time, I go alone.” He exchanged powerful stares to each of them, Ageoth first and then to Ayumi. In a split second, Zareh was on the TV, standing in front of Virgo.

Face to face—just how he liked it.

14: Chapter 14: Virgo

Zareh stared into the woman's face. His eyes glowed the angelic blue color, while hers were a crimson red, glowing around her pupil. There was dark flames lifting off her, but it was just her dark, demonic aura. It was strong.

Virgo.

Her smile twisted and grew, her eyes opened as wide as they could. She looked crazy, filled with anger and excitement. Everyone seemed to evacuate the area, leaving only the two supernaturals there on the battlefield. Even the news caster woman had packed up and ran away.

“You actually came here quicker than I thought,” Virgo said, “you didn't keep me waiting. I like that.”

Zareh slightly frowned, and gave her a bored look. “I didn't have a choice. You were going to keep killing innocent people.”

“Why do you care about them?” She asked, taking a single step forward. With her advance, Zareh moved back a step. She tilted her head slightly to the side, noticing his small retreat. “Scared?”

The sky was cloudy, only twisting and swirling more and more into what looked to be a powerful storm forming. It could have been either of them, or the mix of their power. Zareh took a quick glance up, noticing the sky's darkening status. Virgo seemed to be inching toward him, taking ever step as slow as possible. It was like he was an animal in a dead end, and she was trying to get closer to catch him.

“These people do not deserve to die,” he said. “You, on the other hand, are a different story.” He summoned his magic, and shifted his clothing into his armor. He looked like a knight, straight from Heaven and ready for the front lines.

Virgo started to laugh. “You're jumping ahead, angel.”

“What do you mean?”

“Who said I was here to fight?” She danced around, playfully mocking Zareh. Every so often, she summoned a tiny swirl of magic. Hers was gray, nearly black. “I just want to play.”

The word 'play' disturbed Zareh. It was the way she said it, all sinister and eerie-like. He tried to stay calm, and collective, not to show her any change. Zareh wasn't there to play, like she said, he was there to kill her. Summoning his sword, Zareh moved forward.

Virgo began going toward him, as well. Her smile would haunt him for a long time.

He swung, but she moved out of the way. “No, no, no,” she told Zareh. She spun and her magic acted like a whip, slashing across his face. Warm, red blood trinkled down his cheek from the scratch his face now had.

Again, Zareh tried engaging her, swinging the sword from up to down, left to right. Virgo was skilled, or just really fast. Her moves were swift and left plenty of room between her and the blade. When she let out a scream, Zareh went flying backwards. He landed in a pile of destroyed debris that some shop owners were moving out from their shop.

I don't want to use it, Zareh told himself, thinking deeply about using the key. Even though God promised the temporary use of his dark powers, combined with his angelic powers to give him a combination beyond that of the Zodiacs, he didn't feel like this battle was the right one. He'd need it for all the others, despite knowing it was a one time use. As he thought about it, the key began to beckon to him telepathically. First, he tugged at his mind to persuade him to touch it, pull it from his pocket and use it. He fought against this, until it moved on to a near physical hunger, like an addiction, where he just had to have it. Again, he fought again it. His face started to scrunch up in pain.

“What are you doing over there, angel boy?” Virgo bent over, slightly. She looked amused, maybe slightly impatient. “Are you giving up already?”

There was a sudden change in the air, like another supernatural had joined the immediate area. Zareh couldn't see anything, but he was sure as to who it was. Ageoth or Ayumi. A knife's blade pierced Virgo's chest, sending her slightly up into the air with the power put behind it. Holding her like that, Ayumi poked her head out from behind the Zodiac to inspect her fellow Divine. With all of this, Zareh was able to get up; the key let go of him, and it's mental struggle.

“You coward,” Virgo mumbled, wincing in pain at every word, “you couldn't face me head on.”

Now was their chance. Zareh dashed forward, bringing up his blade and swinging for her head. Virgo grabbed the blade with her bare hand, holding it back before it had a chance to reach her neck. She mouthed, “no way,” before disappearing in a cloud of black smoke. She appeared over on the side of the shop, the one moving debris. There was a gaping hole in the middle of her chest.

“Nice cut,” Zareh whispered to Ayumi. She was surprised he wasn't angry with her. He was surprised he wasn't angry with her. “Tell me Ageoth didn't show up too?”

A surprise lightning bolt struck Virgo, forcing out agonizing screams.

Ageoth flew down to the side of her, where she laid tiredly against the building. He waved his hand in a sharp motion that brought about a spark of electricity, attacking her again. The blue lightning covered her entire body, and in some spots, burned her skin.

Zareh brought his hand to his face, squeezing the bridge of his nose in frustration. Even though he was happy to see the two angels, they disobeyed him by coming to the battlefield. Satan knew now that all three were willing to fight.

But it also kept Heaven unguarded.

“Ageoth, return quickly,” Zareh demanded. He sounded worried, and thus, his friend responded by disappearing in a quick flash of light. “Ayumi, get her.”

Ayumi lunged for Virgo, who wasn't about to put up a fight. The deep wound from the knife that pierced her chest was leaking magic, as if she was trying to heal herself but it just couldn't be done fast enough. Ayumi tired Virgo's hand behind her back, and the movement caused the mysterious woman to collapse onto her knees.

Zareh moved in and began a spell to extract the Zodiac soul from her. It was something he didn't know before coming today, but felt the key giving him the information, the knowledge to perform something he didn't know prior.

The magic formed a circle around her with symbols Ayumi didn't recognize, either. The lights slowly crept up Virgo's body and wrapped around her neck, hands, and feet, binding her to the ground. In a swift, powerful moment, Zareh brought his angel blade down onto her chest, pushing it all of the way through. He chanted some kind of spell, and soon her eyes began to bleed the same dark magic as her chest. She was dying. She was being exorcised. A white light soon erupted from her eyes, and out of her chest came a string of beautiful, shining lights. Zareh, in a hurry, pulled the light into a box.

It was her soul inside of the lights. He had brought the box along to try something, not capturing souls, but it worked regardless.

“One more down,” he mumbled. The circle disappeared and Virgo's body returned to it's normal, human—and not demonic—state. Whoever she was, she was beautiful. Long brown hair, smooth pale face, and gorgeous green eyes. It was a shame that something forced her to accept Satan's offer of the new soul, and turned her into what she was moments before. “He is pure evil,” he was referring to Satan.

“We're done here,” Ayumi said, “let's go back.”

15: Chapter 15: Family Problems

Ageoth walked down the long hallway and found the storage unit they found out God held the Zodiac souls in. When Zareh had last come here, he and Ayumi found out that all of the souls were taken. They thought it was Ares, the stronger one of the duo who fooled them and were secretly working for Satan. Now, Ageoth was trying to fix up the place and restore it to what it should be, a secured unit to hold the most powerful of souls. Starting with Cancer and Virgo's souls.

The holding cells were devices that locked into the shelves, and shot a glass tube up to the next shelf, locking in the floating orbs known as souls, or life force. In this case, though, it was more proper to refer to them as powers, since a majority of the soul lived up in the stars as the constellations.

“There we go,” the angel said out loud, to no one but himself. He screwed the last light bulb into place. The unit was now lit up, clean, and held two of twelve—or thirteen—Zodiacs. Looking over them, Ageoth cringed. To know that there might be a third was troubling. That means someone else was out there under the radar, maybe even under God's, since the wise man of Heaven wasn't saying much. “What is going on with this world.”

The afternoon brought nothing but relaxing, for now. Zareh didn't use much of his physical strength in the fight against Virgo, but it proved to be worthless. He was one for combat, swinging swords, and getting close. Ageoth was the mage of the group, who recommended Zareh learn more spells and magic for battling. A combination would be superior, Ageoth told him, it'd offer a great battle advantage.

The two set up a training class for the next day, given that no Zodiacs attacked Earth.

Ayumi was watching the TV carefully. Because of them being God's secret group, they didn't receive prayers like other angels. Her mind was empty of voices, but filled with thoughts of the rising threat. What would happen if she had to get into the fight? Would she be able to survive?

A broadcast flashed over the screen, and on the side of the news anchor, was a shot of a strange man running through the city. He had a rather big head with a ton of hair, almost like a mane. Ayumi's eyes widened when she realized who it was. “Leo,” she said to herself. There wasn't a full face or anything, but the fact that he looked like he had a lion's head told her everything.

Flicking the TV off, Ayumi jumped up and ran to the guys.

“Something wrong?” Zareh asked immediately upon seeing her. She was shaking her head and a little out of breath. “Calm down, Ayumi, what is it?”

“What do you know about Leo?”

“The Zodiac? Not much. He is strong, has the head of a lion, and claws.”

“Yeah, I know. He is on TV. They found him running in the city,” Ayumi pointed to the living room of their secret headquarters. Zareh's eyes opened further. “He didn't do anything, but they spotted him and were warning angels.”

Ageoth stood up and started to gather things, “We should go. Catch him while he doesn't expect it.”

“No, it is exactly what they are doing.” The words came from Zareh, and made everyone freeze in place. “What are the chances of a joyride? Ageoth, we're moving up the lesson. Ayumi, warn us if anything else happens with Leo.”

The two angels left Ayumi all alone as they headed off for the magical dome where they could practice magic. She thought of watching them from the viewing room Ageoth usually sat in, but there were no televisions. If Leo did anything, she wouldn't know. It was back to the living room for her.

These types of days where all they did were sit around and worry were the worst. Ever since becoming a Divine, she hadn't been able to stretch her legs and really test her powers. The angel news had shifted from the Zodiac spotting to nothing but petty human things, like prayer events and high trafficking cults that fed on prayers. Her priorities weren't any of these.

As time went on, she slouched into the couch, sinking in it's comforting cushions. Her eyes closed and her body started to relax. But sleep was anything but peaceful. Her thoughts soon brought her back to when this whole mess began. Ares and Artemis were trainees with her, for the title she held now. Back then, things seemed like one big contest and there weren't any problems with the world going to Hell. Then they turned against her, and she was saved by the guy she worked with now. Ayumi realized just how majestic Zareh looked that day, swooping down to save her. That was a long time ago now, and she felt the same for him. He was so much more then a mentor. Zareh was a great friend, at least that is what she tried to convince herself of.

A picture of Ares and Artemis flashed in her mind, and how they were going to kill her. It was all this weird power struggle, and she had come out on top with the title of Divine, one she ached to try out with the new abilities it came with.

The news anchor yelled at the moment Ayumi was about to hit a deep sleep, only waking her up. She jumped off the couch to see Leo slaughtering—not just murdering, but ripping them apart and butchering them—on the screen. From a peaceful run through the city to making it into a blood path and pile of human limbs.

Zareh and Ageoth had told her to grab them, but they were practicing. And she didn't really want to disturb them. Leo was ripping some poor, innocent man apart with his claws. The two guys were in the other room, she should go grab them. The man on the TV moved to a little boy, picking him up, looking at him like food.

She snapped.

One second she was in the safety of their HQ, the white house for Divines, and the next she was on the streets of the city the Zodiacs seemed to be using to get to Zareh. She couldn't explain what really happened aside from she instantly teleported without thinking. Leo was right in front of her, still holding the child.

“Put him down,” Ayumi shouted. She suited up; her normal clothes became more ninja-like. Dark, loose, covering her entire body. She had knives lining her leg, waist, and arms. She looked like a warrior now. “Now!”

Everything seemed to stop. In what seemed to be slow motion, Leo tossed the kid aside. The little boy landed on the side of a building, smashing against it and cracking his head open along the wall. Blood leaked from his head, his body becoming lifeless.

Ayumi screamed and charged Leo, who moved to the side and swiped at her. She went flying backwards, landing and skidding along the ground. People were yelling and running all around her. For a few seconds, sounds were different, disturbed. Her sight was shaky.

Leo moved toward her, eventually standing over top of her looking at her like she was a mouse about to be killed. “You look oddly familiar.”

Ayumi covered her face. She thought she could handle one Zodiac, she wanted to taste her new powers. Her enemy was just too strong. As she peeked at him, their eyes met.

“You-” Leo said, jumping away from her. He landed several feet away from her. “What are you doing here?”

“What are you talking about?” Ayumi asked, sitting up.

Leo's head began to shake violently, but it looked like a weird movie effect. A human head replaced the lion's, and things became clear.

Her eyes grew so wide, she had to bring her hands up and rub them to make sure they were still there. The person in front of her was someone she never wanted to see her again, someone responsible for her death.

No one but her father, the terrible, sadistic man that he was. Now he was right in front of her, revealing himself as one of the fastest, animal-like Zodiacs.

“No way,” she mumbled, scared out of her mind. A sinister smile crept on her father's face. “No. Freaking. Way. This cannot be happening!”

Her father moved toward her, and even as she backed away he seemed to catch up. He grabbed her arms and lifted her up off the ground with his new strength. “My daughter, who knew.”

“How are you here?”

“After I killed you, the cops got on my trail and some strange guy had killed me. Then, randomly, I met Satan. He gave me this new power and told me to go find the Divines, that if I killed more people, they would come. And look who is here,” he was still smiling. He licked his lips. “I get to kill you all over again.”

Ayumi's expression was pure terror. She had never expected this, and this is not how she wanted to test her powers. If only she could take it all back and just run to the guys and have them come down here.

Leo, Ayumi's father, had started to laugh. That is when his head shook again, becoming the lion's head. His large mane burst from the sides and a roar followed in the girl's face. He turned and tossed Ayumi to the ground hard. His strength was intense, and he held her down.

“Get off,” she said, something she had said too many times to him in her life before. Ayumi nervously looked around, not seeing anyone in sight and no sign of her fellow Divines. Suddenly, her eyes shifted into a dark abyss. The white of both eyes became black, and the color drained and became green with strips of purple. “I said get off!” Telekinetic-ally, she throw him backwards. She stood up and held her hand out, grabbing a hold of him with her new power.

Leo made coughing noises. She was choking him using her telekinetic powers, like the Force in Star Wars. She was Darth Vader. It used to be one of her favorite movies, as she dreamt of leaving her father's sadistic prison of a house and escape to a strange world. It was just the power she would want, and now she had it. Her father scratched at his throat to release her invisible grip, and he swiped at the ground in his struggle.

“I hope that this time, you die for good. Oh, and your Leo soul is nothing.” Ayumi summoned up a strange, purple magic that looked like it was slithering down her arm. When it hit her hands, it balled up. She thrust the ball toward her father. It flew to him and pierced his chest, instantly killing him.

In a buff of black smoke, his body disappeared. All that was left was the power, or fragment of soul, from Leo.

Ayumi's eyes returned to normal and she went to pick up the power. She held the orb of light to her chest, looked into the blue sky. “I hated you, forever. For what you put me through day after day. When you killed me,” a tear fell along her cheek, “I became an angel, what you should have treated me when I was with you, instead of a rag doll for some twisted entertainment.”

She turned her head to the ground. “Satan,” she said, “you play some really sick games, and you did that whole thing for me. Getting to me wasn't going to work, not with what I have, not with what I feel either.”

Suddenly, she faded from the city and returned home, slouching in the couch and holding the orb of light. She placed it in her pocket, planning to return it to the storage unit later. Right now, she had to relax and collect herself before the guys came out of the dome.

“One more down,” she whispered, “not many more before things hit the fan.”

16: Chapter 16: Switching it up

“Seven more,” Ageoth said, “The twins, the two that fooled us, and a few unconfirmed.” The angel was arranging papers on a desk, one that looked like a court room's desk for lawyers and clients. It was in front of a large stand in which God sat, as if he was the judge. “Apparently, Ayumi took Leo down by herself. She broke down in front of Zareh and I and told us who it was, what she did, and where she put the soul.”

“Ayumi took one on by herself?” God asked, pausing Ageoth in his report.

“Yes, sir. She claims it was her father, and his excitement that it was her distracted him long enough to find an opening.”

God waved his hand, ordering the angel to continue with the rest of the report. It went on for a while longer. All this talk about Zodiacs had filled Heaven up with nothing but monster talk, prayers, and the question of whether God was getting involve or if it were his lackeys. Of course, Zareh brushed all of this all, but Ageoth felt bad for such negative remarks. And who liked being called a lackey, anyway.

Ageoth piled his papers, picked them up, and patted the ends of them to make them neat again. His report was finally done, after an hour. It seemed to no where, though. What Ageoth and Zareh had hoped to achieve was showing God how difficult it has been to track them down and defeat them with minimal casualties. It was a slight plea to have Zareh's darker powers unlocked. But God hadn't mentioned it once, and neither did Ageoth.

An angel ran in from the a door on the side of the room, looking scared. In his panicked voice, he told God of the sighting of a new Zodiac. This one was another woman, but she stole powers and trading them with others. No one knew what they could or couldn't do in the way of magic without taking the time to look within themselves, which by then meant that they were vulnerable and killed.

With a glance over to Ageoth, the angel responded with a nod and ran out of the same door the random angel appeared in. He ran for a while, heading to the HQ for Zareh and Ayumi. By the sounds of it, they were going to need to go at this together. When he got back, Zareh was already gone. Ayumi was curled up on the couch watching the TV.

“Ayumi, what are you doing?” Ageoth asked, moving quickly to the other side to face her. He couldn't believe she was just curled up in a ball.

It had been two days since the reunion with her father, and the entire situation scared the death out of her. She had never returned to Earth, or tried training with the boys. All she did was lay down on the couch with wide eyes, watching the terror that they only knew as Zodiac Power. That is what the media was calling it. The Power was rumored to be more than the Divine, despite Zareh defeating a couple and Ayumi killing Leo.

Ayumi never answered Ageoth.

“What in the world,” he mumbled to himself. There wasn't time to shake this off, he needed to get to Zareh and help. It was his time to shine.

Earth was strangely quiet at this time of day. The city was filled with a few car sounds, but most of it was still, and quiet. A woman stood in the park, located at the side of the city where Zareh and Ageoth had first met up and discovered Zareh's mysterious condition of having two powers. She looked like she was wearing a toga, that was being held up by a plate of armor covering the top portion of her chest. On her side was a sword strapped to her waist, a shield connected to her wrist. Ageoth stared at her, stopping in his steps. She had blond hair wrapped in intricate braids.

It is weird to see someone dressed like this out in the city, he thought. He looked around to find Zareh, but so far nothing.

“Are you a Zodiac?”

“Who else would I be, angel,” the woman said, calmly. With her attitude, a smile followed. She placed a hand on the handle of her sword and examined Ageoth to see what his next move was. As she moved, he saw that she had a weird tattoo on the top of her hand. “Want to fight?”

He saw this as an opportunity to stretch his wings, his power, and show God that he wasn't just Zareh's sidekick. “Sure,” he said, readying himself.

A ball of magic formed in his hand, and he tossed it toward the woman, but she blocked with her shield. The way she lifted her arm and blocked, told Ageoth she was underestimating him. She looked suddenly bored. The ball of magic diffused against the shield and faded out of sight. His eyes narrowed at the sight of his attack not effecting her in the slightest.

He had to take the training wheels off, and really let loose. With a big breath, Ageoth started to focus on another form of his power. Electricity started to shoot around his body, covering him in it. His muscles tightened and looked as if they got bigger, and his eyes went a yellow hue instead of the usual blue angels have.

“A lightning user?” the woman asked. She raised an eyebrow to it, and stepped forward. With Ageoth's new magic aura, he was at least three times quicker than he appeared. He lunged for her and started throwing fists. “Whoa,” she said through a smile.

Zareh swooped in and kicked her into the side of a building.

“What was that?” the super pumped angel said, coming to a sudden halt before his friend.

“I should ask you that. What're you doing fighting her alone?”

Ageoth turned away, angrily. “I can handle it.”

The woman got off the wall, the impact denting the bricks. “Conflict, boys?”

Zareh stepped in front of Ageoth. “Who're you?”

Darkness swirled in her eyes. “I'm Libra,” she said. The tattoo on her hand started to get darker, and bolder, as if it'd swallow her hand. She jumped for the boys and they went back and forth dodging and attacking.

After a little while, she had achieved her goal. Libra had touched both boys and transferred their powers to one another, as well as taking a fraction for herself. Her muscles, like Ageoth's super charged ones, grew. Immediately, her body was covered in electricity—no, lightning. Strong bolts of lightning slowly crawled along the floor, making it so they couldn't run to her.

“What the hell,” Zareh said, seeing sparks of the same lightning around his hand. Ageoth tried to summon his, but nothing ever happened. Instead, he felt a slight breeze the harder he tried.

“Zareh,” his friend quietly said, realizing what is going on. He shook the thought of telling Zareh his elemental powers, something even he never saw. “Her symbol is a scale. She weighed our powers and balanced them by dividing our strengths.”

“How do you know?”

“Trust me,” Ageoth said, sharply.

It didn't matter to Zareh about whose powers he had, all he wanted to do was destroy any Zodiacs standing in his view. And that didn't exclude some mysterious, power transferring lady. He moved for her, but the lightning shocked his feet. There was only one way around it, he had to summon Ageoth's power.

Zareh closed his eyes, focusing on finding the power within himself. He brought it out with a hard pull, yelling at the sudden pain. His body was used to the lightning and being surrounded in it was burning him, paralyzing him.

His friend moved for Libra, but he was stopped by the sudden shock of his own power. Ageoth quickly summoned his wings and jumped over it, but when he got to her, he couldn't use any of his magic—or Zareh's. She spun around and knocked the angel away with her shield.

“Pathetic,” she mumbled. She disappeared in a puff of black smoke.

“No!” Zareh called out through the pain. He had just calmed the shocking factor, but it was too late. The fight was over.

The worst thing was their powers hadn't switched back.

“This is bad. What are we going to do?” Ageoth asked, looking for some guidance from his leader. There was nothing in his books that he saw about transferring powers entirely, or reversing it. The tattoo was a rare power, and they were unprepared.

“We have to get to know each other more than ever,” Zareh replied.

17: Chapter 17: Switching it up (part 2)

Ayumi had laughed for five minutes straight when the guys told her about their latest condition. Like any other angel, she never thought such a power was possible and that they were joking. Once she calmed down, Zareh showed off the painful shocks of lightning and petty electricity. Ageoth couldn't show her anything, because he still hadn't been able to find it within himself. A part of him thought maybe she took his magic entirely, aside from the hint of some elemental force.

“So,” Ayumi looked between the two, “this whole transferring thing wasn't a joke?”

Both Zareh and Ageoth signed, lowering their heads into one of their hands and shaking disappointed.

“Yes,” one of them said, she was unsure who.

Ayumi's jaw dropped. There was a whole other scare factor to consider is these weird powers and them not getting their rightful powers back. “I can't imagine Ageoth being some possible hybrid, and Zareh being some lightning warrior. It just isn't right.”

“You're telling us,” Ageoth flopped down on the couch like Zareh usually does, ignoring his peaceful sitting method. His eyes widened when he realized it. “I think she traded our traits, too.”

“Let's not panic,” Zareh stated. He walked to the computer and was setting up a new program for the dome. “The two of us will go train our new powers, and experiment for the worse case scenario.” Zareh glanced at Ageoth, worried. There was no way he'd be able to handle the agonizing pain if he tried to activate the angel power he had.

They left to go in the dome, and Ayumi hurried to the viewing room. Ageoth immediately attacked Zareh, trying to strangle him for stepping in on the battle that he felt he could have won. And if he hadn't showed up, they don't know if Libra would be able to take his magic.

“Chill out,” Ayumi said over the speaker system. She saw Ageoth recall his hands, but not his angry expression.

“You can blame me for whatever you want, the fact of the matter is we don't have our magic, we have each others. The lightning hurts me, and my powers will hurt you. Without having a way to locate Libra,” Zareh shot a look at Ayumi, “we can't hope to switch back.”

Receiving the look, Ayumi ran out of the viewing room and to the living room to find leads on this powerful, power transferring witch named Libra.

Back in the room, Ageoth had charged Zareh again. But the target had the upper hand this time, having lightning to speed up his body's muscles. The extreme boost continued to hurt him, but made him zoom around the room and nearly crash into the wall of the dome.

Ageoth spun around and tried to force out some magic, something low leveled that any supernatural might be able to do. A magic energy ball. Some kind of energy began to form in his hands, but disappeared after floating four feet away. With great disappointment, the angel sank to his knees. “This is tough, Zareh. Learning how to do this all over again when we've been doing it for centuries.” Zareh extended a hand and helped him up, a little residue of lightning shocking both of their hands.

“It is tough, and will be tougher for both of us if we don't learn how to control it.”

“I know, but I can't tap into your powers. Why is that?”

“Since becoming this weird hybrid, nothing seems easy. It is an intense amount of angelic and demonic power, although with the one locked away, you might hit dead ends while searching for any power,” Zareh told him. The two looked around the dome, each wanting to try new things and just didn't know how. It was tough to do something but didn't have the knowledge for.

Zareh took off in a colorful sprint around the room, generating a very static-filled area and moving some air around to create a mini tornado. It was like he was the Flash, the human made comic book hero. He may or may not have taken some time to read some while he was returning to Heaven.

On the other side of the room, Ageoth was still focusing on performing the lower leveled spells and tricks. The spheres of energy moved from four feet to five, but that was about it. He tried to go into his powers, looking within himself for the lightning. It wasn't there. Not a trace. Ageoth was getting discouraged and upset as the seconds flew by, or in this case, as Zareh zipped around the room.

“Stop that,” said Ageoth. He gave Zareh a sad look.

“I'm sorry,” Zareh could tell it was getting to his friend that he couldn't access any magic higher than a magical sphere of energy. He was worried about unlocking any more of it, but if that is what Ageoth wanted, who was he to hold him back. “Let's get you in.”

“What? Really?”

“Yes,” Zareh zipped over to him, ignoring what happened seconds ago. He touched Ageoth's shoulder and tried to help focus. It was still his powers. Ageoth's eyes began to glow a purple-ish blue color. “It is working.”

“Z-Zareh,” Ageoth mumbled, “make it stop. Make it STOP!”

The two of them separated, and Ageoth's eyes returned to normal before he collapsed to the floor. Zareh brought him immediately to Ayumi in the living room, where they tended to him to make sure he was still alive, out of harm's way. It turns out that he just passed out.

It was a couple of hours before he woke up. Zareh wasn't around, and Ayumi was back to staring at the television. No one was watching over him, which was odd to him. Why wasn't anyone waiting there for him to wake up?

“You're awake?” Ayumi said, not turning away from the table. He hadn't even moved, didn't even inhale loudly, she just knew. “Zareh went out to look for Libra, and with your powers, he is doing pretty well covering all of the tracks we could come up with.”

“What do you mean?”

“We were mapping out all of their appearances, and he shot off out of Heaven. We just stopped analyzing everything five minutes ago.”

“He sure is enjoying his new powers,” Ageoth said.

“Your powers. They aren't his at all,” Ayumi corrected. She turned to face the weakened angel, the one who clearly had been sulking about not being able to use lightning and electricity and being a walking battery waiting to be used. “Zareh said you asked him to stop,” she inched herself closer, “what happened?”

Embarrassed, Ageoth turned away from her. Despite noticing he wasn't going to answer easily, Ayumi pushed harder. They bickered back and forth about it for a while, before Ageoth gave up. He flopped back down on the couch, laying down like a patient at a therapist's office. And to mock him, Ayumi countered him by jumping into a chair and putting on fake glasses, acting like a typical therapist.

“And how does this make you feel?”

Ageoth lifted a finger and a lightning bolt shot at her, unexpectedly. It hit her right in between the eyes, breaking and burning the plastic glasses. Both shot up, looking around. There was nothing that gave Ageoth the feeling of his powers returning, but he had them. He could feel them and he couldn't feel Zareh's powers.

Actually, he couldn't even sense Zareh—not even on Earth.

God rushed in, for once, he was panicking. “We have a problem.”

18: Chapter 18: Snake's Venom

The news broke out all over Heaven. A great and terrible thing was happening on Earth, and it had swallowed all three realms. In the middle of the city was the remaining members of the Dark Zodiac, the group's made up name. Libra was on the side, the one who transferred Zareh and Ageoth's powers. A minotaur was near the middle, with his height he had been towering over the rest. Ares and Artemis were on another side, staying close together. There were two members they hadn't even encountered alone yet. And of course, toward the front of the commotion was the Gemini Twins, soaking up all of the energy and attention in their sick, twisted ways.

“Your move,” one of them said. They all looked ready to charge forward. Whatever it was had been shrouded in even more mystery. It looked to be someone familiar, but only God and Ageoth would recognize it.

Standing opposite of the Dark Zodiac, opposing them, had been none other than a super charged, super formed angel. Whether he used the key or broken the locks on the powers, Zareh hid it well. Half of his body was glowing bright, the other looked like a portal into some dark abyss. He looked calm, unmoving. There was something about him that didn't sit well.

Something so weird that God and Satan had joined with their respected members. Ayumi joined up with God and Ageoth, watching intently. She looked surprisingly calm and focused.

“You can choose who dies first,” Zareh said to the large group of villains. He was used to smiting souls, in fact, that was all he ever wanted to go back too since he had gone through the Fall. Now, he was lighting up different colors and surging with some of the most powerful magic in the universe.

“How did you do this?” Satan was looking extra curious. His attention went between Zareh and God, knowing that his rival couldn't unlock his part of the box they planted within him. Even with a key they both made in case Zareh needed it.

“I've done something that only one other has done. It is what he called Ascended. Like the Awakening,” Zareh turned to Ayumi, and then back, “it's a process called Ascension.”

“Impossible.”

“Say that to the creator of this world, the one who came just before you and your Father,” Zareh had waved his hand and played images in Satan's mind like a movie, of his old life, when he was known as Lucifer—an angel just like him. The dark depths of Hell had corrupted his form and changed him into a monster. “Angels were meant to be protectors, led by one who was the most powerful being. But we all die, and He died, leaving the world to God. You went through the Fall, and began a whole other realm.”

The history lesson was nice, but the Dark Zodiacs couldn't handle it. They all decided to go forward. Together, led by Taurus, the remaining eight members formed a circle around the powerful hybrid.

“Still, it is impossible,” Satan looked distracted with the movie inside of his mind, playing the life story over and over.

“Zareh!” Ageoth shouted, but it was too late. Ayumi had pulled the knife out from his stomach and licked it. The angel fell backwards onto God, who grabbed him and wisped him away into Heaven, locking it. The locking sound could be heard all over Earth. It was in panic mode, it was on lock down.

“You,” Zareh mumbled, looking through the crowd. Ayumi smiled, a dark smile it was. “I see now. You told us about a rumored thirteenth zodiac. And just like Aries and Sagittarius, you were hiding amongst us this entire time.”

“Ophiuchus,” she stated. It was her name, or the zodiac's real name.

“Good job, sis,” Sagittarius—or Artemis—said.

“Even if you make it out of here, somehow, Ageoth is dead and Heaven is falling apart. No one will trust God, everyone will be worried, and Earth has already been turned into a nervous hole.” Ayumi moved to join the circle, spreading them out a little more. They all stared Zareh down with blood in their eyes. They weren't here for a gathering to part. “Just give up and let us rule this planet.”

A laugh came from the center of the circle. “Like I would give it up so easy, just having you ask.” He spun to face Aries and Libra, shooting a powerful beam of energy into their chests. When the beam faded, two large holes were made and you could see right through their bodies. Two puffs of black smoke floated into the sky. “You see, none of you have a chance.”

“Don't believe him,” Taurus' voice blasted over the area, like he had a loud speaker built in his wind pipe.

Scorpio, who Zareh could pick out from the large, long stinger connecting to his back, thrust the stinger forward. Easily moving to the side, Zareh lifted his hand and shot the same beam that ended Aries and Libra. Even turned on his side, he was an excellent shot. The body disappeared in a slightly larger puff of smoke, gone no matter what. The numbers were dwindling down, from eight (or nine) to about six.

“Why did you do it?” Zareh asked.

“What?” Ayumi straightened up. She glanced between the remaining members, giving them cautious looks. “Why three angels turned dark and were able to maintain time in white, fluffy cloud Heaven?” There was her evil smile again, and she wasn't alone. The Gemini Twins were jumping in joy for a good story, but also for what their plan had for after. “It was simple. You would never suspect it since it never happened. We kept in touch with Satan, and we decided to take the souls. They didn't corrupt us in any way, so that is why we weren't as noticable as Scorpio, or Taurus.”

“Or us,” the twins pitched in.

“Aries and Sagittarius made it look like they had planned against me, letting me get the Divine title and getting close to you,” she said matter of factly.

“And Leo?” It struck at a spot in Ayumi as her face twisted.

“He was a minor set back, but a necessary one for the development of my character.”

A roar erupted from Taurus, who swung his giant axe. It knocked Zareh back, making him go through the wall of a building. Bricks and other small debris fell on the streets below, hitting a few walking people. The Gemini Twins prepared a powerful blast they came up with together, while Ayumi readied her true form. Sagittarius aimed, but didn't take the shot. Zareh emerged from the building unscratched. The beam from the twins had been played out and ran out as Zareh easily blocked it.

Lightning covered the angel, and Ayumi's eyes widened. Back in Heaven, Ageoth had just regained his powers. Libra hadn't been killed at the time, either. The effects of her mystical spell wore off, or something else had happened. What she was seeing now was the remains of the other Divine's elemental magic. Just like he had practiced in the dome, Zareh zipped around the group, sending his new, improved angelic sword through each Zodiac. He left Ayumi alive, but cut a gash in her leg, crippling her. It was just the two of them. Black smoke rose to the sky behind the two-sided angel.

“This is over,” he strictly said. It didn't sound like a statement as much as it sounded like a demand. There was no way she could argue with him this time either. He had single handed killed her allies—some of the strongest warriors before his locks broke. “You tried, I give you that,” he looked around, “but you ultimately failed.”

“How did you regain your powers?”

A sly smile came upon Zareh's face, the first form of expression the entire time the showdown was happening. “I never lost them. Satan and God tried, and I went along with the whole 'locking up the powers' procedure.”

“You never used them against the Zodiacs, and Cancer nearly beat you.” Ayumi was wide-eyed and in total disbelief.

“If I had used it, you would have known. If God knew I still had them, he'd come after me again. And if you knew, you'd tell Satan. After Aries and Sagittarius—Ares and Artemis—I was suspicious of you. Look where that led us.”

“Your friend is dead and your little love interest hates you. I couldn't take your life, but I took two important things from you,” she said. She started to laugh maniacally. Zareh brought up his sword and shoved it through her stomach, forcing it until it left the other side and hit the concrete. “I hate you,” she said before disappearing.

It was all over. The threat of the dark zodiacs were over. Satan, who couldn't get the flood of images out of his head, disappeared to get out of range of Zareh. Who knew if it broke his condition, but at least he wasn't around. Zareh might have turned to kill him next. Things were getting pretty bad around the realms, though. Ageoth was stabbed, and it felt to Zareh as if he couldn't move from the very spot he was in. And Ayumi, or Ophiuchus, was right about Sayeth. She hadn't tried to make contact since the offer by the Stitch Twins.

With a very bright flash, Zareh was forcibly teleported into Heaven, into a large white room with no windows and no doors. Ageoth was on the table, hardly breathing and grasping his wound. God stood over him, sweating, panicking.

“We have a problem,” said God, looking over at Zareh with bloodshot eyes. He moved his hand and revealed paperwork, tons of it. Most of the papers had fallen on to the floor, but from where he stood, Zareh could see that they were reports of something. “The poison was rare, not even man-made. It has too many demonic properties for me to heal. Even ME!” he shouted.

“You're telling me that Ageoth is going to die?”

“Not exactly. You need to step up now more than ever. You're the new God, Zareh, you've ascended through the ranks of ordinary angels to Divines, and now to God.” The stress had immediately done it's work on God's face. The wrinkles were more in the open than ever, and he looked like he was aging more and more by the minute. “My life is no more and you have replaced me. I'm going to heal Ageoth but I won't be around to help guide you.”

“No, you can't do that. We can find-” Zareh was cut off.

“Don't be stupid. There isn't any time.”

“Father...”

“Goodbye, son.” With that, God turned into a stream of magical lights, slowly floating to the wound on Ageoth. It looked more like the light was pushing it's way through the wound more than Ageoth absorbing it into his body, peacefully.

There was a long moment of silence, of waiting. Even more panic. Ageoth woke up minutes later.

“Zareh?”

It worked.

19: Chapter 19: The Finale

Life couldn't have changed more drastically than it had. At least, that is what Zareh thought. From living thousands of years ago, to dying one day mysteriously. That was when it all changed. He found out that life goes on, that the afterlife was in a limbo state, but once your soul was judged, you were sent to Heaven or Hell. As an angel, he found Ageoth who later turned out to be his best friend until the end. And his phase of being a demon was fun when it started, but by the time it ended, demons had meant a whole different thing to him. Zareh didn't mind the long, adventurous journey. He met a lot of new people, found friends, and did tons of work to help souls on Earth.

But it came to an end for a second time. God had sacrificed himself to save Ageoth, Zareh's most loyal and closest friend. The two were a part of a group called the Divines, or God's secret elite group to take on souls and harder tasks. They were the superheroes in the dark. Their original third member was gone, and no one knew if he was alive. Their second member for the same position turned out to be playing along with a giant scheme to over run Heaven and eventually rule the Earth.

The Zodiacs were their recent enemy, but were no longer around. Zareh had fooled everyone—even two of the world's most popular higher powers. They tried to take his mysterious, angel and demon powers to help save the world but only put it at more risk. In the end, all of the Zodiac souls were taken back to the storage unit and looked after by Ageoth for a while. Then they put a new locking spell on it and left it alone, hoping to forget what happened when the items inside were stolen. Ayumi, the girl who turned out to be the uncommon thirteenth zodiac, was gone as well. She was the one who stabbed Ageoth and hoped to kill both Divines. Before she died, she made it sound like it was all to go against Zareh, to get back at him for something that he didn't know he did. Whatever the reason, it was buried now in the clouds of demonic souls.

“Well,” Zareh said, slapping his knees and standing up off the couch, “I must get going.” On the table was a paper, an official document stated who was the new boss around here.

“Do you have to be leaving so soon?”

“Yeah, it is better I get going and let you get into 'office' to prepare for everything ahead of you.” Zareh shook hands with the angel he was talking to. He stretched his wings, which had evolved with the powers. One was white, feathery like an angel's while the other looked black, almost skeletal. “Besides, I have plans of my own.”

“What are they?” Ageoth stepped in front of Zareh.

“I'm going to explore space, speak with the real zodiacs. Maybe I can find a new planet for humans or make one. These are extraordinary powers I have.”

“While you're gone, I'm going to fix this place up. News is that Sayeth took over since Satan just randomly went on a sick leave.” Ageoth began to laugh, and soon Zareh joined him. They knew that the red creature they used to know as the ruler of Hell was probably in some corner of the Earth, sulking with the fact of reliving his past. It was Zareh's punishment for him releasing the Zodiac souls on demons and humans. “But good luck with your side of things.”

“You, as well. Don't go burning down the place,” Zareh joked. They exchanged a formal handshake.

“Me and the new Ascended will keep the place clean,” Ageoth said. He had renamed the Divine to the Ascended after the process Zareh went through, the Ascension.

After God had saved Ageoth by giving up his life, he told Zareh that he had become the heir to the title of God. But there were other things to do, and with part of the previous God's power inside of him, Ageoth was the best one for the job. Zareh had given up the right to rule Heaven to his best friend, and found out that on the opposing side ruling was his used-to-be interest, the demon 'princess' Sayeth. With Satan gone, and his events out in the open, she rose to the chance and opportunity at the position. Now, his friend was God, his former girlfriend was Satan.

Nothing could be more awkward.

As Zareh flew around the Earth one more time, he found out a lot of new things. Some about his past, or the previous wielder of the supernatural combination of two realms' power. The guy who had created Earth and left the first God in charge, who when Lucifer went through the Fall, a new God had been appointed. The Earth was in the care of the third God. The man who created the planet had left immediately after all of these events, annoyed by the drama. He went into the stars to search for a new planet, later finding others like him who couldn't maintain their powers and exploded on themselves. That is what the Big Bang apparently was. The man didn't get far, though, after realizing that Earth was probably made from one his relatives death.

How do you think we got the Moon?

It was Zareh's turn to search the galaxy, grow even older regardless of immortality, and eventually explode and turn into a planet. But he wouldn't be alone on the next chapter in his journey. Before leaving the atmosphere, he met up with a young friend of his, someone who he failed to protect once before but the miracle of life had been granted back.

Sayonia had come out of hiding and went for her sister, Sayeth, during the big election of the new Satan. She explained to Sayeth that after trying to lock the powers in Zareh, they had both visited her and helped revive their child. They named him Gazardiel, after the lore of the angel with a similar name who represented new beginnings. He was born with the same condition as Zareh, and would later find it to be curse. Sayonia's demonic soul and Fenzon's angelic soul merged to make such a handsome child, but doomed him to a life of hardship. To protect him, Sayonia met up with Zareh and gave him Gazardiel.

Together, with his adopted son, Zareh and Gazardiel left Earth to live in Space.