"I'm surprised to see you here, Barrattiel," Zuriea said, standing near the centre of the rough circle they all had made. "But you are very welcomed."

"I'm not back," Barratt said. "Just came to bring this man to you."

Sean was looking out the window, watching the crowds build up outside the Cobblestone Pub below. He used to work around here. A part of him yearned to be like them again, the worker crowds, a pint after work, minor cares compared to the greater threats to the world he now understood. That life also felt like someone else's, like he had dreamed it all, and now he was awake for his true purpose. Someone called his name and he turned to group.

After all the angels had regrouped here, Sean and Barratt proceeded to tell them of Cam's absence, and of the son he told them about. It took some convincing for them to trust that Cam was telling the truth about having an adult son, and Zuriea said she would have her team's Mystic, Ofarlem, look into such a precedence. Now it came down to what to do next.

"Right," Sean said. "I got a call from Kalaziel earlier. She says she saw Cam enter Sephiaza's stronghold on his own."

Beside Sean, Laylah gasped softly. "We need to go help him," she said.

Rathanael nodded. "Yes, we go now, and we take everyone."

"Everyone calm down," Zuriea said sternly. She was as tall a female angel as Sean has ever seen, with short black hair and a powerful, broad shouldered frame. She had the air of someone who was used to being listened to, and commanded attention. "If they have Cam, even if they've killed him already, they'll be expecting more of us now. Our element of surprise has gone."

"That's if you believe you ever had the element of surprise," Sean said, earning himself a firm look.

"It doesn't matter," Laylah said, her eyes large and pleading. "We have to try and help him, of course."

"Trap or no trap," Chayy said. "Our original plan was to attack Sephiaza's stronghold today."

Rathanael gestured around them. "How many angels do we have in town, outside of our teams?"

Zuriea thought about it, hands on her hips. "Five that I know of, keeping an eye on the city and the pulse of the world."

"And six in your team," Rathanael said. "And five left in Bath's team. Six, if you include Barratt."

"Don't include me."

"And we have two more, Kalaziel and Mihr, waiting at the stronghold," Rathanael added. "Anyone else?"

"You have me." They all turned to see Lahabiel enter the room. Her long hair hung freely, looking worn, and her eyes were sunken and tense. She held several large books against her chest, appearing lost and frail.

Laylah ran to her. "Lahabiel," she said, embracing her. "I'm so glad to see you."

"Sister," Chayy said, rubbing her arm as she joined them. "You were in our hideout when the attack came?"

Lahabiel kept her eyes low, holding her books tighter. "I was there when the demons came. I watched them slaughter our brethren. Bath tried to keep me hidden. She acted so fast. And... all I could do was hide, and then I ran."

"You did the right thing," Chayy said, a hand on her shoulder. "You would have joined them if you had not run. It's nothing to be ashamed of. And you're here with us, now."

Lahabiel looked around them. She perked up when she saw Barratt. "Barrattiel," she said, her eyes wide.

Barratt's expression remained unchanged, but, Sean thought he could sense something between them. The air seemed to charge when Barratt and Lahabiel locked eyes.

"It's good to see you alive, Lahabiel," he said.

A silence fell over them for a moment. Sean couldn't help but feel like a small child, standing around the giant, beefy men and tall women. He felt like he was in a scene from a superhero film.

"You are welcomed, sister," Zuriea said, clearly showing her look towards the books.

Lahabiel nodded and held them tighter. "I... I have been studying. Bath insisted I take our tomes. We reached a few theories recently, but, nothing solid."

Zuriea nodded. "You did well. They would have been a great loss to us."

Sean brought out the notebook and showed it to them. "You can add this to your library, too. Balthiour's notebook. Cam gave it to me before he disappeared on us."

Lahabiel took the notebook with a grateful nod and added it to the others in her hands. "It will surely be of use," she said. Her eyes tensed as she looked over them, raising her chin. "You said you were looking for more angels. We are still attacking Sephiaza's stronghold?"

"We are," Rathanael said, "but you are needed here. We can't risk losing you in battle."

"I'm well aware of the duties of a Mystic," Lahabiel said firmly. "In Bath's place, I am now the Mystic Angel of our team. I don't know if that makes me also our current Commanding Angel, like Bath was, but if I am then I am giving an order. You were just saying you needed more angels. I may not be as seasoned as some of you, but I am still a capable fighter."

Zuriea opened her mouth, but Chayy quickly said, "Very well. We'll be better for having you."

The others shared unsure looks.

"So be it," Zuriea said. "However, I should state that I feel we have underestimated Sephiaza's capabilities. It's clear that we have been one step behind ever since she appeared. It pains me to say it, but I suggest we call off the attack, until we have a stronger footing and better idea of what she intends."

Sean stepped forward. "No. The time is now, or never. Cam is out there with the enemy and we're just standing around talking about it. I'm going, alone if I have to. Cam is as much a brother to me as he is to you guys." He looked around them. "You all are."

"Rathanael nodded. "I will lead the team. Whoever will go."

"I will," Lahabiel said defiantly.

Chayy began to say something, but Zuriea interrupted him. "Enough," she said, sighing. "My team will be there. If one goes, we all go. Sean is right; it seems that the time is now. Whether we like it or not."

"I can put a call in," Barratt said. "More angels will join this fight."

Rathanael raised his brows. Sean felt a question go unanswered: what other angels? Instead Rathanael said, "More angels... including you, brother?"

Barratt shrugged. "I have one more fight in me." His eyes flicked to Lahabiel briefly. "Cam has always been a good friend."

Laylah nodded solemnly. "To us all."

The giant men and women looked over each other.

"Prepare yourselves," Zuriea said, breaking away from the circle.

Sean's shoulders tensed. Now that the moment for battle was coming, he couldn't help but pause. He should have been worried, but he tightened his fists and thought of his wife, and of his little boy and girl. Whatever happened next was meant to happen. 

***

Fire light glinted off the heavy iron bars of his cell. The crackling flames were the only sounds in the quiet, dark chamber, leaving Cam alone with his thoughts.

He sat in a small alcove, arms chained to the rock wall. The thick and heavy shackles were mostly symbolical, he knew, because if he was at full strength, he would likely be able to break free of them.

The dark light he had wielded continued to burden him. He could almost feel his core becoming tainted. Or maybe it was in his head.

Footsteps echoed down the hallway, followed by a figure appearing by the gates. Cam kept his head low, not needing to see them to know who it was.

The gates unlocked and Vassago entered, coming to a stop close to Cam.

"How are you feeling?"

Cam remained silent.

Vass sighed. "Why did you bother trying to attack her? You must have known you didn't have a chance coming here on your own."

Cam remained silent.

Vass crouched beside him, trying to meet Cam's eyes. "Don't you want to know how we've been one step ahead of you this whole time? How we knew where your hideout was, and that you knew where Sephiaza's stronghold was?"

Cam almost looked up, but remained stolid.

"We're connected, you and I," Vass said. "We can feel what the other feels, in a way. I've never really understood it properly, but we can get a sense of what the other is thinking, and seeing. It's not an easy ability, but it happens to me, sometimes."

A connection... Cam internally cursed himself. So that's how they knew where their hideout was. His brethren had died because of him. The demons had been one step ahead of them for months because of him. He wasn't sure, but he felt like he could have suspected such a thing, if he'd accepted Vass as a son.

"I'll ask again," Vass said soothingly. "Maybe you've had more time to think about it. Are you ready to accept that we are meant to work together? To better the world, together?"

Cam finally raised his head. His son tensed, freezing. Something shifted behind Vass's dark, shaking eyes. Cam thought he saw fear, or perhaps concern. The look softened Cam a little, seeing Vass as a scared young man.

"It isn't a case of us against her, or light versus dark," Cam said, quietly but determined. "This war is pointless. The balance will always shift each way. Everything is predetermined that way. We waste our time."

Vass shook his head, eyes locked on Cam. "I don't understand you. Sephiaza will kill you. She's waiting for your brethren to show up so they can die around you. She's gathered enough energy to summon another pure demon. It's a time consuming process, to collect enough energy, but she built up enough to summon two today. She had wanted them here when the angels mounted their full-scale assault, but you took care of the first one that came out. Very impressive by the way."

Cam grimaced. If his brethren faced a pure demon along with all the other demons, many of them would fall. The demons were so far ahead of them... he hated to admit it, but he couldn't help but feel that they were the stronger force.

The world rightfully belongs to the demons.

He turned to Vass. "What do you think of free will? Time is only a concept of humans, but we understand the greater extent of existence. The great will of the universe is that everything has been both predetermined and set up to evolve on its own. The humans were given free will, and they can alter their predetermined paths in some way. But what does that mean for you, Vass? Do you feel you can overthrow Sephiaza because you want to, or because you've convinced yourself you're meant to?"

"Everything's been set up already, correct, and we're all just pawns in the greater game. But, the free will of the humans applies to the grounded angels and demons also. If I desire to lead the demons in her place, I will do so. If we will it enough, and are strong enough, we can change the shape of the world."

A light smoke drifted between them from the hanging fires, the hot alcove becoming smothering. Vass's gaze pierced Cam. In place of a fear or concern there was an.... understanding. Something that frightened Cam.

If we're strong enough, we can change the shape of the world.

The demons were strong enough to do that, more so than the angels were.

He sighed, looking away. Perhaps the infection was turning him towards the demon's side, but, what worried him more was that he was turning by himself.

Balthiour was adamant in his beliefs. Maybe he wasn't so crazy, after all, but had seen something the angels couldn't understand. Something that Cam was just beginning to see.

Vass continued to watch him. Cam considered saying something to him, but fell silent. He wished Bath were there to help him. She'd know what to do. Her last word to him had been 'Sun', but Cam wasn't so sure how the sun could help them. Unless she just meant he should embrace the extra strength the sun was giving them this day. Another part of him missed Balthiour. The man he once looked up to and respected, and trusted to guide him. But now Cam was on his own.

"Go away," Cam eventually said, looking away.

Vass leaned closer. "Let me help you—"

"Get away!" Cam screamed.

Vass jerked back, his eyes wide and mouth open.

A heavy chill ran through Cam. They couldn't deny the dark venom that had distorted his voice. He turned away, defeated.

Vass quietly left the room.

[Thank you for reading. Please feel free to leave a comment and click the Like star. I'd love to hear what you think of the story. Thanks!]