Dancing In The Void

Azazel stumbled slowly across the street, trying to make his way back to his truck while ignoring the unimaginable pulsating pain in the right side of his face.

He found himself leaning against the left door of the vehicle. With a quick leap inside, exhaustion washed over him. He rested his forehead on the driving wheel for a slight moment, staining it red with blood. He leaned back, heaving loudly and deeply, his chest rising and lowering with every breath. “God damn it…” He sighed as he reached and pulled out a phone from his pocket. One attempted call failed. Then the second failed also. Finally, after the fifth attempt the partner on the other side finally answered.

“Thank fuck. I was gonna scream if you didn’t answer already.” He said, wheezing garishly.

“You don’t sound too well Azazel. What happened?” Mephisto’s voice came through on the other side.

“Oh nothing too severe. I just have a giant gaping bleeding hole in the side of my face where an eyeball used to be.” He shrugged, even though Mephy wasn’t present to see him.

“Sounds… lovely.” Mephisto said, struggling to hold back a chuckle. “I take it you found the Huntress?”

“Oh yes, and how wonderful a meeting it was. All three seconds of it before she ran away. No, it was her mother that dared stand up to me. Our dear Laverna, a backstabbing traitorous bitch that’s been spying on us the whole time.”

The other demon silently took in this new revelation. “Huh… well, she was your secretary after all. Still, I enjoyed her company… I’m guessing she’s no longer with us?”

“A damn shame if there ever was one…” Azazel confirmed.

“And sorry for not answering sooner. I was inspecting the mansion you sent me to. Found some bloody clothes and first-aid tools around, and some curious items and seals scattered around… this is definitely the place.” Mephisto said.

“Good, good. I’ll have to visit a friend regarding this wound. Ghhk.” Azazel hissed as a shot of pain surged through his head. His noises turned into a deranged giggling.

“And what of the angel?”

“The wendigos are chasing after her and the others as we speak. Alila’s spawn is with them though, so I guess we can already add another two to the ever-growing list of bestial casualties.” He sighed and gnashed his teeth as he cleaned his laceration, covering it with a makeshift bandage. He was happy he’d stopped bleeding everywhere but by now there was rarely a spot untainted. “Most likely they’ll flee back to their home as soon as they can. Call it off, come back to the office, I consider this a successful mission, even if we didn't get the angel.“ Azazel waited for what felt like an unnaturally lengthy amount of time. Something was wrong.

“Mephisto?” He asked once again.

“No.” Came his word clear as day through the speaker.

“What do you… mean… no?” Azazel asked, feeling his blood starting to boil. His voice was cold and dripping with menace.

“If they are going to fight the wendigos, they’ll be wounded. If they do come this way, then I will wait for them. There is something I need to confirm with my own eyes.”

“What, do you want to get yourself killed or something? Didn't I tell you to listen to me and all will be fine? Come now Mephisto, think of our friendship, you wouldn’t really want to ruin it, right?” Azazel said quietly with a menacing undertone. “Get the hell back now, that's an order.” He barked.

“You once told me boss… that when one loses their cool, they’re losing control. Sorry Azazel, being your lackey and living a life of lux sounded fun, but I never agreed to being under your control forever. Not again. I need to find out how she is still alive on my own… Consider this my resignation.“ Mephisto said defiantly, ending the call and leaving a bewildered Azazel staring at his phone.

The bewilderment quickly faded however, and a bloody grin crept across his face instead. He chuckled, threw the phone away on the other seat and then started his truck. As its engine roared, a whisper lingered on his tongue.

“My, my… so that’s how its going to be? What an enjoyable time we’ve had together… but I suppose nothing lasts forever. I hope you have an enjoyable time meeting her…”

The screeching of wheels on asphalt echoed out as the Cadillac sped through the city. The group squeezed inside the car, clamoring over each other until Katherine converted the roof down. Now, there was ample space for everyone to sit, and for Uriel to spread her wings. Nikolai was picked as the designated driver by Katherine, and despite everyone’s protests, there was no arguing to be had. One word from Katherine, full of intimidation and finality was all that was needed to quell any doubts and errant thoughts into submission:

“Drive.”

Constantine rode shotgun next to her offering much needed moral support, while Evan sat in the seat behind him. Along with Uriel, the two of them hid in the back seats, trying to keep a low profile. Katherine didn’t seem particularly interested in low profiles, nor in sitting down. She sat up straight, one steelclad leg on the middle seat, the other up on the roof of the trunk. It was quite a sight watching as Nikolai weaved in and out on the not so empty roads while Katherine kept her balance with each turn.

The sounds of gunfire trailed off in the distance, quickly replaced by earth-trembling hooves. Katherine’s eyes were fixed behind them, watching as the howling beasts chased after them. They stampeded across the roads, throwing and knocking aside cars with animalistic rage in their eyes. She flared her blade, startling Evan as she nearly took off a few of his golden strands.

“Oh God… They’re catching up.” Uriel said, her voice brimming with fear and worry.

It was almost noon now, and the bystanders that expected a pleasant and relaxing Sunday were met with an unimaginable sight. Two hulking behemoths chasing after a luxurious car, some even noticing what looked like an angel inside that car. Even though most assumed this was just some left-over show from yesterday’s Halloween event, some were startled enough to flee and hide from the path of these massive one-eyed wolf-deers. Inside the car, Uriel’s words were enough to terrify the rest. Constantine pulled out his gun, yet he was quickly told off by Katherine.

“What are you doing? Are you mad? You’re just going to shoot me or some stranger on the street! Put that damn thing away.”

“Well what the hell do you want me to do? Why’d you even give us these if not to keep these things off of us? I don’t like the thought of one of those fucking things finishing what the first one couldn’t.” He snapped back at her.

“They’re for protection if they come close. Just stay the fuck there and let me make sure that won’t ha-”

As if fate itself was tempted by her words, one of the wendigos jumped on top of an oncoming car, using it to take a giant leap forward. In the blink of an eye, it caught the back of the Cadillac, crushing some parts of the car with its claws. It latched on quickly with the other one, using its hands to keep itself tethered while the car dragged its rotted carcass across the pavement. Katherine stumbled, almost losing her footing, and in that moment the beast roared forward.

Uriel screamed and Evan cried out in fear. In an instant however, Katherine reacted and swung her blade, deflecting the wendigo’s swipe. She pushed forward, swinging her blade as she perilously danced between the monstrous claws and vicious bites. The wendigo was startled by this fearsome creature putting such resistance, but the fluttering of white wings nearby reminded it of its true goal. It roared once more, showering Katherine with its putrid spit, before it lunged towards her. A second of carelessness as the creature’s foul attack dazed her was all it took for its strike to land. Katherine’s reflexes were barely fast enough to prevent a lethal blow, but not enough to fully avoid the brunt of that upward swipe. Uriel shrieked in fear as Katherine was knocked out of the car.

“HYAAH!” Katherine unleashed her vicious battlecry. She snapped back mid-air and stabbed her halberd into the side of the car, embedding it into the metal frame. With the inertia of her fall she spun around the handle as if it was a pole bar. The beast was caught off guard by a massive metallic boot kicking it straight in its yellow eye. It grunted as it was now nearly thrown off the car, but still clinging with feral rage and vicious claws. But now the battle briefly paused as each of them sized up their foe.

The break came when Evan pulled out his handgun and unleashed a salvo of bullets in the wendigo’s face. They seemed to irritate it more than anything, not a single bullet able to pierce its skin, but it was enough to give Katherine an opening against this blinded and distracted opponent. She swung her blade, slicing into the beast’s flesh again and again before it could recollect itself. Blood rained down over the car and onto the street. Shouting and bestial howls of pain roared across the street.

“Nikolai look out!” Constantine screamed out as the fight raged on. Her eyes weren’t on the road for a brief moment, and in that moment a massive truck cut across their path. She quickly pulled the wheel, barely dodging around the vehicle as loud honks and swears followed. The sudden movements were enough to imbalance the beast in the back just enough. Katherine immediately seized the chance, and with a feral shout, she attacked. She dodged into it and impaled the abomination upward through its neck.

But this was not all. With the beast whimpering and clawing at the blade in its throat, Katherine heaved it upwards, splitting the fiend’s neck in twain. The edge of her blade cut through its skull, snout and eye cleanly in half, sending rivers of blood and chunks of brain-matter raining through the air. Uriel’s silver wings were stained crimson as the terrified angel covered herself with them like a cocoon. The wendigo’s body stumbled back, not yet realizing it was dead. Its muscles went limp, and its carcass collapsed back onto the road, head-first into the concrete.

“Haah… haah…” Katherine panted for air, sweat and blood dripping down her forehead and onto her face.

The chance for relief was short-lived however. During the commotion, the sneakier second monster caught up with the car. Instead of joining its brethren’s fight, it sought to kill the head of this rapid machine-like creature. It latched itself onto the car and swung at the driver, Nikolai, with its massive skeletal claws. Its aim was her head. Nikolai screamed as death reached for her, but fortunately, Katherine wasn’t the only one with quick reflexes. Constantine grabbed his lover’s hair hard and yanked her whole body towards him. The long gray claws of the wendigo just barely missed her, nixing a few strands of hair at worst. Nikolai screamed, the shock of still being alive pulsing through her veins. A singular moment, a singular opportunity was given as the beast tried to pull back after its failed attack. Constantine did not hesitate. With blind faith and a stroke of luck, he pulled out his handgun. With a trembling hand, his thoughts raced, pristine and simple.

Point. He raised his arm, his hand clenched around his weapon. Aim. He aligned his gun with the beast’s yellow eye as that precious second of time passed. “SHOOT!” He screamed as he pulled the trigger.

His bullet shot through the air and pierced the wendigo in the dead center of its amber eye. The sheer force of the shot snapped its head and neck back. Blood and brain sinew rained through the air as its dying corpse peeled away, releasing it from the car. It fell, and rolled back behind them across the street, to the shock of the frightened onlookers. Everyone stared in shock as the car continued speeding away, Nikolai just barely managing to get her hands back on the wheel in time. Then everything was quiet, as they all came to realize how narrowly they’d avoided death that day.

Nikolai drove on, her hands shivering, gripping the steering wheel like a vice. Constantine was slumped back in his chair in shock, staring at the road in amazement of what he’d just done. Uriel was weeping quietly in the back as she hugged her knees, and Evan, somehow the least shocked of all, tried to console her and assure her that the danger had passed. They all were finally able to take their hard-earned sigh of relief. All, save for one. Katherine’s halberd was stuck in the trunk of her car, and she rested against it. But as she coughed and tried to collect herself, she realized her blood was pouring out of her. On her chest, near the base of her neck were large, bleeding gashes where she’d been clawed.

“F-fuck.” She coughed, and nearly collapsed off of the car as Nikolai took a turn.

“I gotcha!” Evan quickly jumped, grabbing her and pulling her and her weapon back inside the safety of the car. “Don’t go dying on us after all THAT shit! How much longer to your place?”

She spat some blood before saying: “Ten minutes at most…”

“C-Christ… We need to get you to a hospital!” Constantine said, looking back at her.

“N-no… they can’t help me. Here, use the scarf…” She said quickly.

“You’re mad Katherine, we really should take you to the hospital! None of us here know how to sew up a wound like that!” Evan argued, trying to agree with his friend.

“The wound… is poisoned. The hospital can’t help me… Get me home… fast…” Katherine wheezed.

“Alright.” Evan obeyed, defeated. “Uriel, help me, press here please!”

But Uriel did not react, she stared blankly with her pale eyes.

“Ghh!” Katherine winced in pain at Evan’s touch as he wrapped her scarf tightly around her wound.

“Uriel, please!” Evan shouted, snapping her out of her trance.

“Y-yes… I’m sorry…” Uriel said meekly, pressing on Katherine’s scarf where Evan was keeping his hands. “She’s still bleeding so much...” She said, the echo from her voice now barely a whisper and her face still red from crying.

“You’re an angel for Christ’s sake, can't you heal her or something?” Nikolai desperately shouted back at her.

“I-I… can’t…” Uriel confessed, almost driven to tears again. “I’m sorry.”

“I-I’m sorry Uriel, I shouldn't… I…” Her lips trembled, unable to hold herself back any longer, Nikolai broke down and started crying uncontrollably.

“Easy Cherry, easy…” Constantine grabbed her shoulder, rubbing it gently and trying to calm her down. “It passed. We’re safe now. Look, we’re coming up on Black Forest avenue, we’ll be at Kath’s house in no time.” He said, attempting to soothe her. It was enough to keep her focused on the road as she wiped her tears and slammed the pedal to quicken their journey.

It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon when they finally arrived. The sun was high in the sky, looming over the towering mansion. A gentle breeze made the dead, leafless trees dance on the backdrop of the clear blue sky. With it came the cold air of autumn, threatening dusty clouds that formed above the mansion. But the beauty of this day went unnoticed by the curious group of friends that rolled up before the mansion in a devastated, barely functional car.

Katherine was bleeding profusely. The entire right side of the backseat of the Cadillac was soaked red, the same shade of crimson as the scarf that dangled about her shoulders. She gasped and coughed, finding it difficult to breathe normally. Her vision was starting to grow dim, but her rageful determination kept her awake. As Nikolai parked the car, Constantine jumped from his seat. He and Evan grabbed Katherine on either side, carrying her towards the door. Uriel gently followed them, still very much disturbed by the events that transpired. Nikolai was in much the same state, still sitting behind the wheel. They shared a glance, and a kind, understanding smile. With a nod, she stepped out of the car. Before she went, she reached for Katherine’s halberd, but immediately almost dropped it.

“This… this is so heavy!” She said, exasperated.

“I got it…” Uriel said softly, picking it up and holding it in both hands. Nikolai allowed herself a moment to be amazed as Uriel’s somewhat lithe physique was able to carry the weapon so casually.

“You girls planning to break down her door with that or what? No need, we got her key, come on, get it open fast, I don't know how much longer she’s gonna last.” Evan said with a huff.

Nikolai quickly rushed ahead, getting the door open and allowing everyone else to enter. She immediately followed them into the living room, and the blood of all five quickly ran cold. The last thing they wanted to see sat before them in Katherine’s armchair, drinking what appeared to be scotch from a small glass. The loud metal clank of metal on wood as Uriel dropped the halberd echoed throughout the house.

“Y-you…” Katherine spat weakly.

“Good afternoon.” The man said calmly. An aura of terror emanated from him and his eyes stared peerlessly at Uriel, as if he was trying to gaze into her mind. “Hope you don’t mind me drinking some of your bottles, I helped myself. The name’s Mephistopheles, you may call me Mephisto.”

Constantine let Evan hold Katherine, as he immediately pulled out his gun. He aimed it at the man and stepped forward with shivering hands and weak knees. He moved in front of Uriel, letting her shelter behind him.

“Please, put your gun away. I am not here to fight.” Mephisto said.

“Yeah you know, I don't exactly believe that.” Constantine said, trying to sound defiant but his trembling voice betraying him.

The man put down his glass on a nearby coffee table. Katherine heaved and collapsed on her knees, pulling Evan down with her.

“Your friend doesn't seem to be well. That's the risk that comes when you fight wendigos, the poison is a vicious thing. Especially untreated… I recommend using this.” He said, getting up from the chair and tossing Nikolai a small vial with a glowing red liquid inside.

“What the hell?” Nikolai murmured quietly, inspecting the bottle.

“T-that’s… mine…” Katherine said, the last of her strength waning. Despite that, her eyes lit up at the sight of it, proof of its usefulness and necessity.

“Indeed. I found it around the place. Hope you don’t mind my snooping.” Mephisto confessed.

“Take her to the other room, patch her up!” Constantine ordered, and Evan nodded without complaint. He and Nikolai dragged Katherine away, leaving just the two of them to stand before this mysterious stranger. “Now, we can talk. What are you doing here? Why would you help us? You’re a demon aren't you?” Constantine asked with agitation as he shook his gun at him.

“Your arm is trembling, kid. If you want to threaten someone you need to control yourself, control your fears and not be so terrified. But, that is true. I am a demon. My boss, who I presume you saw earlier today, has ordered me to kill you…” He said, pointing at Uriel. “...And should any of you interfere, to kill the rest of you as well.”

Constantine gulped, and Uriel shivered with dread. She pushed against Constantine, clutching his back with her hands and hiding behind him. “So, why haven’t you done that yet?” He asked. “Us killing your stupid wendigos should count as interference enough.”

“Hmm.” Mephisto chuckled. “In truth, they’re my boss’ hounds. But no, while killing a bunch of kids would be terrifyingly simple, that’s not why I’m hesitating. You see, I am conflicted…”

“Oh no… please do tell me all about your struggle while I slowly build the confidence to put a bullet right between your eyes.” Constantine said coldly.

“You don’t seem like the type.”

“Why don’t you ask the wendigo I shot earlier?”

Mephisto shook his head and took a step back. “Alright hero, relax. My conflictions come from these… strange memories, strange fragments of time that flash in my mind… I am certain… that I’ve already killed the Angel behind you once before.”

Constantine was confused, he took a quick glance over his shoulder and saw only a scared Uriel trembling with her eyes shut. “So?”

“So… I have but one request. The reason why I waited for you all today. Angel, answer me this one question and I promise, I will just leave, just walk away.” Mephisto said, placing a hand on his chest. “Step forward please.”

Constantine looked back at her and gave a small nod. Assured by him, she moved up and now stood more visibly, but still hiding behind her friend.

“Yes?” She asked, her voice fluttering and her eyes avoiding the demon’s.

Mephisto seemed awestruck. He didn’t say anything, just stared at her. A million thoughts seemed to flash through his mind, but whatever they were, neither of them could imagine at that moment. “Is your name Camael?” He finally said after what felt like hours. His voice was quiet, sad, and full of despair.

“N-no.” She responded surprised at the question. “This name, it sounds oddly familiar. But where I’ve heard it before, I cannot recall.”

The demon took a step back, a strange expression of relief and shock was on his face, he blinked quickly and then asked with hurry: “Who are you? What is your name?”

“My name is…” She paused, unsure if she should continue or not, but Constantine gave her another reassuring nod. “...Uriel.”

They both turned and stared at Mephisto, who looked in their direction, but did not seem to be looking at them. He seemed disturbed by what he’d heard, confused even. He nodded and then began walking towards them. Constantine raised his gun in self-defense, but the demon had no intention of harming either of them. He just turned and began walking towards the hallway.

“Uriel…” He echoed before he stepped out the door. Constantine and Uriel exchanged curious glances, but were relieved when he finally exited. The house now stood empty of demons, silent as a forgotten grave.

It was night by the time Mephistopheles reached the inner city. He had ended up walking for what felt like hours. Amazement at his feat washed over him. He doubted he would have been able to walk so far after what he had heard. That name. That accursed name kept ringing on and on in his brain the whole time.

Uriel.

It echoed in his thoughts constantly. Who was this angel? Where did he hear their name? Why did his heart tremble when he heard her say it? The questions chipped away at his mind, and at his very sanity.

“Uriel… Who are you?” He kept asking himself.

“Who are you?” The question kept pulsing in his thoughts like an endless storm. It gave him no peace, no relief. His breathing was shallow, his heart beat irregularly. He nearly collapsed. Fragments of a memory flashed before his eyes. A smile, eyes of pale white, crimson blood staining his hands.

”Uriel?” He said out loud once more. He was surrounded by silence, alone in the back of some forgotten street. He looked up at the starry night sky, and saw the glorious full moon raining its light down upon him. At that moment, it was as if a dam collapsed, and a thousand memories flooded his brain. Memories of Camael. Memories of her request, and his promise. Memories of her knife in his hands. Memories of her confession before the end, and the sweetest memory of the baby in his arms.

“Uriel…” He echoed her name one final time. Tears of revelation rolled down his cheek and Mephisto crawled on his knees, as if to cry out to the moon.

“My… daughter?”