[Supernatural][R][Liminality] Firestorm
Full notes on the Masterpost
Note: also on AO3 and ff.net. A world-building post about the Kingdom just here.
Warnings: None
Word count: 3,709
Summary: Gabriel goes in his vessel's dream realm to establish a direct contact with her. Events don't go as well as he intended and Lucifer really doesn't help.
Disclaimer: Everything that's not angel is mine, the rest obviously isn't. Oh, and the translation from Evening Harmony is mine too.
Fire’s breath assails
The all-nourishing tree,
Towering fire plays
Against heaven itself.
- Sæmund’s Edda, (Thorpe’s tr.)
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The world was nothing but shards of vivid colors without definite forms, like a mad painter had splashed his pigments all around, without thinking of a pattern to draw. Gabriel was watching it with curiosity as he walked through this dream realm, searching for its owner. This time, he had opted for a more direct approach than his previous tries and he was actually quite excited to test it. In fact, his wings were emitting a very light buzz in echoes to his feelings.
"Geez, Gabriel, are you a cherub now?"
And of course Lucifer would mock him for that, which earned him a smack of one wing in retaliation. His brother hissed while touching his brow, where the blow had landed. Not without fascination, Gabriel noticed with a smirk. For the occasion, the archangels wore an appearance the human were familiar with and would be able to communicate with.
For now, there wasn't a single reason Gabriel could think of about why the Morning Star had decided to go with him. He obviously hadn't changed his mind about humans and would also complain about the pettiest things: how feet were a hassle to move in order to walk, how arms were nothing more than awkward limbs or how ten was too many fingers. Moreover, Gabriel didn't buy for one second Lucifer's supposed need to "get a little away from Michael and his preps for battle frenzy and Raphael isn't as fun as you, little brother". Still, he was willing to let it go. Even if his fellow archangel was only irritating at best, he was glad to have a brother by his side for once. It almost felt like Lucifer was genuinely interested in his whereabouts.
When Lucifer pulled on one of his messy blond curls, making them roll slowly between chubby fingers, then pulled on them harder, Gabriel laughed with a high-pitched and juvenile tone he wasn't used to. Then he let out a disgruntled sound when his brother yanked one of his locks. It hadn't quite been painful, but very unpleasant nonetheless.
"What're you doing, Lucy? Do I yank your feathers for fun? No! So please don't do that with these hair. It's really annoying."
"You did when you were a cherub, Gabriel. This is retribution," the little bastard answered with a mischievous grin Gabriel was sure no child would-should for that matter-be able to pull out. Lucifer then slowly shook his head, fingers in his hair. "You see, now that I know how impractical this hair thing is, I pity angels like Zachariah even more. Look at that." He put his hands in Gabriel's hair. "It's so easy to grab and pull them out. And I'm pretty sure it can hurt a lot. So useful in battle."
"So, you'll be pleased to know that these children's hair are fairly short for Nords. Adults usually wear them shoulder-length at the very least, and it's pretty common to braid them or put some ornery objets into it."
Lucifer eyed him with suspicion, reaching out to him with his grace, silently reproaching him the time he passed observing humans, and still failing to understand what his brother-or their Dad for that matter-found in them. Gabriel just rolled his eyes and pulled the other archangel's hand out of his hair.
"This is just stupid. Remind me to keep these things short when I found a vessel. Hair is useless. Not that humans are nothing but useless anyway."
"Actually, I find hair pretty awesome. Human's body in general is pretty awesome, there's so much things they can do with it. Sometimes, I wonder why Dad made us like that." He waved at the air to illustrate his point. "Even lesser angels have better bodies than ours. We don't even have hands!"
Watching the other angels and humans, the wonders they could do with their bodies, made him want to have them in his original form. Lucifer was now staring at him with hazel eyes full of disapprobation, and also some confusion.
"Archangels-we-are the most beautiful beings Dad ever created, Gabriel. We don't have hands because we don't need them: we just have to think to obtain what we want, you know that as much as me. Look at Zachariah and his ridiculous four heads. Really, Gabriel, really?"
There it was, the Morning Star and that sheer and utter hubris and condescension that were at the heart of his little war games with Michael.
"We," Gabriel began, tone as sharp and poisonous that he could managed. "look like shapeshifting blobs of light mixed with rainbow droplets, Lucifer. Oh yeah, also three pairs of wings and an aureole. We don't look like anything. No wonder Dad just kept the halo and wings when modeling our little brothers."
"The Host swoons at us, they adore our form."
"The Host swoons at us because of what we are and represent. Dad's voice. His authority, His love and His power. Their archangels superior to them in all domains, the elders they can look up to and thrive to obey," Gabriel said more bitterness in his words than what he had intended. Lucifer watched him with a curious glance, making his brother uncomfortable. "But yeah, Dad did a pretty good work with our wings. I wouldn't trade them for anything."
That time, the Morning Star took one of his hands in his, that eerie smile of him on his face as he spoke, "You see, brother, it's not that bad. And the colors Dad put in our little siblings' wings? It just makes them duller and far less beautiful."
Even though it wasn't as satisfying as touches of graces and wings, although his consciousness of it was only a shade of the sensations he would have on Earth-in his vessel-Gabriel loved the feeling of Lucifer's skin on his. Despite them being in the dream realm, the physical contact felt real enough. Yearning to experience more of it, he entwined their fingers, holding his hand as tight as he could.
"See, Lucy, human body aren't that bad," Gabriel said with a smug grin when he caught the flutter of Lucifer's wings.
"Let's concentrate on finding that human of yours, Gabriel," Lucifer replied back with an icy tone.
That made Gabriel's grin larger. His brother hadn't denied, which meant he had a point. A pretty big point in his mind, for Lucifer had never conceded any positive attribute to being human before. That was a fine beginning.
A long time passed before any of them spoke again. They were now passing through the high stone gates of a port town-Thorhöll, Gabriel informed the other-into a large avenue. Here the colors blended into splashes of random hues and chaotic shapes. People were everywhere, a compact crowd that filled the place.
"I still hate them as much as I love Dad and you all," Lucifer said, using his free hand to shove a child out of his way. He watched her, disgust flowing out of him.
Gabriel made a face, ready to reply with a few venomous words. They died in his throat though, as his eyes scanned their surroundings. They had arrived in a large square with a fountain in its middle, its polychrome water gushing out of it to crash on the paved ground. There was something wrong with the crowd. Some people seemed more green, red or blue than they should have been, their skins taking shades they shouldn't have.
In fact, Gabriel noticed as they walked, the more they progressed into the city, the less colored the humans became, droplets of colors escaping into the scenery. He figured that was why it was so strange, as the colors didn't seem to want to fix themselves anywhere, only moving relentlessly.
By the time they arrived at the feet the stone stairs leading to the large castle, half encased into the side of the mountain Torhöll was built in, the people were completely monochrome. On the top of that, some humans were missing their lips, eyes or noses. The phenomena had been so progressive that neither archangels had payed any attention to it before Lucifer remarked with gleeful tone, "Creepy!"
Next, he proceeded to poke one of them in the blank space where the eyes should have been. The poor person stepped back, mouth moving but no sound coming out of it. Gabriel squeezed his brother's hand, ushering him to climb the stairs without further ado. And he was the cherub here, right?
When they finished the first flight of stairs, stepping into a market square. The humans had lost most of their features to become mere humanoid things of a unique color. If not the weirdest dream realm he had lingered in, this one was very high on Gabriel's list. Knowing its owner, the archangel had mostly been waiting for some kind of battlefield.
"This is a pretty accurate representation of humans, don't you think?" Although Lucifer's face was blank, Gabriel could hear the smile in his voice. "Interesting. I didn't think humans could be that perceptive. Maybe it's because it's your future vessel, who knows?"
"If you'd put your head out of your ass and looked at them for what they are, it wouldn't surprise you. They can be quite resourceful."
His brother frowned at him, eyes filled with a malign glow. "Cockroaches are very resourceful and adaptive insects, capable of surviving in most environments given the chance. They are pests nonetheless."
"Your bias is clouding your judgement, Lucy. You're just being an obstinate asshole right now."
Lucifer's smile was feral this time, not remotely human as he squeezed Gabriel's hand with a force that would have crushed a real human's. Gabriel felt frostbiting ripples of grace on his arm. Behind him, his wings shuddered more from the fact Lucifer was attacking him than because of the pain.
"Gabriel, little brother, you sound more and more like Dad's little toy pen? As I said to Michael, I have enough of an archangel to fight with. I made the effort to follow you as a mean to show you how much I love you, even if I can't fathom why you're interested in humans. The least you can do is to not disrespect me."
In any other occasion, his brother's words would only have annoyed the archangel. However, coupled with his condescending tone, it made Gabriel's temper flare. He let his human appearance slip to engulf Lucifer in him, letting his brother feel his wrath and power, grace cackling with aggressiveness, ready to attack.
"Do not use that patronizing tone with me, Lucifer," Gabriel snarled. "You are not Dad. I might be younger than Michael and you." He remembered what he was supposed to be for now. He shifted back into his previous childish form. His hands came on the other's naked wrists, marking the skin with sunburns of the same intensity as the frostbites Lucifer had left on him. "I'm still your equal, in status and power. No need to threaten me, I don't fear you."
His brother stared at him, his expression unreadable, and wings totally still. They stood there for a long time, watching each other with cautiousness, unwilling to move as if something bad would happen if they did.
A thunder-like roar rumbled in the air. Around them, the crowd like it was a single entity stopped moving, all heads turning to the horizon in a synchronized motion. Silence fell, making it like time had stilled. Gabriel detached his eyes from Lucifer to look at the clear teal-colored sky. He swore when he saw the black spot in the distance, growing larger and larger at an impressive speed.
In a blink of an eye, it was gliding over the city, its four pairs of wing extended to their full length forming a cross with its body in the middle. As it flew over Thorhöll once more, the sounds of trumpets resonated throughout the place, making everyone go out of their stupor.
Before Chaos could plug its claws into the men, riders emerged from each the side of the square, maneuvering into the mass, shouting to every civilian to follow them and to the warriors to prepare themselves for battle. Of course, there were jostling and hard pushes, but at least, there was a relative order.
Let's go, Lucy, the archangel said to his brother, taking his hand. Events were finally taking a familiar course. One Gabriel was used to for his vessel would often visit that dream in her sleep. Even if the details changed every time, its core, its storyline always lead to the same ending, which was coming in a too near future. We don't have much time left. He needed to make contact with the human before she woke up.
Can that creature kill us? A large tongue of fire lightened the sky, small sparks raining down to crash against the stone. Lucifer was looking at the sky where large grey clouds are growing at a supernatural rate.
Gabriel's goal stood after the flight of stairs leading to the square were the castle's doors were. They would have to force their way up there, going against the flux of Nords descending it. He ignored Lucifer's incessant complaining to focus on threading a way between the bodies, grateful that they were small enough to do so easily.
Yes. No, Gabriel answered as they eventually arrived at the first steps of the now cleared stairs. He turned to Lucifer, giving him a brief explanation. Yes as in it could kill our dream form. No because dying mean we would just be expelled from this dream realm and back to Heaven. Still, the whole process would be very painful.
I see where this is going, Gabriel, Lucifer commented when they finally crossed the last steps, stopping in their tracks. You definitely own me one, brother.
At the other end of the square, columns and reliefs had been sculpted with scenes from the history of the town and its inhabitants in the mountain's side. In the middle of the giant fresco were the majestic high doors to the Sálhvid Palace, house to the Kingdom's throne. They were slowly closing behind a company of a twentieth armor-clad persons, their weapons unsheathed. Contrary to the other people, as they were the protagonists, these ones had normal colors and features.
Gushes of a strong wind swept the area, larger than all the places they had passed through until now. It was wide enough for the dragon to land in a furry of flaps as the party reached the middle of the area, standing at a good distance from the creature. The warriors' formation was simple: they formed a hemicircle with two of them standing in its center.
One had an iron staff covered in runes, long blond hair flowing all around him because of the wind. He was the only one without a helmet, his features as delicate as a painting and fearless blue-green eyes watching the dragon. Even if he wore the characteristic coat, the powerful magic flowing freely around him would have been enough to tell to designate him as the hold's godi. And a powerful one.
He was speaking to the figure next to him, a braid of bright red hair coming from under the helmet to stop in the small of his back. His armor a shining deep blue-black contrasting with his golden long spear and shield emblazoned with Himinsfall's coat of arms. That one was the jarl of Thorhöll, ruler of the Kingdom in all his glory, facing the dragon with typical Nord pride and excitation.
The creature wasn't without majesty either. It had shiny plate-like scales of the darkest and purest obsidian, reflecting the dim light filtered by the clouds above. From its elongated head to the ends of this two forked tails, a golden armor protected the superior part of its thick and muscular body. It stood on four large and long bent limbs, talons clawing at the stone. Its two exterior wings were folded, while the others still flapped. Then, the creature opened its mouth on tusk-like teeth, emitting a series of growls, snarls and much more melodious high-pitched sounds Gabriel knew was the dragon language, even if he couldn't understand it.
I don't remember Dad creating such animal, Lucifer said with what the other archangel thought was a little awe in his voice. That made Gabriel laugh.
Dad didn't. Like a lot of supernatural beings, dragons were already there when Dad created the humans, Gabriel replied, an eye on the godi who was answering to the dragon in its own language. The Nords call that one Fáfnir. Let's hurry, he added when the creature hurled, wings flapping madly as it elevated itself in the air, mouth wide open, smoke and energy rapidly gathering there. Gabriel let go of Lucifer's hand and broke into a run, hoping that his short legs would be fast enough. The dragon's going to attack, we have to join them before that, he yelled to his brother, not waiting to see if he was following him.
The High King had positioned himself in front of the godi, shield raised in a defensive stand. The latter was praying to Odin, asking for his benediction and strength for the battle to come, seemingly unaware of the rest of the group. Gabriel's eyes stayed on his vessel as she was crouching on the ground, her inferior lip shining with the blood she used to trace the lines of a giant glyph. In the meantime, she-in fact, the other valkyries and her-shouted instructions the others followed without asking questions, heads sometimes turning to the dragon's open mouth.
When they eventually finished drawing an intricate glyph, they placed themselves within the borders of its external circle, Gabriel hurled at his brother, We've got to be in the circle! Now, if he could go faster, it would be all the better.
They had made it halfway when Fáfnir let out a piercing roar. A tongue of fire came out of his mouth. The large sphere of energy and smog ignited. Gabriel swore, failing to go faster, his body already at its limit.
We could be there in less than a thought! Lucifer was panting, the sound of his footsteps stopped, sign that he had came to a halt.
We need to play our part! Gabriel replied without looking back. As grating as it was, he couldn't use his grace or wings for he had to maintain the illusion he was a child. Otherwise, his vessel would see through his disguise.
The godi rose his staff in the air, melodious soprano voice chanting a galdr. Strings of runes made of blue light appeared around his arm. They shone brighter, then flickered. One line flew to the jarl's shield, tracing the outlines of its blazon. Another went to the glyph on the ground, setting it ablaze.
Fáfnir answered with a loud roar. Gabriel winced when the stone under his feet shook, making him stumble on a few feet before he regained his stance. His whole body was aching, each breathes nothing but pain as he forced himself to go faster and enter the protective circle before the beast shot its fireball.
The dragon breathed fire on the meteor it had created. Flying sparks rained on the place. Gabriel stripped on his feet when he duck on the side to evade a drop of liquid fire. He rolled on the ground, unable to stop himself, cursing when his nerves sent him shots of vivid pain. He ended on his back just beneath the creature but sheltered from danger, eyes on a black scaled belly glittering with red and orange reflects. Far from Lucifer and far from the humans.
If it wasn't enough, Fáfnir chose the moment to launch its attack. The archangel took a deep breath, bracing himself for the pain that would come when he would raise to his feet. He wasn't disappointed. When he put his weight on his right ankle, he fell on his hands and knees, shaking and unable to move.
Great, Gabriel thought as he glanced above. The fireball had stopped in mid-air, pushing against an invisible barrier, the force of the impact making the atmosphere ripple with heath and power. Gabriel watched with awe the blazon of Himinsfall-the wolf and fox separated by a spear-forming a luminous wall between the fireball and the party below. The emblem gradually grown then bent into a sphere to imprison the fireball.
Fáfnir's roar snapped the archangel out of his contemplation and he scrambled on the ground, body hurling with pain and indignation. There was the shattering sound of glass breaking and Gabriel glanced above. The fireball was exploding, smashed its prison to smithereens. Fire and lava hurtled down, gliding on the blue shell of a runic barrier to form waves of liquid fire that were coming right at him.
His eyes went to his vessel, whose helmet only masked the superior part of the face, revealing the pale thin line of her mouth, limbs shaking as he knew she was forcing herself to stay in the protective glyph. For one single moment, their eyes met. She screamed a name that wasn't his and he reached out to her like the child would have done.
A scorching heat pushed him off the ground. He closed his eyes, feeling his body melt away. There was a flutter of wings. When he opened them, Lucifer and him slammed into a very surprised Michael, sending the three of them into the nearest wall. Gabriel let out a loud string of curses as he morphed into his original form, wings quivering with annoyance. He really hoped his vessel hadn't seen Lucifer changed back and flown to "rescue" him.
"Gabriel? Lucifer? What's going on? Are you okay?"
Your debt is growing larger, Gabriel.
The two archangels said at the same time, making Gabriel's mood shift from annoyance to sulk. In a very ill-tempered gesture, he transported himself at the entrance of the Clepsydre, not deigning to answer to his brothers.
Note: also on AO3 and ff.net. A world-building post about the Kingdom just here.
Warnings: None
Word count: 3,709
Summary: Gabriel goes in his vessel's dream realm to establish a direct contact with her. Events don't go as well as he intended and Lucifer really doesn't help.
Disclaimer: Everything that's not angel is mine, the rest obviously isn't. Oh, and the translation from Evening Harmony is mine too.
Fire’s breath assails
The all-nourishing tree,
Towering fire plays
Against heaven itself.
- Sæmund’s Edda, (Thorpe’s tr.)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The world was nothing but shards of vivid colors without definite forms, like a mad painter had splashed his pigments all around, without thinking of a pattern to draw. Gabriel was watching it with curiosity as he walked through this dream realm, searching for its owner. This time, he had opted for a more direct approach than his previous tries and he was actually quite excited to test it. In fact, his wings were emitting a very light buzz in echoes to his feelings.
"Geez, Gabriel, are you a cherub now?"
And of course Lucifer would mock him for that, which earned him a smack of one wing in retaliation. His brother hissed while touching his brow, where the blow had landed. Not without fascination, Gabriel noticed with a smirk. For the occasion, the archangels wore an appearance the human were familiar with and would be able to communicate with.
For now, there wasn't a single reason Gabriel could think of about why the Morning Star had decided to go with him. He obviously hadn't changed his mind about humans and would also complain about the pettiest things: how feet were a hassle to move in order to walk, how arms were nothing more than awkward limbs or how ten was too many fingers. Moreover, Gabriel didn't buy for one second Lucifer's supposed need to "get a little away from Michael and his preps for battle frenzy and Raphael isn't as fun as you, little brother". Still, he was willing to let it go. Even if his fellow archangel was only irritating at best, he was glad to have a brother by his side for once. It almost felt like Lucifer was genuinely interested in his whereabouts.
When Lucifer pulled on one of his messy blond curls, making them roll slowly between chubby fingers, then pulled on them harder, Gabriel laughed with a high-pitched and juvenile tone he wasn't used to. Then he let out a disgruntled sound when his brother yanked one of his locks. It hadn't quite been painful, but very unpleasant nonetheless.
"What're you doing, Lucy? Do I yank your feathers for fun? No! So please don't do that with these hair. It's really annoying."
"You did when you were a cherub, Gabriel. This is retribution," the little bastard answered with a mischievous grin Gabriel was sure no child would-should for that matter-be able to pull out. Lucifer then slowly shook his head, fingers in his hair. "You see, now that I know how impractical this hair thing is, I pity angels like Zachariah even more. Look at that." He put his hands in Gabriel's hair. "It's so easy to grab and pull them out. And I'm pretty sure it can hurt a lot. So useful in battle."
"So, you'll be pleased to know that these children's hair are fairly short for Nords. Adults usually wear them shoulder-length at the very least, and it's pretty common to braid them or put some ornery objets into it."
Lucifer eyed him with suspicion, reaching out to him with his grace, silently reproaching him the time he passed observing humans, and still failing to understand what his brother-or their Dad for that matter-found in them. Gabriel just rolled his eyes and pulled the other archangel's hand out of his hair.
"This is just stupid. Remind me to keep these things short when I found a vessel. Hair is useless. Not that humans are nothing but useless anyway."
"Actually, I find hair pretty awesome. Human's body in general is pretty awesome, there's so much things they can do with it. Sometimes, I wonder why Dad made us like that." He waved at the air to illustrate his point. "Even lesser angels have better bodies than ours. We don't even have hands!"
Watching the other angels and humans, the wonders they could do with their bodies, made him want to have them in his original form. Lucifer was now staring at him with hazel eyes full of disapprobation, and also some confusion.
"Archangels-we-are the most beautiful beings Dad ever created, Gabriel. We don't have hands because we don't need them: we just have to think to obtain what we want, you know that as much as me. Look at Zachariah and his ridiculous four heads. Really, Gabriel, really?"
There it was, the Morning Star and that sheer and utter hubris and condescension that were at the heart of his little war games with Michael.
"We," Gabriel began, tone as sharp and poisonous that he could managed. "look like shapeshifting blobs of light mixed with rainbow droplets, Lucifer. Oh yeah, also three pairs of wings and an aureole. We don't look like anything. No wonder Dad just kept the halo and wings when modeling our little brothers."
"The Host swoons at us, they adore our form."
"The Host swoons at us because of what we are and represent. Dad's voice. His authority, His love and His power. Their archangels superior to them in all domains, the elders they can look up to and thrive to obey," Gabriel said more bitterness in his words than what he had intended. Lucifer watched him with a curious glance, making his brother uncomfortable. "But yeah, Dad did a pretty good work with our wings. I wouldn't trade them for anything."
That time, the Morning Star took one of his hands in his, that eerie smile of him on his face as he spoke, "You see, brother, it's not that bad. And the colors Dad put in our little siblings' wings? It just makes them duller and far less beautiful."
Even though it wasn't as satisfying as touches of graces and wings, although his consciousness of it was only a shade of the sensations he would have on Earth-in his vessel-Gabriel loved the feeling of Lucifer's skin on his. Despite them being in the dream realm, the physical contact felt real enough. Yearning to experience more of it, he entwined their fingers, holding his hand as tight as he could.
"See, Lucy, human body aren't that bad," Gabriel said with a smug grin when he caught the flutter of Lucifer's wings.
"Let's concentrate on finding that human of yours, Gabriel," Lucifer replied back with an icy tone.
That made Gabriel's grin larger. His brother hadn't denied, which meant he had a point. A pretty big point in his mind, for Lucifer had never conceded any positive attribute to being human before. That was a fine beginning.
A long time passed before any of them spoke again. They were now passing through the high stone gates of a port town-Thorhöll, Gabriel informed the other-into a large avenue. Here the colors blended into splashes of random hues and chaotic shapes. People were everywhere, a compact crowd that filled the place.
"I still hate them as much as I love Dad and you all," Lucifer said, using his free hand to shove a child out of his way. He watched her, disgust flowing out of him.
Gabriel made a face, ready to reply with a few venomous words. They died in his throat though, as his eyes scanned their surroundings. They had arrived in a large square with a fountain in its middle, its polychrome water gushing out of it to crash on the paved ground. There was something wrong with the crowd. Some people seemed more green, red or blue than they should have been, their skins taking shades they shouldn't have.
In fact, Gabriel noticed as they walked, the more they progressed into the city, the less colored the humans became, droplets of colors escaping into the scenery. He figured that was why it was so strange, as the colors didn't seem to want to fix themselves anywhere, only moving relentlessly.
By the time they arrived at the feet the stone stairs leading to the large castle, half encased into the side of the mountain Torhöll was built in, the people were completely monochrome. On the top of that, some humans were missing their lips, eyes or noses. The phenomena had been so progressive that neither archangels had payed any attention to it before Lucifer remarked with gleeful tone, "Creepy!"
Next, he proceeded to poke one of them in the blank space where the eyes should have been. The poor person stepped back, mouth moving but no sound coming out of it. Gabriel squeezed his brother's hand, ushering him to climb the stairs without further ado. And he was the cherub here, right?
When they finished the first flight of stairs, stepping into a market square. The humans had lost most of their features to become mere humanoid things of a unique color. If not the weirdest dream realm he had lingered in, this one was very high on Gabriel's list. Knowing its owner, the archangel had mostly been waiting for some kind of battlefield.
"This is a pretty accurate representation of humans, don't you think?" Although Lucifer's face was blank, Gabriel could hear the smile in his voice. "Interesting. I didn't think humans could be that perceptive. Maybe it's because it's your future vessel, who knows?"
"If you'd put your head out of your ass and looked at them for what they are, it wouldn't surprise you. They can be quite resourceful."
His brother frowned at him, eyes filled with a malign glow. "Cockroaches are very resourceful and adaptive insects, capable of surviving in most environments given the chance. They are pests nonetheless."
"Your bias is clouding your judgement, Lucy. You're just being an obstinate asshole right now."
Lucifer's smile was feral this time, not remotely human as he squeezed Gabriel's hand with a force that would have crushed a real human's. Gabriel felt frostbiting ripples of grace on his arm. Behind him, his wings shuddered more from the fact Lucifer was attacking him than because of the pain.
"Gabriel, little brother, you sound more and more like Dad's little toy pen? As I said to Michael, I have enough of an archangel to fight with. I made the effort to follow you as a mean to show you how much I love you, even if I can't fathom why you're interested in humans. The least you can do is to not disrespect me."
In any other occasion, his brother's words would only have annoyed the archangel. However, coupled with his condescending tone, it made Gabriel's temper flare. He let his human appearance slip to engulf Lucifer in him, letting his brother feel his wrath and power, grace cackling with aggressiveness, ready to attack.
"Do not use that patronizing tone with me, Lucifer," Gabriel snarled. "You are not Dad. I might be younger than Michael and you." He remembered what he was supposed to be for now. He shifted back into his previous childish form. His hands came on the other's naked wrists, marking the skin with sunburns of the same intensity as the frostbites Lucifer had left on him. "I'm still your equal, in status and power. No need to threaten me, I don't fear you."
His brother stared at him, his expression unreadable, and wings totally still. They stood there for a long time, watching each other with cautiousness, unwilling to move as if something bad would happen if they did.
A thunder-like roar rumbled in the air. Around them, the crowd like it was a single entity stopped moving, all heads turning to the horizon in a synchronized motion. Silence fell, making it like time had stilled. Gabriel detached his eyes from Lucifer to look at the clear teal-colored sky. He swore when he saw the black spot in the distance, growing larger and larger at an impressive speed.
In a blink of an eye, it was gliding over the city, its four pairs of wing extended to their full length forming a cross with its body in the middle. As it flew over Thorhöll once more, the sounds of trumpets resonated throughout the place, making everyone go out of their stupor.
Before Chaos could plug its claws into the men, riders emerged from each the side of the square, maneuvering into the mass, shouting to every civilian to follow them and to the warriors to prepare themselves for battle. Of course, there were jostling and hard pushes, but at least, there was a relative order.
Let's go, Lucy, the archangel said to his brother, taking his hand. Events were finally taking a familiar course. One Gabriel was used to for his vessel would often visit that dream in her sleep. Even if the details changed every time, its core, its storyline always lead to the same ending, which was coming in a too near future. We don't have much time left. He needed to make contact with the human before she woke up.
Can that creature kill us? A large tongue of fire lightened the sky, small sparks raining down to crash against the stone. Lucifer was looking at the sky where large grey clouds are growing at a supernatural rate.
Gabriel's goal stood after the flight of stairs leading to the square were the castle's doors were. They would have to force their way up there, going against the flux of Nords descending it. He ignored Lucifer's incessant complaining to focus on threading a way between the bodies, grateful that they were small enough to do so easily.
Yes. No, Gabriel answered as they eventually arrived at the first steps of the now cleared stairs. He turned to Lucifer, giving him a brief explanation. Yes as in it could kill our dream form. No because dying mean we would just be expelled from this dream realm and back to Heaven. Still, the whole process would be very painful.
I see where this is going, Gabriel, Lucifer commented when they finally crossed the last steps, stopping in their tracks. You definitely own me one, brother.
At the other end of the square, columns and reliefs had been sculpted with scenes from the history of the town and its inhabitants in the mountain's side. In the middle of the giant fresco were the majestic high doors to the Sálhvid Palace, house to the Kingdom's throne. They were slowly closing behind a company of a twentieth armor-clad persons, their weapons unsheathed. Contrary to the other people, as they were the protagonists, these ones had normal colors and features.
Gushes of a strong wind swept the area, larger than all the places they had passed through until now. It was wide enough for the dragon to land in a furry of flaps as the party reached the middle of the area, standing at a good distance from the creature. The warriors' formation was simple: they formed a hemicircle with two of them standing in its center.
One had an iron staff covered in runes, long blond hair flowing all around him because of the wind. He was the only one without a helmet, his features as delicate as a painting and fearless blue-green eyes watching the dragon. Even if he wore the characteristic coat, the powerful magic flowing freely around him would have been enough to tell to designate him as the hold's godi. And a powerful one.
He was speaking to the figure next to him, a braid of bright red hair coming from under the helmet to stop in the small of his back. His armor a shining deep blue-black contrasting with his golden long spear and shield emblazoned with Himinsfall's coat of arms. That one was the jarl of Thorhöll, ruler of the Kingdom in all his glory, facing the dragon with typical Nord pride and excitation.
The creature wasn't without majesty either. It had shiny plate-like scales of the darkest and purest obsidian, reflecting the dim light filtered by the clouds above. From its elongated head to the ends of this two forked tails, a golden armor protected the superior part of its thick and muscular body. It stood on four large and long bent limbs, talons clawing at the stone. Its two exterior wings were folded, while the others still flapped. Then, the creature opened its mouth on tusk-like teeth, emitting a series of growls, snarls and much more melodious high-pitched sounds Gabriel knew was the dragon language, even if he couldn't understand it.
I don't remember Dad creating such animal, Lucifer said with what the other archangel thought was a little awe in his voice. That made Gabriel laugh.
Dad didn't. Like a lot of supernatural beings, dragons were already there when Dad created the humans, Gabriel replied, an eye on the godi who was answering to the dragon in its own language. The Nords call that one Fáfnir. Let's hurry, he added when the creature hurled, wings flapping madly as it elevated itself in the air, mouth wide open, smoke and energy rapidly gathering there. Gabriel let go of Lucifer's hand and broke into a run, hoping that his short legs would be fast enough. The dragon's going to attack, we have to join them before that, he yelled to his brother, not waiting to see if he was following him.
The High King had positioned himself in front of the godi, shield raised in a defensive stand. The latter was praying to Odin, asking for his benediction and strength for the battle to come, seemingly unaware of the rest of the group. Gabriel's eyes stayed on his vessel as she was crouching on the ground, her inferior lip shining with the blood she used to trace the lines of a giant glyph. In the meantime, she-in fact, the other valkyries and her-shouted instructions the others followed without asking questions, heads sometimes turning to the dragon's open mouth.
When they eventually finished drawing an intricate glyph, they placed themselves within the borders of its external circle, Gabriel hurled at his brother, We've got to be in the circle! Now, if he could go faster, it would be all the better.
They had made it halfway when Fáfnir let out a piercing roar. A tongue of fire came out of his mouth. The large sphere of energy and smog ignited. Gabriel swore, failing to go faster, his body already at its limit.
We could be there in less than a thought! Lucifer was panting, the sound of his footsteps stopped, sign that he had came to a halt.
We need to play our part! Gabriel replied without looking back. As grating as it was, he couldn't use his grace or wings for he had to maintain the illusion he was a child. Otherwise, his vessel would see through his disguise.
The godi rose his staff in the air, melodious soprano voice chanting a galdr. Strings of runes made of blue light appeared around his arm. They shone brighter, then flickered. One line flew to the jarl's shield, tracing the outlines of its blazon. Another went to the glyph on the ground, setting it ablaze.
Fáfnir answered with a loud roar. Gabriel winced when the stone under his feet shook, making him stumble on a few feet before he regained his stance. His whole body was aching, each breathes nothing but pain as he forced himself to go faster and enter the protective circle before the beast shot its fireball.
The dragon breathed fire on the meteor it had created. Flying sparks rained on the place. Gabriel stripped on his feet when he duck on the side to evade a drop of liquid fire. He rolled on the ground, unable to stop himself, cursing when his nerves sent him shots of vivid pain. He ended on his back just beneath the creature but sheltered from danger, eyes on a black scaled belly glittering with red and orange reflects. Far from Lucifer and far from the humans.
If it wasn't enough, Fáfnir chose the moment to launch its attack. The archangel took a deep breath, bracing himself for the pain that would come when he would raise to his feet. He wasn't disappointed. When he put his weight on his right ankle, he fell on his hands and knees, shaking and unable to move.
Great, Gabriel thought as he glanced above. The fireball had stopped in mid-air, pushing against an invisible barrier, the force of the impact making the atmosphere ripple with heath and power. Gabriel watched with awe the blazon of Himinsfall-the wolf and fox separated by a spear-forming a luminous wall between the fireball and the party below. The emblem gradually grown then bent into a sphere to imprison the fireball.
Fáfnir's roar snapped the archangel out of his contemplation and he scrambled on the ground, body hurling with pain and indignation. There was the shattering sound of glass breaking and Gabriel glanced above. The fireball was exploding, smashed its prison to smithereens. Fire and lava hurtled down, gliding on the blue shell of a runic barrier to form waves of liquid fire that were coming right at him.
His eyes went to his vessel, whose helmet only masked the superior part of the face, revealing the pale thin line of her mouth, limbs shaking as he knew she was forcing herself to stay in the protective glyph. For one single moment, their eyes met. She screamed a name that wasn't his and he reached out to her like the child would have done.
A scorching heat pushed him off the ground. He closed his eyes, feeling his body melt away. There was a flutter of wings. When he opened them, Lucifer and him slammed into a very surprised Michael, sending the three of them into the nearest wall. Gabriel let out a loud string of curses as he morphed into his original form, wings quivering with annoyance. He really hoped his vessel hadn't seen Lucifer changed back and flown to "rescue" him.
"Gabriel? Lucifer? What's going on? Are you okay?"
Your debt is growing larger, Gabriel.
The two archangels said at the same time, making Gabriel's mood shift from annoyance to sulk. In a very ill-tempered gesture, he transported himself at the entrance of the Clepsydre, not deigning to answer to his brothers.