My name is Johnathan Morris. That isn’t a name I expect most of you to know. Hopefully, for both our sakes, it’s one you’ll never come across.
Elegant, noble, and aristocratic… these are the defining traits of the greatest age of royalty England has ever known. No longer torn apart by gruesome wars with the French or the Scots, finally at peace with the rest of the world, and now turning our sights to the far eastern reaches of the globe; the Victorian rule is that of joy and merriment for all.
Of course, that’s just barely scratching the surface.
The brightest of light will always cast the darkest shadows, and the streets of my home are no exception. The bloody history of the United Kingdom is still being written, even to this very day. False prophets, soothsayers, and the curious elite of civilization are drawn to each other like maggots to a fresh corpse, and getting fat on the lifeblood of lower society. A common man may be hung for the murder of another man over a trivial matter such as a few coins, yet when the Duke of Canterbury is rumored to be holding human sacrifices and dark rituals in his manor home, the law turns a blind eye to his crimes, bought off by wealth and power. The reason he was removing the hearts of one hundred young men and women? To summon a devil from the bottom level of Hell. And how do I know about it?
Believe it or not, I’m the poor fool that had to stop him.
My entire life, I’ve never known anything but the constant pursuit of simple purity, and a righteous soul. My father, my father’s father, and every Morris for nearly a thousand years has done the same, by whatever means necessary. Many of us have given our lives for the cause, and I’m certain that many more will die. But no sacrifice has ever been unwarranted. Slaying vampires, werewolves, and banishing demons has been my family’s trade since the first of us, years ago. None of us have ever complained, or turned away the chance to right a grievous wrong. The alternative is too terrible to consider.
Unfortunately, I am not alone in my Herculean endeavors. Some snobby, foolish physician, Samael Norse, thinks himself better than I. As a result, the two of us are constantly running into each other; trying to dispel the same evil, and rid the world of the same threat. Of course, he does it all wrong, and shouldn’t be mixed up in this nonsense in the first place. For a doctor, he certainly can be a great fool sometimes. However, though I am loathe to admit it, he does have a certain amount of skill with powerful magic that I have yet to train myself for. If the circumstance is dire enough, I will allow Norse to assist me. The old fossil would probably say that I was the one assisting him, but I think he’s been the victim of one too many blows to the head.
This is my life; this is my world. Humans, the only beings capable of bringing demons into this world, are the same black-hearted traitors I am sworn to protect. Any man can be an enemy in disguise, and thus, every man is my enemy, yet I must continue guard their lives. It is a highly unpleasant situation I have been placed in, but my work demands nothing less. One cannot choose one’s enemies in such a highly volatile situation. All I am able to do is put my faith before my life, and pray my righteous soul can split the darkness.
For naught but entropy and sin can live, deep within the Brooding Darkness.
- Johnathon stood in front of the elegant house, halfway up to his knees in the snow, watching snowflakes gently drift onto his thick winter coat, staying only for a heartbeat before melting away into nothingness. A cold November wind whipped silently through the empty white lawn, throwing a cloud of falling snow into his eyes. …
- London, England – 1857 “Evil little witch. You’re trying to give me the sickness… like you did to my son! I’m soaked to my brittle bones! Frozen beyond repair!” Anastasia Riktophen droned on and on as she and her daughter in law sat on a bench along the side walk, perfectly safe and dry under the …
CHAPTER TWO: PHILOSOPHY OF DESTINY
Michael stood outside the church for a few moments, staring at the sky in silent thought. His expression was dark as golden blonde tendrils of hair fell over in to his eyes. He carelessly ran his hand threw it as he made his way down the steps. Gabriel was following closely behind. Michael could …- Raziel wore a happy inward smile, pleased that he had found a conversationalist, one who didn’t find him dull or dry. As the carriage rolled to a stop, he stepped out and, following Raphael’s example, bowed gallantly and offered Adriel a hand out. “I think, therefore I am, milady.” Descartes’ realization was yet another facet …
- It was late evening by the time both women had return to the manner. Anastasia had not ceased her chattering all afternoon; one moment demanding to return home to the comfort of their home, the next wanting to walk the streets and socialize. The day had been exhausting, as any day was with Anastasia. Autumn …
CHAPTER FIVE: AN ANGEL’S REGRET
Raphael walked along side with Adriel quietly. He had sent Adriel home quite a few times in his life and the procedure had never made him feel sick. The girl was one of the few people who made him feel comfortable to be with. He thought silently that Adriel’s family might be angry with him, …- Keeping his wings under check and cover, Tabris landed in one secluded corner where he walked to his next patient’s home – Farishta Manor. Knocking on the gates, Tabris called out, “It’s Doctor Clinton Crawford, here to check on Mr. Phillips. Please do open the gates.” After a few seconds, the gates opened and Tabris …
- The night passed and dawn brought in a new day. In the Oscar’s mansion, the days start early. Adriel’s aunt, Grace, got up early and prepared a nice breakfast. She had been quite worried the night before, and she was so glad someone had saved her niece’s life – or at least she thought they …
CHAPTER EIGHT: A WALK IN THE PARK
Standing outside of the library main gate, Adriel was relieved to see Belial go. She had a bunch of questions in her head now about Belial… Angel and Aramis. “Creepy,” she murmured. “The Necromancer is gone beyond himself… but I don’t understand, Azrael.” She looked down in perplexity. It was very odd to call Azrael …- Frost had awoken early in the morning, and after taking her breakfast all alone, she went to the house library and began to read on the large collection of books her father had accumulated over the years. The books were mostly copies of handwritten work of historical figures, such as Christopher Columbus, and that made …
- Johnathon peered through the iron gates at the manor house where he hoped the Lady Riktophen was staying. It certainly was impressive. It rivaled his own Greystone Manor in size and elegance, but he had a feeling his house was a bit older. At least that was something he had on the young Baroness. As …
- Azrael was invisible to human eyes, but Michael sure could see and hear her. “Michael”, Azrael said catching up with him. “If you stay this time, all the archangels will be together. Urial is in London as well. We need to regroup the armies; the demons are already aware of the gathering”. Azrael half expected …
CHAPTER TWELVE: A DEVIL’S HEART
Urial went back home with people staring at her. Many people, both with kind and unkind intentions tried to convince her to seek treatment but she refused. She just want to get home and concentrate on healing herself. As Urial reached home, she tried to creep into the large house unnoticed. It was …CHAPTER THIRTEEN: THE WHITE CLUB
Angel frowned darkly. Once again, he had assumed his angelic form. Stripped down of his armor, his black robes also stripped down but to his waist, he was sitting in a divan with his legs crossed, his feet beneath his thighs. His wings were spread out – two of them. Behind him and in human …CHAPTER FOURTEEN: MOONLIGHT NOCTURNE
Aramis and Belphegor left The White Club and Belphegor’s carriage promptly arrived in front of them. Carl, Belphegor’s driver, eyed Aramis suspiciously, but Belphegor just snuggled herself closer to him. Carl got out and helped Belphegor into the carriage, and Aramis climbed in after her. “Carl, dear, I think that me and Aramis …- Long were the night hours, and for long hours Belial flew under the silvery moonlight. The land was dark beneath him for he had flown farther from London from Luna’s manor, which was in the outskirts of London. A dark stain of woods and grassy lands laid beneath him, but he also saw scattered …
CHAPTER SIXTEEN: A RELUCTANT LEADER
It was little work to put together a few things for a night or two at the Inn, and a little more trouble to carry the case down the stairs. The case was heavy, but she kept a pleasant smile on her face as if nothing were troubling her. “Come with me, Sir.” She beckoned …CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: LORD OF THE FLIES
Lightning cracked in the sky, though not a single cloud was in sight… Deep down in the underground of the Schwliezer household, was a room built with stone bricks. The room was lit dimly with a mere chandelier and a few candles on an altar. On the altar was a pretty young woman, stripped …- Azrael made her spear complete the turn to free it from Belial’s scythe and following the swirling motion, kicked the scythe’s blade and aimed her spear at Belial’s throat, keeping her wings closed tight. Belial leapt back when she managed to free her weapon and turned, aiming at his throat; he spin his scythe to …
CHAPTER NINETEEN: LORANT OR AZAZEL?
Adriel and Raphael flew back to the Inn where Autumn and Johnathon had taken refuge the night before; hopefully they’d get clues or notice to where the humans went and what had happened to them. Adriel went in by the bedroom window in Autumn’s room. The wallpaper and gypsum were ripped in some parts, and it …- Holding up the invisibility spell, Angel flew back up with unconscious Aramis in his arms, flying close to the huge walls of the Abbey and took refuge in a cornice next to a gutter, behind a gargoyle. The space was tight, but the abrupt slope of the roofs did not offer much shelter and he …
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: RAPHAEL’S GRUDGE
Raziel landed setting Autumn down in front of the Farishta Manor. Though they were quite a ways away from her own home Autumn couldn’t shake that deep feeling of dread. She wondered if the others were going to stay, or leave as quickly as possibly? It couldn’t of matter anyway, all of that noise, bother …CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: OUTMATCHED AND OUTGUNNED
Angel finished his notes and closed the Black Scroll. He rhythmically tapped on it with his long marble fingers. Aramis was taking too long to return; who’d know to what mischief Aramis was up to now! Angel frowned slightly, for the Holy energies being processed by Aramis were reaching out for him, too. Angel sunk …CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE: HEAVY HEALING
With Adriel in his arms, Raphael flew back to the Farishta Manor invisible to human eyes. He passed into the various doors and walls like a spirit and finally reached the room where Rishta and Autumn were. Setting Adriel on the bed where Raziel was on previously, he frowned and asked, “Where’s Raziel?” Adriel heard distant …CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: COOKIE FROM HEAVEN
Autumn seemed to stay out of sight and mind of the angels, which she was incredibly good at. As Raphael left to find the one called Uriel, is was simple enough for her to slip out of the room and rest against the cool walls outside the door. The darker angel… Azrael? must’ve noticed her …CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE: SCARRED SOUL
Moloch landed gently on the eastern balcony, using a simple spell to unlock the so-called French doors. It was a room not often used, but her servants made sure it was well kept for her few ‘guests’- those she wished to break to her will, but not destroy. The room itself was quite comfortable- a …CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX: DARK TIDINGS
Azrael found her way to the manor gardens. Taking her woman appearance, Azrael walked out of the House and into the gardens behind it, taking a trail in the shade of mighty trees. Near a stone fountain, she found a stone bench in a shadowed spot; Azrael sat there and summoned the Book of Life …CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN: A DARING RESCUE
Adriel woke up with a start. Night had fallen; the shadows had invaded the bedroom and she had slept for hours by now – a dreamless sleep. Her strong yet delicate angelic nature did need rest; she was not fully healed, and she knew that. But in the edge of her dreamless rest she had …CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT: ANGEL OF DESTINY
Raziel landed outside and modified his spell to hold Raphael horizontal, supporting him on a stretcher of air. “Do not even move before you can be treated, Raphael. You could do permanent damage, and Uriel is sorely exhausted,” he admonished. Walking in, he saw Uriel laid out with the others gathered around her anxiously. Raziel …CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE: THE KING OF HELL
Azazel moved slightly in his deep unconsciousness. The sounds of battle disturbed him and called him as well – the smell of magicks, rage and fear was extremely attractive. However, he was still too weak to wake up, bound by his flesh weakened by the terrible injuries Moloch had healed – his body still needed …- Belial’s transport spell took him away from the city, to a vast grassy land of small round hills. It seemed deserted in the quiet night. Despite he was still shaken, Belial had not lost his practical common sense. He carefully erased the traces that could’ve allowed a magic user to track him down; he diminished …
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE: THE BEGINNING OF THE END
A grayish layer of clouds slowly crept into the night sky, slowly swallowing the stars one by one, covering the moon in claw-like rags. The temperature began to descend and the night became extremely cold, covered by a pale sky of clouds. A red lightning crossed the dome of the heavens and cracked like a …CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO: A DEATH IN THE FAMILY
Kevin followed the servants for quite some time before they reached a mansion. He stood for a second and gaped at the size and structure of the building. His jaw dropped, and so did the cigarette out of his mouth, as his eyes widened. Looking around, Kevin decided to let himself in after the servants …CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE: TEACHER AND STUDENT
With his wards gathered around him with expertise, the Necromancer flew unnoticed into the night. His exit hadn’t risen suspicions – Moloch kept her word. However now Belial was on his own. The thought made him break in to an unwilling snicker. In that aspect, the situation had not changed much. However he still had …CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR: THE ENEMY OF MY ENEMY
Belial’s brow twitched angrily yet the look on his face was somber and cold. His deft magicks he had perfected to find his followers wherever they’d hide had found Mastema’s trace… at Farishta Manor. He had ordered him not to go there, and that was exactly what Mastema had done. If Belial didn’t know him …CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE: A FATHER’S LOVE
Adriel rushed after Raphael, trying to pinpoint Mastema in the manor grounds with her angelic senses. She noticed while she slept a lot of things had taken place. There was a fight going on and another… Another fight was just over. Adriel took in a deep breath. “Uriel… Tabris…” Adriel’s gold and green eyes filled …CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX: GABRIEL’S REVENGE
Autumn froze as she entered the manor, the scream she heard sent chills up and down her spine. For a quick moment she sorely regretted coming back to the manor, but still that compulsion to be there tugged at her brain, insisting she needed to stay and retrieve her camera. She quickly ran up the …CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN: HELL HATH NO FURY
Angel was furious at the idea they had had the chance to get rid of Michael, but why he hadn’t thought about that earlier? Aramis was quiet and thoughtful. Angel’s eyes flashed. “We should’ve dragged him to Hell when we had the chance to, at the Abbey”, Angel murmured. Aramis shrugged. “If you’d ask for my …CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT: A PATH PAVED WITH CORPSES
Mastema and his peers in control of the Legions shook with an inner shiver when they sensed the new course of actions. Mastema had slain his enemies with a renovated fury as they moved in a nearly instinctive coordination to take over the five points of power the summoning ground held, but Azazel’s power pushed …CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE: REDEMPTION
Azrael came out of the shadows at Farishta Manor Gardens, just out of the side door. Belial was unconscious; Azrael had to fold his wings herself as she carried him in her arms – odd enough sight because he was taller than her. Azrael lightly wrinkled her nose, curious as she perceived the smell of …CHAPTER FORTY: FURTHER IN TO DEATH
Beelzebub felt his energy flowing out of his body slowly, bit by bit. He pulled Hellswrath out, his head spinning. Holding Hellswrath in his available arm, Beelzebub staggered away but he fell after not long. The pain is spreading like a disease in him. Beelzebub moaned in pain as he crawled to stairs and leaned …CHAPTER FORTY-ONE: PLAYING THE HERO
After falling some distance Azazel briskly flapped his wings, catching air and flying back on the platform. The army of demons roared and cried out strange words, some of them daring to hover over the mass of hellish creatures. Wide-eyed in fury, Azazel darted to the spot where he stood earlier but he discovered the …CHAPTER FORTY-TWO: AZAZEL DRAGON
“How dare you stand there and judge me!” Michael shouted, jumping back and away from Azazel. “You, the spawn of the beings who split all of Creation in half! The absolute antithesis of everything the angels stand for! And you have the nerve to call me a coward?!” Michael raised an open hand to Azazel, …CHAPTER FORTY-THREE: THE GREATEST SACRIFICE
Inferno. Rishta, along with Azrael and Belial had flown from what was Heaven compared to this. Red and Black, all smashed together to form this picture. The sound of War filled her ears, so that to be heard, one had to shout. The clash of metal upon metal, screams of the victims of the blades, …- The soft rain smoothed away the stark damage done to the stone and iron manor, softening the marks of scorch and brimstone and feeding the remaining blood-drenched trees and grasses with the tears of heaven. Thunder groaned quietly in the background, a bass rumble more felt than heard. Bleak gray light only revealed the smallest …