10

The angels had completed the third and fourth task, the third required the use of the weapons they had gotten from the jewels to aim at an illusion of a big dragon-like creature, wounding it but not killing it. Because of the distance, Ramiel was unable to aim at the right spot and was eliminated from the game. Gadreel and Celeste another angel, however, were able to use their wings to fly and stab the dragon in the eye with the arrow and go over to the fourth quest. Adriel and Michael had the upper hand because their weapons could go the distance. They easily scaled through to the next level.

The fourth quest required them to use the dragon creature in the previous game. They needed to tame it and then turn it into their personal ride. This was hard for them because the creatures were extremely stubborn and they had already attacked it, giving it the impression they were enemies. The already injured ones would need a cure which the angels needed to detect from another three flowers before them.

Only one flower had the cure, the others were poison. If the dragon took the poisoned flower, it dies and the angel has to use his or her wings to fly which would take more time. This time, there was no illusion of Lucifer to give them clues. Instead, the clue was hidden in the flowers and once again the angels would have to look deeper than the outer beauty of the flowers.

Adriel and Gadreel once again stood at the side of Michael who stayed in the middle and Celeste stayed behind Adriel. Occasionally, she would watch Adriel look at Michael trying to mirror his moves. This triggered her. She believed the game was supposed to be a one-person thing and she decided to call out Adriel for her cheating.

"You could use your own head you know?" She said to her. Adriel turned to her, eyeing her before scoffing. This little angel thought she was brave and noble by telling her what she should do and not do. If only she knew the plan of Lucifer.

"You could mind your own business and focus on the game". She responded. Celeste huffed. Who did this Adriel think she was. Every angel no matter the rank should be able to follow rules. Follow command.

"I will have you reported to Lucifer". She said. Adriel laughed and turned to her fully, getting the attention of Gadreel who stared at her with wide eyes. What was she doing? This was not the time to be distracted.

"Like he will pay you any heed, I do what I do for him anyway". She said. Celeste widened her eyes. Had she heard right?

"Lucifer asked you to cheat?" She inquired. Adriel then discovered that she had made a mistake telling the angel what she shouldn't even know.

"He asked me to be here for the game, same with you and the others. Now leave me alone, you should be concerned with your victory". She said turning forward. Celeste however did not believe her. She had hastily explained herself like she was hiding something. As she stood, a spark of light shone in her eyes distracting her. When her eyes rested on the source, she then noticed there was a sword hidden in her boots. Celeste immediately pulled Adriel from behind, forcefully turning her to meet her eyes.

"Are you out of your mind!? Adriel shrieked. The whole crowd was quiet. Everybody's attention was on the two angels who glared at each other.

"Trying to copy Michael's moves is one thing, hiding a dagger in your boots is another and a huge problem at that". She openly said. The crowd gasped and murmured amongst each other. Adriel looked at her in shock and felt like disappearing from the judging eyes of everyone in the arena.

"What now? You can't say anything. You can't brag about how Lucifer put you here in the first place?". Gadreel looked at Adriel with horror.

"ADRIEL!" He exclaimed.

"What?! She was pressing on me. I had to tell her something". She said. Gadreel threw his arms in the air. This angel just could not shut up.

"SHUT YOUR MOUTH!" He yelled at her. Adriel gasped and covered her mouth. She had gotten attention alright, but not the kind Lucifer would be expecting.

"So you both are into this nonsense? What are you two planning against master Lucifer. Against all of us". Celeste kept talking.

"Gadreel, could you please explain what is happening?" Michael calmly asked. Gadreel could not reply. Adriel had ruined everything, just like Lucifer had expected. He only felt stupid now. He was tasked to watch her but his jealousy drove him to focus on Michael. A distraction. The very thing Lucifer wanted to test them on, they had failed. Lucifer would not be happy. At all.

"Michael I..."

"We have traitors in our midst". Celeste yelled again earning gasps of surprise and horror from the crowd. Carshena from her stands gave Michael a signal to end what was happening and deal with it later in private. She then made a mental note to inform Nahamani and Lucifer of what was going on. Both had disappeared.

"We are not traitors!". Adriel spat back at her.

"That's enough". Michael said coming in between them. But Celeste kept talking.

"We must have a trial against them". She said. " They cannot be trusted. They have ruined the game. And she boasts of having Lucifer's approval, she frames a high ranked angel of treason".

By this time Adriel had had enough. She pushed an unsuspecting Michael aside and pounced on Celeste. The crowd watched as the two angels fought each other.

"Guards! Separate them now and bring them to the upper quarters". Michael ordered.

Celeste had little strength compared to Adriel's and she had thrown a series of punches before the guards came to separate them. It should have ended there but Adriel out of rage raised the sword hiding in her boots and threw it at the chest of Celeste.

"NO ADRIEL!" Gadreel called but it was too late. Celeste looked at Adriel with fear in her eyes before she turned into golden specks of dust. Adriel had killed her. Then came a horrible scream from the crowd that made the audience lose their orderliness. Gadreel was apprehended as well, and he could not stop his mouth from opening ajar. Adriel had lost her mind. She had singlehandedly ended the plans of Lucifer and it was his fault. Why was he not watching her? He was so engrossed in his own need to beat Michael, he forgot his mission.

Adriel was then pulled forcefully after the act, she could not believe she had done that and tears began to drop from her eyes. She did not care what they would do to her. She was afraid of Lucifer. As if she felt a familiar presence around, she looked up to the top of the arena to see Lucifer staring at her with blazing eyes.