24
As Nahamani flew back down to the war zone, the blurry figures of angels began to clear up. Many of them had been slain and the few that remained were either protecting Michael or hiding in fear. The injured yet brave ones still threw themselves at the betrayers any chance they got. The buildings were in no better shape. The arena had been completely destroyed and the chaos had spread to the other beautiful parts of heaven. It turned out that while Nahamani conversed with the most high, Lucifer had instructed his angels to desecrate God's temples because none stood tall as before. Everything was in a mess and all hope looked lost but Nahamani no longer harbored the fear she had earlier. With new found determination, she flew with haste towards Beth who laid on the floor severely injured. A large chunk of her hair had been pulled out from its roots and her body was filled with bruises, Adriel had taken her time to torture her. The bright light that outlined her tall frame had grown dim, a sign that she was slowly departing from the living.
Nahamani knelt close to her friend's body and softly grabbed her frail hands. Beth released a small smile from her lips in gratitude and then sighed in defeat. Just like her companion had done earlier, she took in her surroundings and saw nothing good coming out of the battle they had fought so hard for.
"I suppose this is it". She said weakly. Nahamani squeezed her hands and shook her head.
"No. I spoke to the most high and he has promised to help us defeat Lucifer. All will be well Beth and you will live". Beth's eyes widened at her confession. She almost sat up to look at Nahamani in the eyes.
"You met the maker?" She asked in disbelief. " In his temple?"
Nahamani nodded. Beth paused for a while before she let out a laugh. The action confused and scared Nahamani. Was she laughing at her? Or has she reached the point of unbelief?
"That is wonderful news". Beth said instead. Nahamani's mouth opened for a moment.
"It is?"
"Indeed, if the maker allowed another angel into his temple after Lucifer, then he has already dismissed him in his heart". She explained weakly. Nahamani smiled but then that slight moment of happiness was stolen away as she heard a snicker from behind her.
"Look who came back. I thought you ran away, I am quite surprised you're here". Adriel said, her sword had sprinkles of golden dusts on it and she did not hide it. It annoyed Nahamani.
"There are a lot of surprising things you will experience today Adriel". She replied.
Adriel laughed.
"What is with this new confidence queen?" She mocked. "Did your God reassure you of your success?"
Nahamani clenched her fists. Adriel must have overheard her conversation with Beth.
"As a matter of fact he did. Your end and that of your master is very near Adriel". The cherub replied with pride but once againn Adriel laughed in her face.
"Ah Nahamani, look around you. Does this look like our end or our beginning? We have dominated your God and your beloved angels, there is no saving you now". Adriel bragged.
"You will surely be perished for your words Adriel". The angel shrugged.
"Even if that happens, I can proudly say that I had my fun". Her eyes flickered to Beth who was taking slow breaths while attempting to glare at her. "I mean, Beth's skin was extremely soft and it just made slicing through it with my blade all the more fun".
As soon as the last word left her lips, Nahamani had pounced on her. Adriel found herself on the floor in no time with an angry angel on top of her hitting aimlessly at her body. It was hard for Adriel to stop Nahamani so she decided to protect her face instead. Nahamani's screams accompanied her blows and scratches, she felt like pouring all her frustration on Adriel at that moment. It didn't last long though.
"Enough!" Adriel yelled as she pushed Nahamani's face backward, forcing her off her body. With a frown, she came close to Nahamani but then regretted the decision when the cherub kicked her on her stomach and jumped on her. Adriel didn't know what to focus on anymore, she was extremely irritated but instead of staying calm, she moved around flapping her hands like wings of a bird.
Nahamani's weight led them both to the ground again and the angry cherub did not hesitate to hit Adriel's head on the floor over and over again. When she was satisfied, she stopped and her heavy breaths were mixed with Beth's soft gasps. She turned to her friend who was gawking at her.
"What?" She asked. Beth responded by pointing at her. Nahamani then looked at herself and gasped at the realization of her transformation. She also had been given extra powers like the others or probably even better. She noticed that all the time she attacked Adriel, she didn't fight back which meant that she was stronger than her. When she raised up her head, her eyes equally rose up to match her friends expression.
"What?" Beth asked. Nahamani pointed at her and her friend repeated the gasps. She too had been transformed and her body began to heal rapidly fast. It wasn't long before she stood up from her position and walked over to Nahamani.
By the time Adriel recovered from the attacks and she sat up with a groan, she was staring at two pairs of blazing golden irises. For the first time since the start of the war, she felt fear as she was overshadowed by the tall silhouettes of her enemies. At that moment, her eyes darted across the damaged hall to where Lucifer stood proudly. To her surprise, he was staring right at her with his arms crossed. Adriel did the only thing she could, plead for her life with her eyes. She knew Lucifer could understand her and she waited for him to make a move to save her but instead, the cherub did the exact opposite. Lucifer smirked at her, turned his back and walked away.
Adriel could only stare in disbelief and shock. A tear dropped from her eyes before she faced the angels again.
"Ple--"
Beth grabbed her by the throat before she could say anymore. With an intimidating glare, she held Adriel's gaze.
"Ple--please, I beg of you...let me go". Adriel begged. Her eyes were watery and her voice came out in a hoarse whisper. Her countenance made Beth to soften her grip on her neck. She stared at Adriel's eyes, looking for a sign of deceit but she found none.
"Please". Adriel whispered again. Beth's hands shook for a while before she slowly released her hands and dropped it to the side.
"Your death would not be in my hands. Unlike you and your master, I can never kill in anger". Beth said and turned away from her. Nahamani stared at her friend in shock, she would never have let Adriel go. Because Beth back was turned, she did not notice when Adriel stood up with a devious smile on her face.
"That weakness would be your undoing". She laughed manically and lunged for Beth. Nahamani saw her on time and immediately drew out a dagger, the same one Adriel used on Celeste. She threw the weapon towards her direction and with the help of her newly found strength, the dagger accurately placed itself at her left cheek. It didn't stop there, the dagger slowly began to make a large cut on the side of her face and Adriel screamed in pain.
Beth turned abruptly, completely stunned. Nahamani rushed towards her and held her on the shoulder affectionately.
"There are some people who just don't deserve a second chance". She said. While Beth was trying to process what just happened, a loud bang that shook the heavens distracted them. Before they could move, they were thrown off their feet to different directions of the arena.