Revelations Chapter two: Beginning

Chapter Two
                                   Beginning

Amity, a large city centered in the middle of Heaven was heavily populated by tall structures made from flawless pearls with roads paved in gold shining beautifully in the sun light. The windows were made from stained glass with depictions of angels celebrating and singing praise under the light of the Lord, giving a slight glare from the brilliant light that shined in the sky above the city. The city itself was in a circular area surrounded by golden roads leading to a bountiful garden in the center. The garden held every kind of flower known to man, vast in its mixture of colors the flowers scents blending together for a soft sweet aroma. Through the garden ran a calm brook, the peaceful sound of the water trickling down the smooth river rocks soothing to the ear of those admiring the serene sight. Not far off was a tall ivory skyscraper towering over those around it; it was there that the angelic purgatory office was housed.
           
         On the top floor of the building was the assignment  office, it was there that angels were assigned to humans cast into purgatory awaiting judgment from God, in the head office sat an old man seeming to be in his 60's  with  long white hair and green eyes dressed in imperial robes.  A knock came to his door "Sir Matthew" Alexander's voice came from behind the door "I have arrived as you requested." With a small grunt Matthew beckoned him inside instructing him to take a seat, "may I ask the reason you requested me Sir?" the young man asked. "Yes "Matthew replied folding his arms, "it seems yesterday you were assigned a Thorn Knightly who was cast into Purgatory due to her premature death correct?" With Alexander's confirming nod Matthew continued speaking "we have received information that the young woman has been taken and her Purgatory destroyed." "Taken?" Alexander interrupted, "destroyed? Sir I'm sorry but I don't understand how that is possible? "It had only been a day since he had explained to her the situation she was in, but he had failed to mention that part of the reason she was there was because she died on a much earlier date then she was supposed to and the reason why was under investigation. "How was she set free?" Alexander asked, with a soft sigh Matthew leaned back in his chair rubbing his Temples " a demon released her shortly after you left her" he spoke in an annoyed tone.
       
      Matthew went on to explain the incident reported a few hours before Alexander was called into the building. This was a big problem, Purgatory isn't just a place for show, and it serves a very big purpose in a human's soul placement process. Normally human souls are easy to place since their deaths were on time and their judgment had been processed indicating their eternal destination. But, every so often there was an unexpected death, a soul coming for judgment that wasn't ready for processing. These souls often enter purgatory without an already determined judgment, unfulfilled in life; this was where the purgatory placement agency came in. It was their solemn duty to dispatch agents to judge each case individually, focusing on the unfinished life and determining where their souls will be placed. Alexander was placed with Thorn due to the cause of her death, as he had recently went through her file he discovered that while Thorn was prone to suicidal thoughts she did not have the audacity to ever go through with it. It was clear something put her over the edge to gain the courage to actually use her father's pistol, so the question was what pushed her over the edge? "We believe that the demon who released her had aided her in dying" Matthew said reading over the file. "A demon?" Alexander repeated confused "but, that's breaking one the four laws of balance, what demon would be bold enough to do something like this?" he questioned.

     While Heaven and Hell are known to never hold any want to have anything to do with each other they had a balance set into place to deal with humans. The rules were simple; the first stated that when a soul has been place into Purgatory it could not be tampered with by a demon. The second rule kept angels from interfering with souls under a demonic contract only allowing God himself to break any contract. The third rule only allowed a demon to enter a contract when a human was alive which helped preserve the fourth law that prevented demons from tampering with a humans destined death. This meant that for a demon to actually take Thorn meant he had broken almost every rule set into place since Adam and Eve. Alexander paced the room trying to think of what demon would be bold or stupid enough to upset the balance? It didn't seem possible, no one has ever been brave enough to upset the balance so why after all this time would someone do it now?
   
     After he was dismissed he walked out to the garden gazing at the brook, thinking of Thorns expression when he last saw her. 'She looked so sad 'he thought 'as if the world was against her.' With a past like hers, Alexander understood why she would be tempted to end her life, but there had to be a way to show her that God wouldn't give her more than she could handle. For hours he thought about blaming himself for not noticing a demons presence and allowing her to be taken away. "I have to do something for her" he told himself "she was under my protection and I failed. There just has to be some way I can reach out to her!"  He narrowed his eyes growling softly as he balled his hands into fists his frustration causing the anger of losing her to swell up inside him. "No, getting upset won't help her" he sighed calming himself down "I'll find some way to help you Thorn I promise."  
  
    With his own self assurance he decided to go into the Angelic library, once he entered a white flew onto shoulder from the librarians desk. "Find me the life records of Thorn Knightly" he commanded the owl flew off his shoulder down the hall of book shelves fetching a large golden book bringing it to him. He took the book thanking the owl as it flew off to assist other angels, when he opened his eyes widened in shock "what is the meaning of this!?" he yelled shushed by other angels. Once he apologized for his rude outburst he went on to look in the records, the reason for outburst was the contents of the record only showing Thorn to have one page written in her records. "The girl is eighteen years old how does she have the records of a new born?" he questioned, as he read on he noticed the records were recording what was going with her at that very moment. As he read each word while it was written his anger began to grow "she is in the possession of a demon, but maybe if I can find a way to connect to her I can help her is some way" he muttered closing his eyes placing his hand on the still written page attempting to contact her.
                
      Meanwhile in a darken room Thorn sat on her knees silently blind folded with her arms wrapped together with bandages to keep her from feeling around the room. The silence was just as that of her Purgatory void of any life but her own the only sounds made was his voice echoing through the darkness, she panted softly hanging her head down afraid of what would come were she to speak keeping to her thoughts. 'What's going on? Was I dreaming before about the two men I saw? I don't know what's happening anymore, the last thing I remember was that man's dark crimson eyes and that Cheshire grin before I was blinded by the light.' She thought reviewing the events that led up to this moment and she couldn't connect them at all, she knew she killed herself of that she was very sure but was everything that happened after that even real?
   
    "What a fitting position for you Thorn" Damien's voice came from out of the shadows chuckling, she raised her head turning to the direction of the voice.  She was greeted by a cold hand touching her cheek to sooth her terrified shaking but it only caused her heartbeat to quicken. "Helpless, shaking, and scared, I must say seeing you like this" he leaned down running his thumb over her bottom lip chuckling as he whispered against her lips baring his fangs "is making me hungry."
    
      She gasped her eyes flew open greeted by a red ceiling above her, "a dream?" she panted softly her heart racing pounding against her chest as she looked around her room to find it empty. "Where am I?" she questioned sitting up "this isn't my room." It was a large master bedroom the walls painted  crimson red with a black high polished linoleum floor; she had a low queen-sized platform bed made from dark cherry wood matching rest of her bedroom set and  a large plasma screen was mounted on the wall. She walked around the lavished bedroom stopping at a mirror "my chest" she muttered pulling up her night gown. The bullet wounds on her chest were gone, not even scars were apparent on her skin anymore it looked as if she had never even shot herself. "What's going on here?" suddenly she heard the sound of piano playing she moved towards her door the music getting louder once she opened it. "Sonata No.8 in A minor 1st movement" she spoke recognizing the composition "it's coming from downstairs." Slowly she made her way down the stairs stopping halfway so she couldn't be seen.
     
    She leaned on the railing looking out to see a baby grand piano shining brilliantly behind it Damien sat playing his eyes closed a gentle smile on his face. He stopped when he feel her drawing closer to him opening his eyes he looked up at her smiling "so you have finally woken up" he said standing up adjusting his glasses. "This piano", Thorn whispered in amazement touching it "it's a Steinway Model D Concert Grand isn't it? "She asked looking up at him her eyes sparkling in excitement. He looked at her and smiled "yes, I knew you would recognize it. Perhaps you may not realize yet, but this is the house you've always dreamed of Thorn" he said. "I hope you don't mind that I took a little peek into your mind, needed to see all of your heart's desires in order to design it all. Come, why don't you tickle the ivories? Give this beautiful thing a go? "  She smiled excited sitting down, when she placed her fingers on the keys she stopped standing back up.
   
    "Is something the matter? " He asked arching a brow "yes, what's going on how did I end up here?" she questioned. he chuckled "why my dear, sweet thorn. Have you already forgotten our deal? A second chance, the perfect life you've always deserved. God denied you this, but I." he smiled, stroking her cheek "I brought it to you, in exchange for your devotion of course." She felt her body relax against her will his hand warmer than what it was in her dream, "devotion?" she repeated thinking back to when she met him. She took a step back to avoid his touch any longer looking into his eyes "what do you mean? Where's my family?" she asked. "This isn't my home, I live in a rundown town house. So how is this home?" He moved closer beginning to grin "my dear, sweet Thorn." he said in a soothing tone "this is your new home, and as for your family, let's just say they are no longer an issue." His grin grew larger chuckling at his own words placing his hands on her shoulders, "your old life is over Thorn, this is a brand new start for you. No neglectful parents, no run down home, it is just you and me here."

    She lowered her head looking down in thought 'gone? My family is gone? 'she lifted her head looking up at him "what happened to them? "she asked curiously, though she was happy to be away from them she couldn't help but wonder what happened to them and if she'd ever see them again for that matter. He smiled and patted her cheek "oh don't you concern yourself with them, enough with the past, you have a bright future ahead of you." he said, moving closer to her. His eyes gazed directly into hers "they are of no consequence anymore. You will never have to see them again, just as you've always desired." His red eyes glowed behind his glasses gazing deep into her eyes, "you're much happier now aren't you?" he asked. The longer she stared into his eyes the more clouded her mind became, her body once more began to relax slipping off into a trance. She nodded slowly her pupils dilated falling under his charm causing him to chuckle reaching up touching her cheek "that's a good girl." Lost in the trance she could a voice calling to her "Thorn! Thorn snap out of it! Don't let him take control of you" the voice pulling her from her trance casing her to pull away grabbing her forehead groaning.
   
Alexander smiled happy to have found a way to get in contact even though he could write himself into the records so he could be there beside her he was going to be happy with what he could get. 'I was able to contact her just in time! But I fear this is the best I can do until I can get to her.' He groaned softly feeling Damien's dark aura tugging at him attempting to pull him out of Thorns mind. 'Does this bastard think he can take her away without me putting up a fight? The nerve of that arrogant worm! It's gonna take more than a little dark magic to keep me from saving her.'
   
  Damien's eyes began to narrow as he continuous tried to rid Thorn of her uninvited guest fearing Alexanders presence would cause trouble, "are you all right my dear Thorn?" he draped an arm around her. "Here, come play the piano, you've never gotten to even touch one like this before, give it a go." "No! don't give in to his temptations Thorn!" Alexander screamed growling, "it's not too late to escape him and return back to the way things were". He didn't have much longer, if her continued the mind link with her in her weakened state it would be bad his presence was already pulling at Thorn's mind.

  She whined pushing Damien away "no stop it don't touch me!" she yelled groaning in pain from her headache. When he advanced closer she moved away from him causing him to frown wondering what exactly was causing such a cold and rebellious behavior towards him. 'Who is that? I know this voice from somewhere but I can't remember where, why are they doing this to me?' Thorn thought whimpering in pain. When Damien reached out to touch her she pushed his hand away running back upstairs to her room shutting her door. With Thorn away from him at the moment Alexander sighed releasing her from the link "that aura was surely a demon, but what demon would be stupid or bold enough to disrupt the balance?" he sighed softly closing the book. He had to leave Thorn with the demon for now until he could receive clearance to progress further planning already on a way to get her back.

   Damien felt confused, why was she suddenly turning him away? Had he forgotten something? No, he read her desires, so why was she behaving like this? There couldn't be someone interfering he was sure he covered his tracks perfectly. "You mustn't listen to him Thorn, he will only lead you to ruin, make thyself deaf to his honey coated words." the voice spoke. "Who are you?" she asked looking around the room "stop harassing me and get out of my head!" She lied down in her bed pulling a pillow over her head whining "go away just leave me alone." After a while when the voice had stopped she sighed happily pulling the pillow from her head sitting up. Damien knocked politely on her door. "Thorn? Are you all right in there? I brought some aspirin for your headache. You must be in a lot of shock from all the changes, I was hoping your memory of our deal would have helped remedy that." his voice said softly through the door. "Our deal?" she asked rubbing her forehead trying to remember just exactly what he was talking about. "I don't know what you're talking about. In fact, I'm not even sure if I believe that any of this is real. "She closed her eyes gently rubbing her temples to sooth the sting of head her headache "just what deal did we make?"

    "It seems I must remind you. My how troublesome." he muttered running his fingers through his hair. " You see, you committed suicide...well" he paused "this would be much easier to tell on the same side of the door as you, would you mind at all if I came in?" She stopped hesitating for a moment "um, yes..." Thorn managed to reply, rubbing her temples. Damien entered the room "you tried to commit suicide, not for the first time I might add. You shot yourself, however the doctor was going to tell your parents, who were gravely inconvenienced by your attempt at leaving the land of the living, that you were going to survive. I came to you with a proposal, I  would help you die. You agreed. Then we met in limbo, where I offered you a deal, a new life. Everything you've ever dreamed of will all be yours, a better, happier life. All you had to do, was pledge yourself to me, and only me. "pledge myself to you?" she asked looking at him "what exactly do you mean by that?" he moved closer, smiling "pledge yourself completely to me, that was the deal." he stroked her cheek "your mind, your heart, and your soul. You pledged all of your being to me, it's but a simple price to pay for the life of your dreams." she threw a pillow at his face causing him to stop "really?" he asked looking at her. She had another pillow in hand ready to attack him "keep away" he raised an eyebrow sighing "as cute as this is Thorn, I don't plan to do anything with you yet. However," he stood up "no amount of pillows will change the deal you agreed to. You are mine, and this wonderful new life is all yours."
     
   With that said he walked out the door leaving the frightened girl to collect her thoughts and make sense of the situation she was in. "Humans are so amusing when they put themselves in a corner like scared little animals" he said to himself chuckling. A loud ringing sound can from his watch, he stopped lifting his wrist. His watch projected a holographic image of a tan young man with a skeleton mask on one side of his face.   

   "Damien, hey buddy where'd ya go?" he asked Damien chuckled "Oh it's only you Jacob. I'm just on a little pet project you could say." "Ooh? snatched another suicide kid eh?" Jacob asked grinning. Damien smiled adjusting his glasses "yes, a very special one. Such a simple wish, she wanted a happy life, and I gave it to her." His friend chuckled shaking his head "When is it ever different?  But, you left pretty urgently. Planning to collect already?" Damien shook his glancing back at Thorns "oh don't concern yourself with that, I will soon enough" he replied snickering. Jacob paused analyzing his friend's abnormal behavior before he finally got it, "hey man this isn't that chick you've stalking for the past year is it?" he asked.
  
   Damien looked at him shrugging with a devious smirk. "Oh yea it's that one "Jacob muttered throwing his head back groaning, "I don't know why you're so interested in her." Damien laughed "I suppose I couldn't expect you to understand, no one else has" he sighed with a soft smile. "It matters little though, the point is I've wanted her, and now I have her. I do need to ask something." "Hm? what is it?" Jacob asked grinning "plan on letting me have fun with you?"
   "Hah, you wish. For me charming women is as easy as breathing, but she managed to break free of my trance and starting acting really weird. I feel like someone from upstairs is interfering."  "What you mean an angel? Wait, why would an angel even be interfering with a contract?" he asked looking at Damien. "I mean, angels aren't allowed to get in the way of our business." Damien smiled nodding playing dumb with Jacob, " I don't get it either." Damien sighed. "If an angel is interfering, it could mean something bad is about to break out maybe even a war" Jacob muttered fear lined in his voice. "Yes, of course" Damien replied looking away, "thanks for the help I'll see ya later" he bid farewell as the hologram disappeared.
   

   "A war huh?" he spoke softly starting to grin snickering under his breath before it became a full blown laugh. "A war how exciting! I can't remember the last time my body was tingling with this much excitement" he hugged his shaking body bent over chuckling. After a while he stood up regaining his composure a large grin plastered on his face, he couldn't help but love the turn out of his own actions. For him alone to be able to throw off the balance and stir up some chaos filled him with an overwhelming amount of bliss. "This is becoming even better than I expected. A war what a wonderful idea, if only it were humans waging the war then it'd be fantastic" he pushed up his glasses looking back at Thorns door.  "My little Thorn let your wish for happiness plunge the world into a black cold abyss."