Archive of Our Own ^beta

Auriel didn’t need to see a physical being to know she was not alone. An angel, like all spiritual beings, angelic or demonic, have superior sensing abilities. She felt the cold, lifeless breath across her heavenly form as she sat alone in a large hall. Angels didn’t have property, they did not need it. However, they did have… creature comforts and this is where she preferred to be when she was alone, and when she wasn’t in the Garden of Hope.

The tense meetings between the High Heavens and the Burning Hells always left her feeling almost… tainted.

While Auriel knew that she was a pure being, strong enough with potent light to avoid corruption, the Lord of Hatred in particular usually would be the one in attendance as opposed to his two younger brothers. His hatred was so overwhelming, thickening the atmosphere with a dark, tarry taint that remained even when he retreated to Hell. His ominous presence brought on a profuse feeling of foreboding, and it shook Auriel to her very core.

So why was she sitting here still thinking about what occurred during the council gathering? 

“This is a peaceful visit, oh councillors.” 

Auriel heard the voice before she could see anything. It sounded like a nest of angry vipers. 

“Peaceful–if you would have it so.”

Auriel watched as a form began to slowly manifest in the dark, black, smokey tendrils pouring out onto the grounds of the High Heavens. Auriel’s gaze shifted to her fellow councilmen, noticing the unease amongst them. A show, a threat, that nobody was safe from Hell.

“You offer parley, Lord Mephisto?” Auriel questioned, watching as the cloud of smoke continued to manifest itself in the council room. She refused to cower in fear. Shrouded by her hood, she sensed the attention focused now on herself. The dark entity didn’t respond, so Auriel continued. 

“You…and not your brothers?” 

 A gust of wind billowed her way, rustling her robes as she stared at the black mass across from her. While the angels were now focused on Mephisto once again, the inky mass was still focused on herself. It made her uneasy. 

“What pact is this you propose?” 

Auriel’s attention slowly came back to the meeting before her at Imperius’ booming voice. She fluttered her wings, an anxious twitch as she focused once more. This was the last place where she could let her guard down even for an instant.

She then watched as a feral mouth flashed into sight, a hint of great, sharp teeth grinning menacingly at the Angiris Council. Horns, much like a goat’s sat on top of his head, another two sticking out directly from the top. 

“We, like you, made false assumptions about this place–false assumptions about the creatures spawned by both our kind.” 

Silence fell over the council room, Auriel was shocked, just like the rest. She stood there silently, watching a blazing crimson eye materialize in the dark, winking in her direction.

Could an angel feel something more than revulsion?

A dark chuckle sounded from behind Auriel, sending her to her feet. She looked around the room, only to be alone. She let out a frustrated noise, her weapon materializing in her hand. 

“Show yourself! I know you’re there.” Auriel called out, voice steady as it always was. Her gaze fell to her wrist, letting out a started gasp and teleported to the opposite end of the room. From where she now stood, she watched as the same inky cloud poured on the floor. 

It quickly made its way towards Auriel, and she levitated herself before it could touch her. Thinking she was avoiding it, she didn’t expect the smoke to climb its way up to her ankle. It somehow solidified, dragging her back down to the ground. She landed on her feet, already trying to release herself. The long whip in her grasp began to glow gold, she let the length drop to the floor. She watched with intense apprehension as the smoke continued to solidify into a skeletal-like arm. 

Auriel raised her arm, the whip coiling around it. A loud and painful hiss reverberated around the room, the arm releasing her ankle. She watched as the coil dropped from the arm, sizzling with gold light branded to it. 

“Why are you here? Why haven’t you returned to Hell?” Auriel questioned, sternly, but not harshly. 

She felt something down the length of her spine, quickly turning once more only to see the Lord of Hatred himself before her. Her eyes fell to his bony tail, no doubt what was going down her spine. He didn’t have legs and, therefore, floated a few feet above her. 

“You!! How dare you!!” Auriel was poised, ready to fight if necessary. She knew something was odd with him appearing before the council, wanting to make some kind of ‘pact.’ She firmed her stance as Mephisto laughed, a raspy thing that reminded her of metal grinding on metal. 

“Ah, Lady of Hope…I thought you’d be more pleased to see me.” He raised his arm, the burns from pure light still branded on him. Mephisto titled his head, watching how it took longer for the burns to heal.

Holy light. 

Repulsive.

A shame someone so lovely as Hope was created for the High Heavens. She'd make an exquisite demoness. 

“You came to speak with the council and were to immediately go back to the Burning Hells. You are not welcome here.” Auriel stiffly replied. This was…an unexpected and rather volatile situation. Should she raise the alarm? 

Mephisto didn’t comment, floating there silently. 

“Well?” Auriel pressed, her whip ready. He was acting rather passive, for being such a confrontational being. It did nothing to put her at any kind of ease. 

Mephisto gradually began to turn into smoke, pouring onto the floor and moving towards Auriel once again, rushing at her. It appeared to pass right through her, with the faintest whisper across her invisible lips, and then was gone.

Auriel stood there silently, the room now too eerie and silent. She was frozen to where she stood, knowing very well what that had just implied. The door behind her then opened, causing her to jump in surprise. Behind her was Tyrael. He looked around the room, then focused on Auriel who still had her whip in her hand, and was still glowing.

“Auriel? Is everything alright?”

Auriel cleared her throat, her whip vanishing. She turned to properly address her brother, shaking off the anxious nerves that Mephisto just handed her in spades. Auriel steadied herself before speaking. Tyrael was one of the more observant of them, and he would notice quickly if something was off. 

“Yes, I’m quite alright, Tyrael. Your concern is appreciated.” Auriel paused, before speaking once more. “What of the meeting?” 

Tyrael shook his head. Auriel sighed, moving towards the door. Her face felt cold like the winters of Kyovashad. Her lips tingled, like as if they were touched by poison. 

“I am going back to the garden. I’ve had enough of being inside. If Imperius requests my audience…I will be there.” 

Auriel silently made her exit, leaving Tyrael alone to ponder what exactly had her so shaken.