It was once I was free of the storm’s reach that I could see the towering mass of imposing black stone that had been carved into my father’s giant sentinels. The whole castle had been built from the belly of one of Earth’s most volatile volcanoes Mount Merapi, situated in the centre of the island of Java, in Indonesia. I remember hearing the last time it had erupted there knowing this was down to my father’s famous rage upon hearing of my mother’s refusal to see him once again. It was easy to say that I definitely received my temper from the Demonic side of my parentage.
Funny then that it would be my Angelic brother who also received his fair share of our father’s character, only in the form of his lustful ways. Not that many would have the chance to see this side of Vincent, but I knew of his inner struggles at calming his sexual urges of dominance. This being something any Angel would find difficult given that their natural tendencies were usually the opposite.
But I made it my business to know my kin, even if they continually tried to hide aspects of their lives from me. For years even Sophia was naive enough to try and hide her involvement with a certain Albino from me, thankfully though, he knew better.
It didn’t take me long to reach the highest battlements that were nestled nicely into the sentinel’s carved helmets of the centre tower. I let my wings level out and let the air carry me until my landing came into view below. Then with little thought, my wings folded and I dropped the remaining forty foot to land with one knee to the ground. I bit back a smile when all the sentinels guarding the roof scurried back a few steps. I then rose to my full height, briefly taking note of the broken stone my landing had caused before facing my father’s guards.
I turned my head slightly letting my senses take in the amount of demons that now surrounded me and again had to hold in a smile. Good, I counted twenty. Now if I could just get the bastards to react aggressively towards me, then I was finally in for a chance at a good fight. I really needed a good fight. I cracked my neck to the side and waited for the bravest one to step forward first…
He didn’t disappoint.
This time I couldn’t hide my grin as I sidestepped his charging form and released my blades at the same time. I arched my torso backwards, slicing one flaming blade upwards and ripped through armour made from the carved bones of others. I allowed myself the pleasure in seeing the new jagged hole that was left down the spine of my opponent.
The sound of my father’s foot soldiers all moving as one dragged my gaze back round to face what looked like their general barging through the centre. It was easy to tell the difference in ranks among my father’s army. There was really only one rule that applied in this place and that was the bigger you were, the higher up the food chain you became… and didn’t I just get a sick kick out of teaching these assholes a new lesson, one learnt by annihilating that rule in the form of broken limbs.
The general was at least twice my size and that wasn’t including the added height gained by his helmet, one that was raised in the centre with a deadly shard of raw black metal. He positioned himself in front of me in such a way I knew he didn’t know my identity and I was glad for it.
So my father had received some new recruits since the last time I was here. Well in that case it would be rude of me not to put them through their paces now wouldn’t it, I thought with another malicious grin curving my lips.
“AMMENI ISU SALMAT QAQQADI ALKA ANNA ANNU ASRU” ( ‘Why have Mankind come unto this place’) The ancient Sumerian spoken was of a basic kind, which wasn’t surprising even for a general and I very much doubted the others even knew what was said.
“EZEBU MA BALTU U LU TAHAZU MA ANA SIMTIM ALAKU” ( ‘leave and live or battle and meet one’s fate’) I replied, making my warning clear enough even for the likes of an uneducated demon pawn at my father’s hand. His reaction to this threat didn’t surprise me… if anything I was counting on it.
A roar was released into the endless storm and there was a wave of growls that echoed around me, providing a dramatic effect. They were like the drums of war. They were never needed but fuck if the power in my blood didn’t hum and dance along my veins with the sound made. And right now I relished in the surge of power I could feel building.
“ALAL DAKU! ALAL DAKU! ALAL DAKU!” The rest of the sentinels started chanting his name and with the surge of adrenaline flooding my senses I could only hope they didn’t stop. The word ‘Daku’ in Sumerian meant ‘Kill’ and as they asked so nicely, I didn’t want to disappoint.
“Your name is Destroyer?” I asked in English, not expecting him to answer. Instead he slowly raised a heavily armoured hand to the visor on his helmet and slid it up. It made me wonder what I would have thought if I had been the weak and low ranking humankind he obviously mistook me for. Now no longer faced with row after row of jaw like bars that covered his face and provided protection, I could see what a lifetime of Hell could do to what was once the face of a man.