Angel of the Night

In Continuation of Descensum

A trail of blood and corpses littered the path to Oblitus’ warehouse. Some were nothing more than burned husks. The areas where eyes and mouths once resided became charred fissures on the scattered bodies. Anyone who saw them would think that some beast was responsible, but even those who were holy could be monstrous. Lailah would prove that many times over this evening. These creatures thought themselves to be evil given true form, but Night would show them true darkness. She’d show them pain greater than suffering, she’d give them the emptiness that Verin gave her. 

Lailah’s boots tapped softly against the cobblestones as she pressed on, waiting for another enemy to spring from the shadows. She knew that Belial was attempting to wear her down, trying to make her sloppy so that she would slip. Little did he know that she faded into a sort of numbness, her body almost working autonomously in her pursuit. Night did not think nor feel, she simply let that numbness guide her. 

Once the warehouse was in sight, Lailah took to the air. Walking through the front door would be foolish. She only entertained the idea of landed battle to do what she vowed to, which was bring everything Oblitus built to ruin. The clan of exiles had escaped their fate long enough. They had no chance of surviving in Hell and Heaven would never want them. It was best that they had ceased to exist at all.

The angel summoned her protection sphere as she crashed through the roof. Demons surrounded her on all sides and behind the gathering to the north of her was their leader. She could feel the heat of his aura from where she stood. It almost threatened to scald her very skin and likely would if she ventured closer. 

“I have always known of you, Lailah.” Belial bellowed in greeting. “The Angel of Night and Conception, Chief of Guardian Angels.” His tone was theatrical, bordering on the line of mocking. “I have always wondered when we would finally meet. You’ve left us alone for quite some time, but now...it seems Verin has drawn your attention to us.”

Lailah regretted that she didn’t act sooner. Truth be told, she wasn’t sure if the demonic clan was backed by Jezebeth, who’s motives always seemed so unclear. An attack on them could mean an attack on the King. She didn’t want to start a war that would cause the country to bleed. And as long as Oblitus stayed off her radar, she essentially ignored them. Now, the country was at war and her sense of duty was wavering with each passing day. She wasn’t there to do what she was created for; this was an act of revenge. 

In continuation of Judas II

Lailah had lain there in the crater waiting for the pain to consume her, waiting for the the moment her sister perished or fell. She knew she would feel it and heard stories of those who lost their other halves. How could Kabaiel destroy her over such selfishness? How could she condemn her twin to such a baneful existence? For the first time, Lailah found herself cursing God and his cruelty. She had always known what He was, that He wasn’t the benevolent deity humans made Him out to be. 

Night knew her Lord was cruel, but His creation of angelic twins must have been some sick joke. If one perished, then so did the other. To damn one, meant to damn another. She understood the necessary union of their souls, but how did God expect the lone sibling to live on as an incomplete being? Lailah threw herself into that fraying tether between them. She could almost feel the scorching winds and Verin’s grasp. It hadn’t even been that long, but Kabaiel’s grace was already fading. 

The dark angel felt the shift in her stomach. It seemed to tug at her life fibers at first, like thousands of tiny tendrils picking apart thread. That only caused Lailah to dive deeper into their bond, sinking within the drying current until she saw through Kabaiel’s eyes. And it was that monster’s face who greeted her, 

“Tainted and ruined you already are! You were perfect...You are a fool– I could have loved you on Earth. But here you are worth nothing.” 

Both Angels screamed at once. Kabaiel’s death was like a star’s implosion, but there was nothing beautiful nor wondrous about it. Verin claimed to love her, yet he tore the soul from her angelic body. Lailah knew that her sister intended to leave her, even suspected that Verin would betray her. But she now realized that Kabaiel had no intention of surviving. Her descent was the act of martyrdom. Verin wanted her as an angel, but couldn’t he see the error in that foolish dream? An angel could not love a demon without consequence. They were destined to Fall, destined to become the nothing Verin hated so dearly. 

When their connection severed and Lailah’s cries died out, she vomited in shock. Her entire body trembled as that sudden emptiness took root within her. Already, she felt weak, alone, raw, and exposed. Nothing around her seemed real, not the sun above her and the ground below. Perhaps she was no longer in control of herself anymore, maybe it was the darkness within her taking the reigns. 

In the blink of an eye, Lailah was in the streets of Norwich with her weapons drawn. It did not take her long to find a demon and it was fortunate that they didn’t tend to travel alone. She broke them as Kabaiel had been broken, made them feel the pain they’d both felt when that beast devoured her. Night gave every one of them God’s light and she would not stop, not until she was sated, not until Kabaiel was avenged. The last of the group had lain before her, attempting to craw away. When Lailah ventured too close, he lashed out with blackened nails. 

It didn’t take Lailah long to find Kabaiel. When they teleported, angels stepped into a place she liked to call the In-between. There, she could see the celestial signatures of her brethren. Every one was shaped like a single thread to create an entire stream. For twins and mated angels, it was easy to single-out their other halves. Kabaiel’s thread lead straight to her location — some forgotten plateau in a distant land. It wasn’t even night on this edge of the world, but high noon. 

“If you were going to abandon me, then you shouldn’t have said goodbye.” Those cold words were her only greeting. “Perhaps you would have saved us both from this.” 

Kabaiel was kneeling before a bed of angelic runes. The white marks shone brightly against the dark, stone ground. All of the intricate whorls and spirals were a song in itself, a rare depiction of the holy tongue. “I know that was foolish.” Her voice was hollow, completely devoid of the joy everyone was familiar with. “But I couldn’t j—”

Lailah interjected. “He’s a demon, isn’t he?” 

“Sister, I wa—” 

“Who is he?! What is his name, Kabaiel? Tell! Me!” Night’s voice boomed over the caverns and the very air seemed to calm in her fury’s wake. 

Her sister finally stood and turned to her, eyes full of tears. “You already know of him...The Impatient One. Great President Verin.” 

What Do I Stand For? SWP Location: England

It had been so long since Lailah last saw her twin that she almost wept with joy at their reunion. Night wrapped her sister in a fierce hug that threatened to crush bones, but all Kabaiel did was laugh in joy. She seemed to always bring a cloak of happiness with her, scattering darkness with a mere bat of her eye.

“I have missed you dearly, Kabaiel.” Lailah said, parting the embrace. 

“And I you, sister. How have you been?”

The dark angel waved a dismissive hand. “You know me, I am always well. But tell me of you! You glow, Kabaiel...more than usual.” She gave her sibling a knowing grin. “It’s a man isn’t it? I knew there was some reason why you haven’t visited. I need details, now.” 

Kabaiel damned her for her intuition, giving Lailah a playful shove before they interlocked arms. Together, they strolled down the streets of London one moment, then Nottingham the next. From there, they went to Awre and supped among the winter blooms. Kabaiel told her all about this mysterious lover, how he was a man laced with tragedy. Yet he was wise, cunning, and driven with a roguish nature. Lailah couldn’t help but admire the light in her eyes as she spoke of him. The Star of God had truly found love and Night could feel that bliss as if it were her own. 

Angelic twins were two halves of the same whole. In such close proximity, they could tell when one another was in danger or distress. Emotions were clear as words and if they synchronized their energies, they could communicate telepathically. In battle, there was no equal sense of harmony; the two would move in complete synchronization. The only other bond to come close was a mating between angels. One of an angel’s greatest blessings is to share their souls with another, to twine them on a celestial level. 

Finally, the two retired to Lailah’s home in Richmond. The two laid side by side amidst the scattering of moon flowers on her roof. 

“I’ll have to go back to the East soon.” Kabaiel said once silence fell between them. “Things have grown hectic...demons of course, but nothing I cannot handle.” 

Lailah rolled onto her side, propping a hand under her chin. “Say the word and I’m with you.”

“I know, but you will have much to deal with here. You said it yourself, war is coming. I cannot draw you from your duties.” She sat up, hugging her knees. “When this is all over, we’ll see each other again.” Kabaiel removed her crown of winter roses, placed them on Lailah, and kissed her forehead.

Before she could push to her feet, Night wrapped the Stars in another hug. “Until the next time then.” The angel said, releasing her. Kabaiel offered one last smile before she was gone. But as Lailah gazed at the evening sky, she knew what this meeting was. Her twin did well to hide it and she was almost successful, but Lailah picked up on the lies carefully woven between her words, and the small little hints of guilt and sorrow. Kabaiel was saying goodbye and wherever she planned to go, Lailah made sure she had to stop her.  

Location: Heaven ~ 5000 years ago  @belial-the-exile  

The power of an Archangel was always something to behold. One could see it radiate from them as they walked by. Holy celestial energy seemed to take concrete form around them, creating an aura that was unique to their very souls. It was something to be feared and admired, even envied. But as Lailah gazed up at Barachiel, she could only be filled with wonder. The Chief of Virtues was indeed a Shining One. He shone like a star of golden flame, one that the Night couldn’t help but be attracted to. 

Lailah unfurled her dark wings and took flight to his position. As she grew closer, his humbling presence became even more apparent. If she were a lesser angel, it would have made her feel small. But Lailah was a Power and Chief of Guardian Angels, so instead of feeling intimidated, she felt oddly proud. “Barachiel.” She said in greeting. “Merry meet, brother.” 

Double Trouble SWP  Location: A Leeds Brothel @whorunswithwolves

Lailah didn’t know how or why, but she was in a world that was not her own. Humans had no idea about the monsters among them, there was no war, no vampires within the Athorian government. At least Jezebeth was in power, but from what she gathered, England was in the same boat as Athoria. The demon didn’t know if she could even get back to her rightful world. If she left her vessel would she somehow go back to her Hell? There were too many uncertainties to test that theory, so Lailah decided that it was best to enjoy her little ‘vacation’ for now. 

All she was focused on was the curvaceous beauty before her. Blindfolded and ready for consumption. If the shadow demon was to be stuck here indefinitely she might as well enjoy what it had to offer. “You’re a pretty thing aren’t you...” Lailah purred wickedly as her hands gripped a whip. She snapped the leather, drawing a delighted giggle from the whore. “Come here...I want you to crawl to me.” 

Lailah’s Twin || Kabaiel || Angel of the Stars || NPC

When God created Lailah, she was to be the embodiment of the evening sky. Night was the pale moon and vast darkness that lied between the planets and stars, but without that dark there could be no light. There was no Silence without Song, no Death without Destruction. And so He created her counterpart, Kabaiel, the Angel of the Stars. 

She holds the angelic rank of a Power, same as her sister, presiding over the elements of Light, Life, and Passion. Kabaiel is well loved by her peers, gaining such favor with her Lord that many dubbed her the ‘Star of God’. Some might even say she is loved by HIm as Lucifer was before he Fell. 

Where Lailah is quiet and reserved, Kabaiel is open and joyous. She wears her smile like armor, daring any bit of darkness to try and wipe it away. Kabaiel cares for her twin deeply and the two were always at each other’s side before Lailah was sent to Earth. Since then, they have had little communication. But for the past two years, Kabaiel has tended to duties in Asia and the Middle East. Even still, she visits her sister in England whenever she can.