Catching Butterflies

         Bitter Immortality


         Laughter bubbled from his swollen lips as he raised dilated and bloodshot eyes to the daemon before him. If he strained his ears then he could just make out the faint sounds of the party on the floor above them – a gathering of daemons, traitorous angels and other creatures of the night. He had tried calling out to them already to no avail. Time had ceased to exist for him long ago, and an endless ritual of pain and lesser pain when he was granted slight reprieve had replaced it. Pain was a new sensation to the angel – he had never suffered it before.
         Now, pain was his pitiful existence. He could not die and this was no life. No one listened to him, no one cared if he rotted down here, not that they would let him die, God would not let him die. Bitter immortality.
          ‘Are you happy now, master?’ he asked in a harsh whisper, sarcasm lacing the final word, another half mad laugh echoing round the dark chambers that surrounded him. It was not truly dark, it was merely blood loss greying the world at the edges of his vision. In truth the chamber was brightly lit and flaming torches adorned the black rock walls as they cast monstrous shadows that danced around him. A trickle of blood, his blood, wept from a cut on his cheek, a vivid scar of crimson as the scarlet tears traced the pale sweep. He ignored it, or did not notice it, either way the result was the same.
          ‘Do you have what you desired, seeing me like this? A true fallen angel. You clipped my wings so I may not fly, even if I could escape these.’ His laugh was accompanied this time by the rattling of heavy chains, binding him to the wall in a mockery of the Son of God being nailed to the cross, completely at his ‘master’s’ mercy.
         There was no answer, not that he expected one, other than the fading sound of his bordering insane laugh and the clinking chains. Oh, the other had not left, his partly wild eyes could see that, they never left him.
         Once golden hair fell to his waist, covered indecently by a mere scrap of bloodied cloth, straggled locks slick with blood and sweat as they clung to his slender, emaciated body. Tattered wings shuddered as he strained at his chains to spit at the other’s feet causing no flicker in the daemon’s expression. Feathers drifted to the floor calmly, like fallen leaves on an autumn breeze, a cruel parody of peace. Madness had beckoned to him, trying to draw him into its embrace like a gentle lover, promising oblivion. But he refused to give in. Would not, could not let them win. The ageless depths of his eyes flared passionately as he glared at the daemon who merely gazed back coolly, unmoved by this show of defiance. But the angel was a child of God like his heavenly brethren, he would not be broken so easily.

          ‘A child of God?’ A snake-like voice purred seductively as another entered the room, one that the angel recognised immediately, shutting his eyes against the sight as if to deny it. He recognised the ivory coloured skin, the silken voice and the blue-black hair that curled down his back, contrasting with the ironically pure white wings. He did not want to recognise him, but he did nonetheless.
          ‘Come now, you remember me, do you not?’ A cold hand stroked his cheek, wiping away the blood. The angel pulled back his head sharply, refusing to wince as the chains bit into his lacerated flesh. But the other was not perturbed, merely licking the blood from his fingers. ‘You taste so delicious, my darling Seraph. Oh, but you always tasted so wonderful, the arch-angels have nothing on you. So beautiful. Maybe if you were an arch-angel then your God would have saved you by now, but he has not, why not just give into me? You seemed so willing when you followed me down here.’
          ‘I did not know who you were then, Lucifer, Satan, Iblis, Ruler of Hell, the Devil, The fallen angel, Beelzebub, Belial. Need I go on? You are making quite a name for yourself, are you not?’ Seraph replied wearily, insanity gone now, leaving behind the all too real and painful knowledge of his folly. ‘I will not give into you.’ The words were quiet but they rang with determination.
          ‘You do know who I am. That makes it all so much more wonderful. I knew I could not always fool you - you always questioned everything. Always wanting to know why. Mortals have a saying – “curiosity killed the cat”. But you and I cannot die, can we, my little Kitten? God’s gift to us. Immortality. Humans strive for it all the time, the elixir of life and so on, and we both have it in the palm of our hands. Do you still thank him for that gift? I thank him everyday. Especially for casting me out into Hell, I never had so much fun. Tell me, do you angels still laze around on clouds and play harps for his majesty?’
         Seraph refused to answer, falling into a stony silence as he kept his gaze firmly on the ground when he opened his angelic eyes.
          ‘You should drink or eat something anyway, my love. We cannot die or grow old but existing can be painful, as I intend to make yours unless you give into me. Still no answer? You break my heart, Seraph, and I am being so kind to you. But we will play it your way, for the time being.’
         Those same cold fingers traced his collar-bound throat, resting beneath his chin and forcing Seraph’s head up to meet Lucifer’s black eyes. The angel immediately closed his eyes, refusing to look upon the other’s face. Lucifer merely laughed with amusement at the other’s reaction, brushing his lips against Seraph’s in mock tenderness to clean them of blood, his tongue tasting him before the angel jerked his head back again.
          ‘You will give into me eventually, my darling. It is all a matter of time. And we both have all the time in the world, do we not?’ Lucifer said with a cold smile, licking his own lips slowly. ‘I thought all angels were meant to love their neighbour, is that not what your God teaches? Join me Seraph, join me and I will release you from these chains and you will rule at my side.’
          ‘Never, I’d rather be chained to the wall than spend my life with you.’ Seraph whispered vehemently. Lucifer stepped back, surveying the other, a beautiful trapped butterfly, white feathered wings matted with blood, smooth skin shredded.
          ‘Very well then, I will return later…’
          ‘Save your energy, my answer will still be the same.’
          ‘I know very well you care nothing for my strength, you do not want to be reminded of your mistake so do not wish to see me again. Why do you think your God spends so little time with his creation? He does not want to be reminded of his error. But I am moulding it into something far greater, and I want you to be a part of that, Seraph.’
          ‘You have a strange way of showing it.’
          ‘I cannot have you running away before I am finished playing, can I? But I am keeping my guests waiting, I will return later, whether you want me to or not.’
         Lucifer turned away and walked to the door, glancing back once at Seraph with a flicker of a smile. ‘Farewell, my love.’ He said softly, a black silken suit tailored to fit his effeminate figure glimmering blue in the light of the torches and his wings blazed golden briefly. Then the door closed and the room was plunged into silence, only Seraph left now, the daemon having slipped out some time before unbeknownst to the angel. With no one to see him now he allowed himself to sag heavily in his chains, refusing to cry. He would not cry. But that was harder said than done…


         Lucifer’s Heaven, Seraph’s Hell


         Above Seraph’s hell Lucifer sat at the front of the room watching his guests with a coolly disregarding gaze. A thousand torches lit the ball, mimicking the flames of hell, a small reminder of home.
         In truth he cared nothing for keeping the company waiting, as he had told his angel; Seraph was his angel, whether the other consented or not. He loved arriving late, having all eyes on him. Yes, our fallen angel, The Fallen Angel, thrived in the limelight, wearing the best and only the best, nothing less. He had the money to do so, to buy this huge mansion with more rooms than he cared to count, all prepared for his guests in this party thrown for no particular reason other than for Lucifer to show off, as always.
         Lounging in his throne he sighed softly, tapping the throne arm lightly, the picture of elegance and grace. No doubt he could fall gracefully if he chose, an amusing idea, no? That the Devil could fall stylishly, just as he had fallen from Heaven and out of God’s favour. But then Lucifer would do nothing that was not stylish and the mortal idea of a red daemon with horns, a tail and a trident was far wrong, as anyone could see. Not, to say, that he did not sometimes have a tail and so on, he was a master of illusion and trickery after all. Besides, Lucifer would not be seen in red right now, so last season.
         With evident boredom his obsidian eyes followed a fair headed mortal boy through the crowds idly, watching him offer drinks to the daemons, angels and other creatures. He could taste his fear, even from here, savouring the delicious emotion. Seraph’s blood still lingered on his tongue as well; a fading memory. He would break him eventually, they had all the time in the world, did they not? The reason why he desired the other so much was unknown to him, Seraph was beautiful, certainly, but there were others that were equally so or even more so in some cases. Perhaps it was his stubbornness, the sheer force of his hatred that made Lucifer desire him so, make him want to break the other so he gave in with delicious submission. Of course, if it was only his hatred that attracted Lucifer then once this was achieved would he leave Seraph?
         People hovered nervously at the Devil’s side, fearful that he would take out his wrath on them unexpectedly as he was prone to do so. His mood swings infamous. Another mortal boy, with brown hair this time, offered him a drink which Lucifer took after a drawn out pause, amused by the expression on the boy’s face as he watched him carefully, revealing nothing. A pink tongue darted out to wet full lips, blue eyes lowered demurely to the floor as the boy fought from bolting away. ‘I do not look that scary, surely?’ Lucifer asked with a faint smile that was far from friendly, more predatory.
          ‘He is worried you are going to eat him. Some rumours have been spreading amongst the servants’ quarters again.’ A soft voice tattled from the darkness behind Lucifer’s finely crafted throne.
         The boy started at the words, his eyes widening like a deer caught in the headlights, wine glasses threatening to fall from the tray as his hands shook. However the confession only seemed to heighten Satan’s amusement as he twirled the glass stem slowly between his slim fingers, studying the boy over the rim. ‘You are quite right to be afraid of me, boy.’ He purred dangerously, ‘Very wise, now you should run before I get hungry.’ The boy turned and ran into the crowds as Lucifer suggested, not noticing that he was sending droplets of wine about him or the angry people he almost ran into. All he just wanted to get away from that man whose gaze sent fire through his veins.
          ‘Why do they continue to fascinate you so? What do those mortals have that I do not?’ The voice asked with a slight note of jealousy to it as Lucifer’s gaze followed the boy as he darted away.
          ‘Free will, I have told you before. I can tempt them and make them fear me but I cannot control them. You, I control, Shehrevar.’ Satan answered simply, glancing over his shoulder at the other. His gaze swept the other’s slender warrior form, resting briefly on the twin katanas strung across his companion’s back.
          ‘They are too easy to scare and too delicate. They break too easily.’ The one named Shehrevar replied as he stepped further into the light. Shadowy fingers retreated back from his golden skin, leaving dark whorls down his left cheek and bare arms in inky tattoos.
          ‘I did tell you to play carefully with them.’ Lucifer scolded mildly, beckoning a half-dressed fan boy to his side, closing his eyes at the gentle breeze that stirred his feathers. Shehrevar sighed as he watched his master with dark brown eyes, standing dutifully at his side, like always, half in the shadows.
          ‘And what of your new “guest”, the angel? Does he break easily?’ Shehrevar asked, the silent jealousy flaring up again at the smile that settled on his master’s lips, his fingers clenching into balls behind his back.
          ‘No, he does not. I let Dae play with him before and he still refuses.’ Lucifer answered, he actually sounded pleased at the fact. Shehrevar blinked slightly, a little surprised at the revelation but not wishing to show it.
          ‘I would like to test him sometime, Lucifer, to see whether he is really as strong as you say he is.’ Lucifer’s faithful servant said, bowing his head to the Devil slightly, vivid scarlet hair falling over his shoulders.
          ‘You would not be doubting my word now, would you, Sheh?’ Lucifer asked nonchalantly, opening one eye to a dark slit as he gazed up at Shehrevar, dismissing the fan boy as quickly as he had summoned him.
          ‘Not at all, Master, I would never doubt you.’ Shehrevar said immediately, going down on one knee, his head still bowed under Lucifer’s amusement.
          ‘Take care it does not happen again, Sheh.’ Lucifer ordered; taking a sip of his wine slowly as his eyes remained on his subordinate.
          ‘I would never dream of it.’ Shehrevar replied humbly, knowing better than to rise before Lucifer told him to.
          ‘Good,’ Lucifer murmured, tangling his fingers in the other’s long scarlet hair idly, playing with the strands, brown eyes watching him through Sheh’s lashes. ‘Rise, Shehrevar.’ Lucifer said, releasing him and letting his hand fall back to his lap, running across the silk.
         Shehrevar rose smoothly, his grace almost enough to rival his master’s. Loose clothes were chosen for easy movement, betraying his presence with nothing more than the faintest whisper, the whites, gold and browns complementing his complexion. ‘As it pleases you, my lord. My only aim is to serve you.’ He said softly. Golden bracelets adorned his bronzed wrists, a gift from long ago, clinking together with his actions.
          ‘That is the trouble, Shehrevar. You always try to please me.’ Lucifer mused, studying the colour of the wine idly.
          ‘It is my job, my lord.’ Sheh pointed out, there was more to it than that, they both knew it, Shehrevar desired what he could not have, like Lucifer did with Seraph. Lucifer merely shrugged and turned his attention back to the party. Shehrevar sighed again, moving behind his lord and resting a hand on Lucifer’s shoulder, emboldened slightly when the other did not push him away. ‘I only ever try to please you.’ He said quietly, bending down and kissing Lucifer’s forehead lightly.
         Satan looked up and raised an eyebrow at the other. ‘I know.’ He replied, reaching out and wrapping his fingers in the other’s loose white shirt to pull him closer, capturing his lips in a teasing kiss of what he could not have. I know.
         Sheh pulled back shakily after a moment or two, touching his finger to his tingling lips, desire stirring inside him. He wanted his master so much, he loved him unlike Lucifer wanted Seraph. The angel was lucky, he had the Devil’s full attention, something which the daemon strove for daily, trying to please his master in every way.
          ‘I am bored of this party now, set one of the others in charge and come with me, Sheh?’ Lucifer asked, opening both eyes now to study the other, his expression unreadable.
         Shehrevar found his mouth suddenly dry, his stomach twisting slightly. His master sometimes pleasured him when he felt like it and when it suited the Devil. Consequently, Sheh found himself hoping that now was one of those times, when he could pretend that Lucifer returned his love and was all his. I would come with you anywhere, he thought silently.
          ‘Of course, Lucifer, where are we going?’
          ‘My chambers, I think.’ Lucifer mused, taking Sheh’s hand to pull himself to his feet. Sheh nodded, using his cherry coloured hair as a cover for his delighted grin, returning it to its impassive expression before he looked at his master again.
          ‘As you wish, my lord.’
         With that the two of them left the party, another of Lucifer’s associates left to oversee the party. Lucifer was not concerned about missing anything, the party was of little importance to him, no one interesting had attended and the Lord was known to leave the events he arranged without reason, for there was no reason for throwing them in the first place anyway.


         The Cavalry Arrives


          ‘Where’s your friend being held again?’ A lazy voice asked, the sounds of traffic rumbling behind the words.
          ‘Somewhere in Satan’s Castle.’ A younger voice replied.
         There was the hiss of a cigarette being dropped onto damp grass to extinguish it. ‘I like the name, has a nice homely feel to it, don’t you think?’ The first voice asked absently.
          ‘Satan is the Devil, Rikuido…’ The younger said hesitantly, unsure whether the other had understood quite what he was getting into when he accepted this assignment. ‘Must you smoke? The smell gets in my feathers and it takes forever to get out.’
          ‘Sorry, kid. And I know Satan’s the Devil.’ Rikuido answered with a yawn, not seeming too bothered by this revelation as he looked up at the twilit sky, it would be too dark to continue soon and they would need to find somewhere to rest till morning.
          ‘Oh… My name is not kid!’
          ‘Don’t get your feathers ruffled, love. Your name just slipped my mind, again.’ Rikuido apologised, albeit most likely insincerely, with a shrug, material whispering softly as he rose from the bench with an elegant stretch.
          ‘It is Meir.’ The angel answered, still perching on the edge of the bench, gazing about the city around them. ‘Will they not think you are strange talking to thin air? They cannot see me after all…’
          ‘Meir, you worry too much. Do I really look like the kind of person who gives a fuck?’ Rikuido asked, glancing over his shoulder at his angel companion. Meir studied the demon-hunter for a long moment, blinking innocent eyes from behind the halo of silvery hair, his gaze continuously changed colour, reflecting his mood and was now a sharp blue as he studied Rikuido. Rikuido merely stood coolly under his assessment, his black hair loose about him, falling to his waist and his eyes were a startling amethyst, a sign of demon blood. With long hair, pale skin and a slender body the demon-hunter was very attractive in a feminine way, much to his constant mortification. On the other hand, it was difficult to mistake him for a girl due to the amount of weaponry he carried, or if anyone did notice his feminine attributes they chose wisely not to say anything. Some of it was mortal, like the gun on his belt, and some of it was for daemons only, charmed blades strung across his back and various other weapons hidden on his person.
          ‘You done staring at me yet?’ Rikuido asked, raising an eyebrow at the other. He definitely did not look like he cared.
          ‘Yes, I suppose you are right, Rikuido.’ Meir said finally, hopping off the bench and giving his wings a shake.
          ‘You should be glad no one can see you, prancing around half-naked. Is Heaven full of guys like you?’ Rikuido asked as he watched his younger companion dressed in only a loincloth as he approached the demon-hunter.
         Meir did not seem to notice any possible double-meanings in his words, going back to blinking at Rikuido. ‘This is not normal?’
          ‘No, love… If anyone saw you then you’d be arrested for indecent exposure. You really don’t know what you’re doing, do you?’ Rikuido said with a groan as he rubbed his forehead, a black bandanna keeping his hair from his eyes. ‘Shit, first I get landed with a kid, but not only that it’s a bloody innocent kid without a fucking clue about anything we’re bloody doing.’
          ‘You swear a lot, Rikuido. And I do know what I am doing, I am rescuing Seraph.’ Meir replied, not quite sure what the hunter was on about.
          ‘Yeah, sure, kid. We’ll just waltz in there like fucking waltzing Matilda and slip him out from Lucy’s nose, right?’ Rikuido asked.
          ‘Yes, we will do that.’ Meir nodded, bemused by the expression on Rikuido’s face.
          ‘Remind me to explain sarcasm to you sometime.’ Rikuido sighed, combing back his hair with one hand irritably. He could just ditch the kid and then rescue this angel himself, collect the money, maybe kill a few daemons while he was at it and then go off for a nice holiday someplace.

          ‘What is sarc…? What you said?’ Meir asked, clinging to Rikuido’s arm childishly as if he could read the other’s thoughts about ditching him.
          ‘Human thing, forget it, kid.’ Rikuido replied, trying to dislodge the other from his arm, the kid only clinging tighter to the loose material that allowed easy movement. In the end he gave up, dragging Meir along down the street to the centre of the city. ‘Now, how do we get to this place to bust your friend out?’ he asked. Some might say Rikuido was crude, he preferred to put it as direct, he did not like to mess about, go in, get the job done and then collect the pay check.
          ‘“You will sense when you get close”.’ Meir answered, closing his eyes briefly whilst quoting what he had been told before he left.
          ‘You mean… Oh, what’s the point?’ Rikuido muttered.
          ‘The point to what?’ Meir asked, still refusing to let go of the other’s arm as he skipped along at his side.
          ‘Of me even existing.’ Rikuido said, lighting another cigarette with one hand to ease the stress.
          ‘Rikuido, you will kill yourself with all those smoking sticks.’ Meir said, his eyes widening in his pale face.
          ‘They’re called cigarettes, and something’s gotta kill me so why not these?’ Rikuido replied, shifting the cigarette to the corner of his mouth to speak. Meir had no reply to that and the pair walked in silence through the city, skirting round the bustling crowds. Well, the crowds parted for Rikuido, he was carrying some very dangerous looking things after all...

          ‘A flower for the lady.’ Someone said, a street magician, handing Rikuido a rose and winking at him flirtatiously. Rikuido stiffened; there was one thing he could not stand above all else and that was being called a lady. He smiled frostily at the magician and dropped the rose to the floor, crushing it beneath steel capped boots before starting to walk away. Normal people would have taken the hint by now but this man was either very stupid or suicidal.
          ‘Wait, I have more tricks!’ He called after Rikuido, ‘Ma’am, pick a card?’
          ‘More tricks?’ Rikuido echoed, ‘Like what? Roll over, perhaps? How about play dead?’ he asked, looking over his shoulder at the magician and cocking a gun at him casually as he turned around. ‘I pick… Ace of Hearts.’ He said, firing the gun.

          ‘Rikuido! What did you do that for?’ Meir cried, looking down at the man who was lying crumpled on the floor now.
          ‘Wow, they always say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, guess they were wrong. He can play dead after all.’ Rikuido replied, moving over to him to nudge him with his toe. ‘Can’t roll over though…’
          ‘Did you kill him?’ Meir asked, tears filling his eyes as a crowd gathered round them.
          ‘No.’ Rikuido muttered under his breath, kicking the guy sharply again just below the ribs and watching his eyes flutter open. ‘Nasty fall you had there, mate.’ He said, ‘You passed right out on…’ The guy, having looked up and focussed on Rikuido, passed out for the second time. ‘Well, there’s gratitude for you.’ Rikuido muttered, shooing the crowd back to give the magician room to breathe. ‘I get the feeling he doesn’t like me too much…’ he murmured to no one in particular as he watched someone put the magician in the recovery position and another go to phone an ambulance.
          ‘Well.’ He said after a few more moments, stretching with a yawn. ‘I think I’ll be off now.’ No one stopped him as he walked away, sirens wailing in the distance. All in all it was a very interesting start to this adventure. It was a pity how weak some people were though. ‘I wasn’t going to kill him. I wasn’t even aiming for him. Well, not anywhere vital at least… Still, it was no reason to pass out on me.’ And this was meant to be the force of good and light.
          ‘You are a very scary looking person.’ Meir replied.
          ‘I’m a teddy at heart.’ Rikuido protested.
          ‘You are?’ Meir failed to keep surprise from his voice.
          ‘Do teddy bears generally carry guns and go about shooting people?’ Rikuido asked.
          ‘No, not generally…’
          ‘Okay, I’m not a teddy bear.’ Rikuido conceded with a shrug. ‘Onwards, shall we? I’m just itching for some action, kid.’
          ‘I am coming, wait up, Rikuido!’ Meir called, running after the other’s long strides.
          ‘You have bloody wings, kid. Or are they just fancy fans in case you get too hot?’ Rikuido called back with exasperation. ‘Bloody kid.’ It was almost affectionate. Almost.