Aíne entered Sanctuary and watch the two young summoners train. Aisling was having a sparing match with Brant while Aiba was learning how to fight with a spear. They are becoming stronger…but will they be strong enough when the time comes? She sighed and left Sanctuary. She stepped out of the dimension and into a vortex.
The vortex was also known as the Nexus between Heaven and Earth. It was a large swirling tunnel almost like a black hole with a bright light at the end. This place was what humans called ‘the dark tunnel with the light at the end.’ Only angels and spirits that were successfully passed on could go through the vortex with ease. However if a demon or something dark and demonic try to enter they would be torn to shreds and scatter into nothingness.
The red head angel flew across the vortex and was bathed in light. Then she entered into Heaven.
The sky was breathtaking beautiful, midnight blue with shiny stars scattered everywhere. There were not only stars but moons and planets that slowly and gracefully dance above the angels and good spirits. Aíne gently landed on the stone steps and that led to a gigantic temple that looked like it belonged from the ancient Greek era. She folded her wings and they disappeared. She walked up the grand stair case, passing angels and spirits. They would stop and say hello or bow to her and she would return the gesture.
“Aíne!”
The red haired angel stopped when she heard someone call her name. She turned her head and saw a girl running up the stairs towards Aíne. “Hello Mei Rin,” Aíne said smiling down at the girl.
“Did you talk to my brother? Did you give him my message?” The girl asked Aíne eagerly.
“I did,” Aíne said inclining her head. “He was very surprised to hear from you and then he told me to that he says hello as well.” She smiled at the happy look on the young girl’s face.
“Thank you I’m so glad,” Mei Rin said smiling.
Aíne nodded and looked up at the building ahead of her. “I have to go. It was nice seeing you again Mei Rin.” She turned and walked up the steps.
She entered a hall way and walked down until she stop in front of large double door. She pushed the doors opened and entered a very bright room, lights of different shades of colors shine down from high above. The room was large and round and it appeared that it didn’t have a ceiling. There were over twelve pillars that soared up above like sky scrapers. Aíne walked to the center of the room and knelt down on one knee and bow her head.
“Welcome Aíne,” a voice said warmly, it echoed on the walls. Usually the Seraphim Choir would speak in unison but each one is known to speak on their own. The Choir is the oldest of the all the angels and they always been in Heaven they never step out of its boundaries and some say the must never leave Heaven for some catastrophic reason.
Aíne raised her head and looked up at the towering pillars, “Masters of the Seraphim Choir I come to you to ask to form an alliance with the humans…”
The room grew silent only the distant sound of many voices singing a hymn could be heard.
“You mean the shamans?” The voices above inquire simultaneously.
“Yes,” Aine said standing up straight and gazed up till she saw the ceiling that was open and showed a starry sky. “We must end this war as soon as possible. Uniting together is the right choice of action.”
“We all want an end to this war,” one voice said.
“Before lives are destroyed,” murmured one voice.
“And sacrificed,” sighed another voice.
“But we still remember what the shamans have done,” another voice said sternly. “They did such a terrible thing. To twist one’s soul is…unthinkable.”
Other voices murmured in agreement.
Aíne sighed and spread her arms out to show her plea. “We must forgive and forget. We can win this war divided. The war against the demons is upon us now and they are gathering the Unknowns as we speak.”
“Ah yes the Unknowns…”
“We know about the Unknowns that are hidden in the home of your human family,”
Aíne tensed and waited for them to finish before she would try to beseech them.
“Interesting that they have so many,” Committed a voice.
“Indeed, it shouldn’t be impossible that they would have so many considering the state of their powers and that there are so few Summoners.”
“What do you mean?” Aíne said confused.
“They rarely use their powers…”
“After that calamity Merrick caused…”
Aíne stared up at the pillars and her eyes narrowed. “I don’t understand…”
“After that incident with the dark Earth Spirit the summoner Merrick tried to capture. The two summoners Richard and Molly Alvey used their powers to reseal the spirit however they did not know of the dark curse that was placed on the tomb from which the Earth Spirit was original imprison in. The curse was met to affect the one that had attempted to release the spirit, however it was not Merrick but the child Aisling. Richard and Molly realized this and in order to save their child, they struggle to destroy the curse but ended up being cursed instead.”
“What?!” Aíne shouted; her voice echoed in the chamber.
“The curse strongly affected their powers,” the voice that had spoken first said solemnly. “So if they summon their spirit partners it would greatly affect their life force. Each time they used their powers it would weaken them until they finally are unable to defend themselves.”
The voices faded away and silence returned. Aíne felt her nails dig into her palm sharply but the pain didn’t faze her. She shook her head and mumbled. “I never knew…they didn’t tell me…how did I not see this?”
“The curse is impossible to detect,”
“Not even the strongest Empath would know,”
“The only way for one to find out is after witnessing them using their powers.”
Aíne sighed and rubbed her temples, “I see…what you are telling me is that they couldn’t have anything to do with the Unknowns.” If it wasn’t Molly or Richard then who was it?
“We will discuss this later,” the voices of the Seraphim choir said together. “Let us discuss more of this alliance with the shamans.”
Aíne nodded, “Yes a shaman gave me this,” She pulled out the Unknown card and held it up for them to see. “As a symbol to form an alliance.”
The Seraphim Choir did not speak at first but then the sound of laughter rang around the room and echoed off the walls.
“What?” Aíne said her voice almost sounded demanding.
After the laughter died the voices spoke again, “We realize only one of them wishes to make an alliance.”
“How did…”
“We have sent Messengers across the world to keep taps.” A voice explained.
“However someone or something is killing them off.”
Aíne stared. She didn’t know about that but she didn’t have time to dwell on it. “My lords what about…?”
“We accept the young one’s proposal,” The Seraphim chorus.
“It would be fortunate if more would agree to the alliance.”
The voices above the pillars sighed.
Aíne was amazed that they agreed, she feared they wouldn’t allow it because of the creation of the Vessels.
“We gladly accept the Unknown card,” the blank card lifted from Aíne’s hand and floated up towards the top of the pillars. “As for the other Unknowns we must take them in our custody. Although it’s in one of the safest place from demons hands, it is still to risky to leave them on Earth.”
“I understand,” Aíne bowed and left the chamber.
She walked out into a hall way that looked out into a large garden. She stared up at the cosmos and sighed.
“Hello Aíne,”
The arch angel Michael was leaning his back against a column with his hands deep in his pockets. His calm and peaceful eyes watched the starry skies.
“Michael,” Aíne said blinking in surprise. “What brings you here?”
“I have to report directly to the Choir,” Michael said with a sigh. “We can’t rely on the Messengers.”
“The demon lords are obviously the ones killing them,” Aíne said darkly.
“Yes them and I’m afraid something else,” the white blond haired angel murmured quietly. He turned his head and smiled lightly at Aíne. “So the shamans are forming an alliance with us eh? That’s very good.”
“Only one it seems.”
“Yes only one but in do time others will realize that we must put the past behind us and fight for the future,” Michael said walking past Aíne and entered the Choir’s chamber.
