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The Council of Punishment is comprised of repentant sinners, Thaddeus, Tanith, and Terah, who have been burning cities and towns in a quest to purge the Columbian Union of the demonic and their cultists. Guided by their guardian angels, they arrive in Detlef, where they confront the Dominion. Initially aiming to hold them accountable for their extremism, the Dominion discovers a surprising ally in the Council, realizing they share a common enemy.

Scourge of Angels: Chapter 4 – A Final Choice of Destination

Chapter 4 – A Final Choice of Destination

Back in the usual high-rise bar restaurant, Thaddeus, Tanith, and I are waiting for the next instructions from our guardian angels. Thaddeus is drinking again, and Tanith is bugging him about it. The two bicker like a couple, which is amusing to watch. Nevertheless, I have to keep my mind on my prayers.

“This is getting you nowhere,” I hear the temptations say.

“You’ll get no glory from this. No power.”

“You’re nothing more than second in command to Thaddeus. He’s still a drunken, horny idiot.”

“He’s not like you, a virtuous, redeemed man.”

“You know better than he does and what must be done.”

Guardian angel?

“I’m here, and trying to sweep up this trash as fast as I can, boss,” my guardian angel jokingly says.

They’ve been bothering me ever since we entered the city, and haven’t stopped, despite all the burning we’ve done.

“The demons have always been like unkillable cockroaches ever since they fell from grace. If only I could spray the world in demon repellent so they’d leave it alone.”

Mind if I ask again if we’re done in this city, yet?

“Sorry, but that’s above my pay grade. I can only tell you what I’ve been told from up above, and they only answer when it’s the right time, so there’s no need to keep asking.”

I know, but I feel like I have to, if not for my sake, but for Thaddeus and Tanith, who both fell to their demons.

“They’ll be fine. If you want a heads up, I can tell you that you’re going to be tested next.”

I already am being tested.

“Not in the way you’re already being tested, smarty. In a different way.”

The silence between Thaddeus and Tanith makes me stop praying and turn to see what made them stop.

“Did you hear that on the TVs? We’re going to get a personal visit from John Elio and L’Obscurité,” Thaddeus says.

“Is that a good or bad thing?” Tanith asks.

“Good, or at least I think it should be. We managed to work together with the Castigators and Compassionate, so I don’t see why we shouldn’t get along with the two men they answer to. Maybe I’ll even get their autographs.”

“They aren’t here to help in the way you think,” my guardian angel says.

I relay what my guardian angel says to Thaddeus and Tanith.

“Huh. Mine is telling me we should finish the fight against the demonic before they arrive. I wonder why,” Thaddeus says.

“Maybe they didn’t hear what their sidekicks said about us on their way here,” Tanith suggests.

“It won’t take those heroes long to get here. I’ll cause a scene here, while you and Tanith finish off the last of the cultists,” I say.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m already a dead man walking, so there’s nothing they can do that I haven’t experienced. I’ll be fine.”

“Okay. Be careful, Terah.”

I nod my head. Thaddeus and Tanith transform and fly away. Transforming myself, I start up a green lightning storm around me and blow up different buildings. Ten or so minutes pass before I sense a presence behind me, and sure enough, it’s John Elio and L’Obscurité. John Elio looks as friendly as always with a red deacon’s shirt, gold cape, blue jeans, and brown boots. His smile is as bright as his blue eyes and blonde hair. Oppositely, L’Obscurité is cloaked in a large black jacket, scarf, and a large hat. His face is barely describable aside from a hole in the center of his forehead, black eyes, and a toothy grin.

“Bishop Terah,” John Elio says. “It’s an honor to finally meet you.”

“Deacon John. The honor is more mine than yours. The same goes to you, L’Obscurité,” I say.

“Thank you,” L’Obscurité says in his dark voice.

“Have you heard from subsidiaries that we’re all fighting on the same side?”

“We have, but it doesn’t look like we are from the looks of Detlef,” L’Obscurité says. “It burns in your supernatural fire, and many of its people from all walks of life are dead.”

“As you’ve heard, we’re merely doing what our guardian angels are telling us to do. Despite what it looks like, the situation is under control.”

“Where are your allies?”

“Finishing the rest of the rabble as we speak.”

Below me, I see dark hands reaching out and demons with my face appearing from the floors and the ceiling. The temptations are getting louder.

“They’re more powerful than you’ll ever be.”

“God has given them what they need to take over the world in His name. You won’t be given the same honor.”

“They’ll be in control of everything.”

“You will control nothing.”

“Your life is in their hands.”

“Nothing you’ve done and will ever do will be as impactful as what they will accomplish.”

“Cease,” L’Obscurité says.

An explosion of bright darkness comes from L’Obscurité that scares away the demons.

“Pfft. Show off,” my guardian angel comments.

“With them gone, we can speak in peace,” L’Obscurité continues. “Your methods are extreme, but if what you’re saying is true, then we can’t complain about them.”

“I was about to say the same thing, especially after what you, John, and the Dominion did to the foreign country of Nexum,” I say.

“It’s actually part of why I have to thank you, and that is why we are extending an offer to you. We want you to be part of the Dominion. We need people for extreme situations.”

“You do?”

“Since there were so many cities in our own country under the control of demons, it’s made John, and I realize the work that needs to be done here.”

“You should already know we have a history of recruiting reformed criminals and villains into our ranks. Why shouldn’t we do the same for a group of extremist vigilantes?” John Elio adds.

“That can’t be all to the offer.

L’Obscurité says, “You’re right. You can’t just destroy four cities without consequence, guardian angel influenced or not. The world needs to see that you get justice for your actions and that you will be under our control. Once your time in our prison is done, you will be free to do as you want.”

Before I can answer, my temptations quickly come back. They say, “This is it.”

“You’ll forever lose control of your life.”

“Use your backup.”

“Take the road you choose, that you want to take.”

“You’ll miss a lot in jail. They won’t ask for your help or advice. You’ll be powerless like you’ve always feared.”

I transform into my normal self so my powers won’t be the tool of my demons.

I bow and say, “I accept.”

Bringing my head back up, I see that L’Obscurité is transforming. Once he finishes, he reveals himself as Timeo Severe, a man with dark eyes and hair, always dressed to impress in one of his expensive suits.

Timeo extends his hand toward me and says, “It’s a deal then. We’re glad that we agreed.”

“I’d shake your hand, but I don’t have arms.”

John shakes one of the loose sleeves I have and says, “Nevertheless, I’m glad that we’ll get to work together.”

“You’ll do a lot more under the Dominion than as an independent. Your prison sentence will go by quicker than you think. Since you know so much about how political, corporate, and criminal business works, we’ll call or visit you for advice,” Timeo adds.

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Thaddeus and Tanith fly in and ask what is going on, and I tell them about our new employers, the terms, and the possibility of our future work.

Looking at Timeo and John, Thaddeus says, “I guess we don’t really have a better choice.”

“The streets of Detlef are clean of demonic and cultist activity, so our job here is done, and I’d rather not live on the run. Will prison at least be comfortable and have good food?” Tanith asks.

“Yes, they will be,” Timeo says.

“Will it have parties?” Thaddeus asks.

“No, not at all. Best I can do is have them bring you a birthday cake on your birthday,” John says.

“Ah. That’s a bit of a dealbreaker, but if Terah thinks it’s a good idea, then I have to agree with him.”

The sound of people running catches our attention just as crowds of people brimming with green electricity leap out of the doors to attack us.

As we transform and defend ourselves with John and Timeo, Thaddeus asks, “Are these people under your control?”

“No! I thought I let go of control of them after I transformed back to normal,” I say.

Truthfully, they were under my control even when I wasn’t transformed, and were a possibly sinful backup plan to use against the Dominion, but that doesn’t matter anymore. I’m assuming the demons took control of them after I let go. John Elio and Timeo Severe fly between the crowds like a blur, knocking everyone out, while we were barely able to knock out a few.

“How many more are in this tower?” Timeo asks in his dark hero voice.

“This place is full of them. We’ll help you take care of them,” I say.

“There’s no need. We got this,” John says with a smile.

Before we can argue or attempt to help, John and Timeo are off. We try to follow them and help, but every floor is already filled with unconscious people, and by the time we fly down to the bottom, it seems like everyone that was under the control of the demons is out cold. These two men are truly the world’s most powerful heroes. With that loose end taken care of, we let ourselves fall into Dominion custody. Due to our “crimes,” we aren’t given a trial, and taken straight to a Dominion rehabilitation facility, with the press only being given a video of us being taken in and a picture of us in our cells to show that we were taken to prison. I’m thankful that we were spared the humiliation of a one-sided trial and the drama that came with it.

On the same day that we are imprisoned, we were given white prison jumpsuits and later told that our sentence would be ten years, with us being able to get out after five if we do “community” service for the Dominion by acting as their heroes, which are acceptable terms in my mind. I’m only allowed to see Thaddeus and Tanith when the prisoners are allowed to eat breakfast, dinner, and during recreation. Besides that, I’m by myself in my cell with my prayers, my guardian angel, and whatever books they have on hand for me to read.

During breakfast one day, Thaddeus, Tanith, and I met together at a table. Thaddeus says, “So, how’s prison treating you two?”

“It reminds me of how the penitent priests and nuns who live in isolation,” I say.

“It’s more peaceful and cleaner than I expected. I’m surprised they allow us to meet like this and live out of isolation like those in the lower levels,” Tanith says.

“That’s because we got on their good side and accepted their offer without fighting them. The only thing I personally dislike about it is that I actually have to relax and not do much. It’s making my nerves tingle.”

“Be at peace for once, Thaddeus,” I say.

“I’ll try. What if our guardian angels want us to leave while we’re here?”

“Given our arrangement, we’ll have to hope we can chalk it up to doing community service, but only if we give them a heads up about it. Otherwise, we’d probably get more years added to our sentence.”

“Great. At least being here is better than being on the run. The food is decent, too.”

“I did hear that the Dominion has better prisons than most nations. It’s why they’ve been able to rehabilitate criminals and villains and make them work for them,” Tanith says.

“Whatever the case is, if we get out of prison in ten years or twenty, I don’t regret a thing we did. Heck, we get to be heroes for the Dominion while we’re here. I’m sure we can buy a sweet hideout once we do enough jobs for them,” Thaddeus says.

“Yeah, and they do have priests on standby to help us with our spiritual problems as well. Even though it’s not the best, I think we’re in the best possible place we can be right now,” Tanith adds.

I agree with my friends and say, “The Council of Punishment will be dormant for now, but when we’re back, we’ll be better than ever.”

Thaddeus and Tanith cheerily agree, and I can’t help but laugh. Who would think that a man who was obsessed with power like me would be at peace in prison and a soldier for someone else’s group? I sure didn’t, so I thank God for humbling me and bringing me to a better place that I never thought I’d want to be in, with people who I now consider close friends, who I wouldn’t have associated with weeks ago.

The End

Scourge of Angels: Chapter 3 – A Nagging Desire

Chapter 3 – A Nagging Desire

Thaddeus, Terah, and I sit in the same high-rise restaurant bar we were in before. Ever since we came to a mutual understanding with the Castigators, we took out a few more cultist hideouts, and somehow, I don’t feel like we’re done yet. Our guardian angels have told us not to go anywhere yet, and we still feel the lingering influence of demons, especially me. The demon that wears my face always catches up to me, and is either in my face or hiding at the edges of my vision before disappearing. Unlike before, the demon’s skin is slowly falling apart like a rotting corpse, with parts of its resemblance to me fading away, piece by piece, after every victory against it.

Right now, the demon floats behind me, staring dead at me with its rotten face. The times that I’m most nervous about it are not when it’s tempting me, but when it’s silent like it is now. I know it’s plotting something sinister, but my guardian angel won’t do anything until it acts.

“Don’t let it cause you to worry, Tanith. I’ll always be here, ready to help you before you ask for it,” my guardian angel says.

I know, and thank you. Trying my best to ignore the demon, I go to the back of the bar, think about grabbing myself a beer, and grab a soda instead. It’s then that I notice the multiple beer bottles around Thaddeus, who is watching the still-operating TVs.

“Should you really be drinking that much, Thaddeus?” I ask.

“I don’t see why not. It’s only a sin if you knowingly drink too much and get yourself sick. That’s what my guardian angel told me. Besides, you should remember who you’re talking to. I’m the man who got the furthest in the one-hundred-drinks-in-a-day challenge. My liver is made out of titanium.”

“I remember hearing you getting sick and having to go to the hospital the same day, and having to spend a week in it because of the challenge.”

“I still did the best out of every normal human who attempted the challenge. The superhumans who attempted it don’t compare since they’re part of a different ranking.”

“Whatever. Have you heard from your guardian angel yet for new instructions?”

“For the tenth time, no, and I’ll let you know when I hear something. Relax.”

“I’m just concerned that the Dominion will send more of their heroes after us.”

“We came to an understanding with the Castigators. What could be worse than facing them? It’s not like the big two heroes, John Elio, and L’Obscurité, will personally come after small fry like us.”

“You never know if they will or not. It’s why I’ve been in prayer so we can leave here as quickly as possible,” Terah says.

“You should relax, too, Terah. Look at the TVs. The Compassionate are heading here next, and they’re the most reasonable and merciful out of every subsidiary in the Dominion. They even have Raziel Emundato, who also gets his powers from his guardian angel.”

“Raziel also burned the entire city of Meridian in supernatural fire and went on a one-man crusade after his wife was raped,” I say.

“So? It’s just another thing we have in common. They should be here in a few hours. Thanks to the Castigators, we should be on friendly terms with them.”

“That’s assuming things go smoothly and the demons don’t get involved,” Terah says. “If they possessed you to fight Kane, then they could make us all fight one another.”

“Keep praying and hoping for the best, then, bishop.”

The three of us relax as best we can, waiting for the arrival of the Compassionate or new instructions from our guardian angels. Thaddeus is asleep at the counter of the bar, while Terah goes back and forth between praying and watching the news.

“It’s time to move, Tanith. Go wake up Thaddeus. His guardian angel is unable to get him up and doesn’t want to start a fire to do so,” my guardian angel says.

At this point, I’d laugh if his ass was burned to wake him up, but I do as my guardian angel says. I knock Thaddeus off the barstool to wake him up, and that’s when he finally hears the words of his guardian angel, and we fly away to our next destination. We go to an island between the two cities that comprise Detlef, which is its own miniature town with small houses and businesses. It’s a ghost town, with no one around, people disappearing behind corners, and doors closing. A group of four, familiar-looking people comes around the corner, the Compassionate. Of course, we’d be led directly to them, just like how we were led to the Castigators.

Leading the four is Polina Emundatio, a red-haired woman with red eyes wearing dark blue armor, armed with two shields on her arms, a pistol, and a sheathed sword. Next to her is her husband, Raziel Emundatio, who has blonde hair and red, orange, and yellow eyes, similar to Thaddeus’s. He’s dressed like a modern knight in crimson, orange, and golden armor. Behind them is Zahara, a woman with a sniper for a left arm, who has pink eyes, wears a pink and black bodysuit, and has hair like mine, except hers is pink and black. Next to Zahara is Penelope, who has one purple eye, a spiral for a left eye, blonde and purple hair, and wears a purple dress.

“Council of Punishment. We heard a lot about you from the news and our friends, the Castigators. Apparently, we’re all on the same side?” Polina asks.

Thaddeus steps forward in his normal form and says, “Yes. We’re all fighting against the demonic. I know your methods are merciful, but we can’t afford to be with most of these foes. Few will repent, and most are unrepentant, so we need you to be less restrained. I’m sure you understand since you’ve all faced similar cultists before.”

“Yes, we’ve faced the demonic before, but we’ve also managed to bring back souls from the brink of Hell. If you want to work together, you have to do as we say, preferring mercy first, and then using unrelenting justice if the need arises,” Polina says.

“Are you sure about that, Polina? These people are guided by their guardian angels,” Penelope says.

“If they’re being given the freedom to go all out on the demonic, then I don’t see why we shouldn’t,” Zahara says.

“Hey, when did you flip to their side? You’re supposed to be on mine.”

“They’re right, Polina,” Raziel says. “My guardian angel says we should follow their lead. Their powers work similarly to mine, in that they’ll spare those that deserve it and kill those that repent.”

Polina stares at each of us, and I feel a tether connecting her to me when she looks at me. I can feel her digging around in my head, bringing up my memories, those that I’m ashamed of, such as my descent into degeneracy and giving up my parents to human traffickers, and the few that I’m proud of, like my repentance and overcoming my demon and addiction.

“Tch. Fine,” Polina decides. Thaddeus looks up and appears to be thinking. “What? Did your guardian angel tell you something?”

“Yes, and you’re not going to like it.”

“Well, what is it?”

“Our targets are all around us, masquerading as normal, poor, and lower-class people. Most, if not everything, on this small island has to be leveled, even the churches, that they use as fronts for their forbidden rituals.”

Raziel turns his head upwards and says the same thing as Thaddeus. With her husband backing us up, Polina has no choice but to follow our lead on this, but to ensure that we’re being as merciful as possible, she splits us up into groups so that a member of the Compassionate is with one of us as we work. Terah is paired up with Zahara and Penelope, Thaddeus is with Raziel, and I’m with Polina. We spread out so that every inch of the island can be cleared and to ensure that none of the cultists escape. My guardian angel points the way to our targets, and we begin clearing out the seemingly normal houses and businesses.

Entering the building, we’re immediately attacked by people with axes, guns, and knives. With my right spear arm, I stab the cultists through the chest, head, or neck, and with my right arm, I burn and freeze them with my freezing blue flames. Behind me, Polina uses her sword, arm shields, and pistol to defend herself. She also uses her powers to stun people by entering their minds, and she even manages to make some of them fight against us.

When the fight is over, Polina says, “See? These people’s minds and hearts can be changed.”

“Don’t hope for it to happen with most of them,” I say.

“You were far gone before, weren’t you, Tanith? You’ve even worked with people like these.”

“I have, so I know the difference between those who choose to be too far gone and those who will take a second chance.”

Continuing and clearing other buildings, houses, and churches, Polina tries to save as many people as possible. Sometimes she saves a few. Sometimes none are saved at all. The cultists stop hiding after we clear a few places out, and they start exiting their hiding places, some escaping, and others swarming us. In the chaos, a few of the people Polina converted are killed, even as she tries to defend them. Seeing that she needs help, I pitch in to help. In the crowd of attackers, the demon with my face glides among them, getting closer and closer until it gets in my face. Before I or it can say anything, my guardian angel tackles it, and both of them disappear in the chaos.

I turn up my flames into overdrive, turning most of everything and everyone into ice. Polina and the few converts around me are fine and finally safe. A few of the frozen people start to crack and break into pieces on their own, until their bodies are all broken up.

“Are you okay?” I ask

Polina’s converts say they are. She says, “Yes. Thanks for your help.”

Leaning out from behind Polina, the demon with my face smiles as everything becomes black. Polina and I are the only ones in this void that feels like a furnace that makes my nerves tingle.

“You’re finally alone in a private place. Now’s the time to take advantage of her, while she’s unable to move,” the demon says.

“No…I won’t,” I say as I burn my arm with my blue flames.

This puts my mind back into reality where I was.

“Why are you burning yourself?” Polina asks.

“Don’t worry about it. Let’s just get this done as fast as possible.”

Walking over to a false church, I find myself back in the void; this time, I’m here with the converts.

“Pick your pleasure. Man, woman, adult, teenager,” the demon says.

“Stop it!” I say as I burn myself. Again, Polina asks me what’s wrong and starts digging into my head to understand me. “Get out of my head! It’s the demon with my face that’s been bothering me. When we’re on the right track, they do their best to make me give in to my old desires. We can only fix this by finishing up here.”

“Right. I’ll pray for you to have the strength to bear your burden.”

Walking into the church, we find it empty. Presumably, the cultists and the place of their rituals are downstairs, so we head down there, only for the void to consume us as we go down the bloodstained stairs. I’m back into my normal form, and Polina is the only one with me, frozen in place.

The demon annoying flies around us and says, “Take her for yourself. She’s your type. Innocent, sweet, and just like your other crush, Thaddeus, she truly cares for you. She’s also been the victim of abuse, like you were. Oh, that distinct taste of a fiery, broken soul is delicious to taste. Don’t you miss it? I know you do.”

Shut up…I pray on my knees for help and look away from Polina, but the demon forces me to look at her, and makes me imagine her with her clothes off and what happened to her. It reminds me of memories I’ve wanted to forget about ritualistic sex that tied demons to people and corrupted the souls of the innocent, some of which I took part in as both the victim and the abuser. The feeling in my veins, the sensation of which feels like mini-arms reaching to Polina, becomes too hard to resist. My mind feels as if it’s being squeezed in a vice, until it feels as if it pops and I lose control. I take off my clothes and pounce on Polina, who finally starts moving. That’s good. I like it when they resist.

“What’s wrong with you, Tanith?! What are you doing?!” she asks as I try licking and kissing her face.

“I’m letting loose! I’m done keeping the love that I have for everyone in! When I’m done with you, I’m going to have my way with your converts, Thaddeus, Terah, and your other friends as well,” I say with drool coming out of my mouth.

“This isn’t you! You have to fight it!”

“Is it? You don’t know me!”

I feel Polina’s mental connection enter my mind and search through my memories. Something else within it tries to prevent her from doing anything, but she manages to find whatever she’s looking for.

“Your parents raised you to be better and knew you were born for bigger things. Remember that they loved you even when you failed and the horrible things you put them through!”

“Shut up! This is who I chose to be because life was too difficult, and I didn’t want to suffer through it! All I wanted was to live happily and in never-ending pleasure! Here I am falling into old habits. It proves that I haven’t changed one bit!”

“You have changed! I know you’ve been resisting the demon with your face ever since you started fighting back, and that it hasn’t been easy ever since, but you’ve overcome it before. You can do it again!”

“Don’t ignore my main concern! All I want to do is feel good and be happy! The connection between us goes both ways, you know? I know that as mayor of Meridian and a mother, you constantly feel stressed out and desperately want a break to feel good and at peace for once. It’s why you gave in when you were kidnapped and raped. I can make you feel that way all over again, if you just give in.”

“The goal of life isn’t to feel good or be happy, and you know that! It’s given you nothing but misery and the endless desire for more! Take back control of your life. Come on! I know you can do it, Tanith!”

My left arm transforms to have the blue flame coming out of it, its icy touch, bringing me back to my senses and presenting me with two paths. On one road, I see the demon with my face, and on the other, I see my guardian angel. Uncontrollably, I walk towards the roads, both of which are pulling me towards them. The force of their pulling feels as if I’ll be split in two if I don’t choose either one. With what little strength I have, I chose my guardian angel.

“You did it, like I knew you would,” my guardian angel says.

Let’s finish this then. Together with my guardian angel, we use our blue flames to blow up the area around us. With the veil of darkness lifted, I see that Polina and I are in the basement of the church with the repents behind us, unaware of what just happened. The basement of the church is both frozen with ice and burning with blue flames. Around us are the dead and dying naked cultists, who were in the middle of a perverted ritual involving sex and using statues of Jesus, Mary, and the saints as sex objects. The scene fills me with rage that I know not to indulge. It’s already over, and these people are getting what they deserve, so I leave them to both freeze and burn.

“I’m glad you came back to your senses, Tanith. You’re stronger than you think. Hey, you have your clothes back on,” Polina says.

“That’s a perk of my powers, and thank you for helping me come back to my right state of mind. I’m sorry for what I tried to do,” I say.

“I forgive you.”

The repentants are confused by what we’re talking about. Polina and I tell them not to worry about it as we leave the church. With our end of the island done, we head outside of the church and find that it’s snowing outside. The effects of my powers have apparently spread throughout the rest of the island, as parts of it have large ice spears coming out of and the snowflakes cause areas to burn in pillars of blue flames. Regrouping with everyone else, they tell us that the island is secure, and every cultist has been brought to justice, with few repenting as expected, but the task was unexpectedly made easier thanks to me.

“It’s thanks to my guardian angel and Polina. I didn’t do much,” I say.

“It takes real strength and courage to repent under pressure as you did,” Polina says.

Everyone compliments me, and all I can do is look down, blush in embarrassment, and thank them for their kind words. I guess everyone knows I could have overcome my temptations better than I did. Fearing failure is why I fell into sin and the chains of pleasure, so I won’t think about it anymore. Instead, I’ll think about victory, relying on the strength I already have, and always seeking the help of my friends, especially my guardian angel, and that failure is never the end.

Scourge of Angels: Chapter 2 – Two Kinds of Extreme

Chapter 2 – Two Kinds of Extreme

After hours of fighting and slaughters, my friends and I sit at the table of a high-rise restaurant as if nothing happened and we were still enjoying our day together. Our guardian angels haven’t told us to do anything new, nor have they told us we should leave the city yet. Stopping by the bar, I crack open a beer and watch the news as the report on what’s happening at Detlef, that we’re here, and that the Dominion is sending the Castigators after us. Ah, shit.

“This is it. You’ve outlived your purpose, and the Castigators be here,” the demons in my head say. “There is no escaping them now. Your sentence will be death, and your judgment will be Hell.”

“Maybe if we show the Castigators that there are still demons here, we can put our differences aside to fight a common enemy,” I suggest.

“I can try to take control of them with my green lightning so they can stay in place while we explain and show them why we’re right in what we’re doing,” Terah says.

“Are you both serious? This is the Castigators we’re talking about. As soon as they know who their enemy is, they shoot first and ask questions later,” Tanith says.

“What do you think we should do then? Just continue doing our business while trying to ignore or evade them?” I ask.

“I don’t know what we should do.”

“We can’t afford not to know what we should do at this point. We have to decide now,” Terah says.

“Let’s go with both my and Terah’s plan, and leave the rest to God. There’s nothing else we can do.”

Tanith and Terah agree. My guardian angel finally tells me where we should go, but when we fly to the location, we find ourselves face to face with the Castigators. Why?

“You’ll need their help in facing your common enemy. Wasn’t this part of your plan?” my guardian angel says.

I was planning to explain everything when we were fighting the demons and the cultists, not to confront them directly! The leader of the Castigators, Kane Mundr, steps off his bike with his wife and friend behind him. He’s dressed like a gunslinger with his crimson and black hoodie, snake on his white shirt in the shape of a chi rho, black cargo pants, and black boots. He smiles at us with his light blue and red eyes, which know the divine judgment of God and whether or not we deserve to live or die.

Walking to us, he says, “I’m glad you came to us, Council of Punishment. Have you grown a conscious and are you willing to surrender peacefully?”

I look to Kane’s left and see his friend Zandro, who is dressed in a simple hoodie and clothes that are colored half white and half black. On his right, I see Kane’s wife, Idelle Mundr, who is the sister of the legendary hero, John Elio. She’s wearing golden armor with a crimson bodysuit, has white and black eyes, black and blonde hair, and a white snake and black snake on her back. Both of them closely watch us, waiting for my response.

“Actually, I’d like to talk,” I say as I return to my normal form.

“Ha! About what? There’s nothing you could say that would save you from a jail cell or me gunning you down where you stand.”

“We have a common enemy, Kane. The demons and the cultists we’re after are in Detlef, and we’ve been killing and punishing them all day. This is what all this destruction is about.”

“Really? Because all I see is the death and destruction of everyone in this city, from a normal civilian to the homeless, to random businessmen and politicians, cops, and superhuman law enforcement. You people have a history of indiscriminately killing people everywhere you go.”

“If you looked deeper into it, you’d know most of those people were satanists and cultists.”

“I know many in Exquista Caro were and in Jewel, but Adamas, not so much, even though I appreciated you killing some really corrupt businessmen and politicians.”

“That’s all we do. We kill the corrupt and spare the few, who our guardian angels’ powers keep alive.”

“That’s the source of your power and true motive for this destruction? Guardian angels? You sure they aren’t devils? What am I saying? A man like you wouldn’t know the difference.”

“I do know the difference now that my guardian angel opened my eyes. All three of us do thanks to them!”

“I wouldn’t expect you to know the difference between a man and a woman, given your tastes.”

“I don’t need you bringing that up when my demons never stop talking about it. Please, Kane. We don’t need to fight.”

“Hmm. Let’s see what God thinks.” Kane manifests both his revolver and pistol. “Huh. I thought the result would be different. This is one of those rare times that both guns are out for my targets. Life or death. It’ll be your choice. Let’s see which you pick. I’m done talking.”

Kane raises his pistols, and his wife and friend bolt towards us as he starts shooting at us. I transform and fly between his bullets as I spray my fire at him with Tanith and Thaddeus, using their ranged attacks at the Castigators as they charge ahead with me. With my sword arms, I mean to disarm Kane, but his wife gets in the way, blocking my swords. Her snakes hit me with their heads and send me flying into the debris of a building. Oof. Now, I felt that.

Idelle sprints toward me at terrifying speeds and punches through the debris I’ve landed on as I dodge out of the way. She’s truly the sister of a legendary hero. I don’t stand a chance, so I knock the debris around to temporarily bury her in, emphasis on temporary, since it doesn’t slow her down from pursuing me for a second. Terah comes in with the save by surrounding Idelle with his green lightning, trying to strike her with it. Since I’m outmatched, I turn my attention to saving Tanith, who is being attacked by Kane and Zandro.

I shoot fire into the sky to break up the two-on-one fight and tackle Kane through the door of a locked-down sports stadium. Unphased by this, Kane shoots me with both guns, the bullets of which are blocked by fire that is coming out of my body. There are people in the stadium who are fleeing from our fight. Both of us try to take the fight elsewhere to avoid them, but our desire to put each other down keeps us in the area until we eventually find ourselves fighting in a sports bar and strip club within the stadium.

“We’re here. Go through the backstage area and find the basement,” my guardian angel says.

“Like I said before, Kane, we have a common enemy. Let me show you them,” I say.

Kane shoots and follows me as I do, as my guardian angel said. The basement stairs aren’t too hard to find, with Kane and me tearing apart the area with our fight. Going down the stairs with Kane hot on my trail, I find that I’m flying down into an all too familiar dark void that makes me stop. Turning around, I see that Kane is still behind me, but he’s stopped shooting and notices the same thing I have.

“My guardian angel has led us here to deal with the demons. Let’s put our differences aside to fight our true enemy,” I say as I transform back to my normal self.

“I’ll protect my children,” Kane says as he starts pointing his guns at something in the dark.

“Huh?”

“They won’t end up as Polina did, and she’ll never go through what happened to her again. Yes, I’m right to use violence the way I have. It doesn’t matter the kinds of extremists that have risen because of it. and all the lives I’ve taken and chaos I’ve caused. I know I’m right in what I did!”

He must be getting tempted, so I start praying for him and myself. Guardian angel, please protect both of us.

“I’m right behind you,” my guardian angel says.

“Fight them, Kane! This is our common enemy. Do you believe me now?” I say as I approach him.

Kane starts firing wildly into the air. I keep trying to get through to him, but it doesn’t seem like he can hear me. Nevertheless, I have a job to do, so I transform and start burning the area around me. A harsh pressure starts to overcome me as if a hundred people just landed on top of me.

“That man was your last chance at normality, at getting the life you wanted,” the demons say.

What I want is what God wants!

“You don’t believe that with your whole heart yet.”

“You’re still a novice.”

“Did you think you could fight your temptations after only starting to fight us for a few weeks? We have made stronger men sin, who have fought us their entire lives.”

Guardian angel, I need you here!

“Where is he?”

“Did he leave you again?”

“If he were truly helping you, you wouldn’t be tempted like this.”

“You’d have the strength to fight back against us by yourself, and yet, here you are cracking under the pressure.”

Please, my friend, I need you now! My flames are dying down, and my body is returning to its normal form.

“You were brought down here to die.”

“You brought the hero Kane here to die with you, and the world will suffer for it.”

“Your plan failed. You’ll always be an idiot who only thinks about himself.”

Please…please…the pressure is too much. It feels like they’re digging their sharp fingers into my head and every part of my body. Now…now…I don’t see the point in fighting anymore. Turning to Kane, who looks like he’s snapped out of what was bothering him, he points his guns at me, which have turned to revolvers. He’s confused at this sudden change, a distraction that I take advantage of as I charge him and grab his wrists.

“You were right! I don’t know the difference between angels and demons. All I want is to forever taste pleasures and thrills!” I say, unable to control my thoughts and words.

“You’re possessed now, you idiot. I heard you telling me to fight it, so why don’t you take your own advice?” Kane says.

“I don’t want to fight it anymore. It’s not who I am. When I’m done with you, I’ll go after your wife. Back on the exclusive island I was on, they’d cut off the limbs of the sex slaves of all ages so they couldn’t escape. I think I’ll do the same to her. Maybe I’ll even eat her limbs like chicken wings as they did back there.”

“Shut up! Get control of yourself, Thaddeus!”

“That man you were with was kind of cute as well. I know how to dress him up and make him look pretty enough to have fun with all night long!”

Kane headbutts me, knocking me away. He lights me with his revolvers until I fall unconscious.

“Thaddeus. Thaddeus!” I hear my guardian angel calling out.

Huh? Oh, no. I fell again, didn’t I? My guardian angel is the only person I see in the void around me. I turn away from him, ashamed of what I’ve done.

“You’re not dead yet. You have to get up!”

So I could just fall again? Why should I?

“You still have the opportunity to redeem yourself and make this right. You can do it! You’ve done it before.”

I turn back around to see my guardian angel extending one of his sword arms at me. I…I don’t know if I can even ask for forgiveness.

“Grab my arm. I’ll help you, but you need to meet me halfway.”

The darkness around me feels like a hundred arms holding me back. Still, I find the strength within and reach out to grab my guardian angel’s sword arm. Once I do, an explosion emanates from both of us, lighting up the darkness around us. With everything lit up, I see that not only Kane is here, but Tanith, Terah, Idelle, and Zandro are here as well. How?

“It’s all divine providence,” my guardian angel says.

In addition to my friends and the Castigators, I also have hundreds of people hiding here with the desecrated bodies of children and adults, along with satanic symbols on the walls and floors. My flames are keeping them trapped down here with us, as they panic to find a way out.

“There. Do you see that I’m right now?” I ask.

“Yeah,” Kane says, “I’m surprised that you’re back to your senses so quickly.”

“It’s all thanks to my guardian angel. Now, are you ready to fight our common enemy?”

Kane looks at the people in this basement, and his two revolvers transform into two pistols.

“I’m ready. Time to redeem yourself, degenerate.”

Together, the Castigators and the Council of Punishment burn and slaughter the cultists in this hidden basement. The cultists try to call their demonic masters for help, but with our forces and prayers combined, the demons don’t bother us at all and leave their worshippers to be killed. Once everyone is dead, my friends and I burn and destroy the rest of the stadium, while the Castigators clean up the remaining and fleeing cultists in the other parts of it. With that out of the way, Terah, Tanith, and I go back to the Castigators, who are standing outside the ruins of the stadium. We all turn back to our normal forms and start talking to one another: Terah with Idelle, Tanith with Zandro, and Kane and me.

“Does this make us friends?” I ask.

“Not in the slightest. I just consider you colleagues and believe you now. Actually, if I’m honest, we’re not too different in the ways we serve God, except you’re somehow way more destructive than us. The rest of the Dominion won’t take too kindly to that, so you’d better get out of here, while you still can,” Kane says.

I turn to my guardian angel, who says we still have work to do here, which I relay to Kane.

“Then, I’ll leave you to it and try to convince the Dominion to leave you alone,” Kane says.

“You’ll do that for us?!” I ask.

“No promises, and consider it your only favor I’ll do for you, given your history and what happened in the basement between us.”

“I understand. Thank you, Kane.”

Kane and I shake hands. We all say goodbye to the Castigators as they leave us to our task. Even though I feel exhausted, I also feel a weird sense of renewal, as if my repentance over my sins filled me with a new sense of boldness. Whatever it is, I thank God for His mercy and pray that I never fall again, but also that I always take the second chance when the opportunity arises.

Scourge of Angels: Chapter 1 – One Last Day

Chapter 1 – One Last Day

There’s a strange peace before the storm we’re about to create. My new friends and I sit in a restaurant eating what could be our last meal, talking, joking, and acting as if we’re not about to openly purge this city that my guardian angel led us to. I turn my eyes to my reflection in the nearby window and look into my red, orange, and yellow eyes as I see a man I used to be infatuated by, then completely disgusted with, and now tepidly accepting of. My brown hair has been kept together as well as it can be, and my red shirt, black jacket, black pants, and shoes are as clean as they can be for a man on the run. Tanith looks a bit better.

Her grey skin, grey eyes, and black, long-sleeved shirt, skirt, and thighighs boots are kept well, and there’s not a speck of dirt or blood in her white hair. As for Terah, he always looks like a homeless man with his big dark green jacket, scarf, shirt, baggy pants, and heavy-looking boots, while his green eyes and lack of arms are the only things that make him stand out. We don’t change our appearance much since we’ve been on the run when we started destroying cities and towns where the demons and their cultists reside. In total, we’ve destroyed three cities and a handful of settlements on the way here to Detlef, where my guardian angel says our journey may end.

“Enjoy the peace now while you can, and keep your mind off your task, for now, my friend. It’s all going to end soon,” my guardian angel says.

Each of us sees our guardian angel, while they are invisible to each other and the people around us. My guardian angel is a flaming armored soldier, with a horned hood, three red eyes, two crimson swords for arms, and a cloak made of fire. We all take on the appearance of our guardian angels when we use our powers, which will be soon, but I shouldn’t think about that now. Turning my eyes back to my friends, I see Tanith helping Terah eat his food and drink his coffee.

Terah tilts her head a bit as she asks me, “Is there something wrong, Thaddeus?”

“Nah. I just think this is all weird,” I say.

“You’re just starting to realize that after everything we’ve been through?” Terah asks with a laugh.

“It’s crazy, isn’t it? Weeks ago, all I could think about was the next thrill, the next girl or guy dressed as a girl I’d be with, and what get-rich-quick scam I could get away with. Tanith was obsessed with pleasure, and you were obsessed with power.”

“Those obsessions still bother us. We aren’t over them yet, but I understand what you mean,” Tanith admits. “When I wake up, I still find it hard to believe this isn’t a dream, and that I’m not stuck as a sex toy in Exquista Caro.”

“You would mistake this for a dream?” Terah asks.

“Yes. Living like this is a million times better than always itching for a fix of sex and drugs like I was before.”

Terah sighs and says, “I guess you’re right, and I can relate to you both, now that I think about it. It’s freeing not to always be looking behind my back and worrying about sucking up to powerful people, so I could keep what I had and get more.”

“We’re not going to be free for long. We’ll either die or be locked away in prison forever for what we’ve done and are about to do,” I remind them.

“What did you say before, Thaddeus? As long as we’re doing the right thing, that’s all that matters?” Tanith asks.

“She’s right. Remember and find peace in the fact that we are doing God’s will because at the end of our lives, that will be the only thing we will be judged for,” Terah says.

“Thanks for the reminder. I appreciate it.”

“Say, why don’t we go to church? Spend some time there to obtain some true peace, especially since we’ll be facing a demonic threat soon?”

“That’s a good idea, Terah. Let’s do it, before we get started.”

Going to the nearest Catholic church, we go to it to find it mostly empty. Noticing people lined up at the confessional, Terah and Tanith go up to it, while I stay and pray. Given that I grew up in a for-profit denomination of Christianity, I’m unable to partake in the sacrament. I’m also pretty sure that my baptism was invalid, now that I know what a real baptism should be like from Terah and Tanith, who received all the sacraments. At this rate, I don’t think I’ll be able to receive any of them and will only be baptized through desire.

“Do not worry for your salvation. Continue doing as God wills, and you will have it,” my guardian angel reassures me.

Thank you, my friend. I continue praying, and watch, and am surprised by how long my friends have to wait in line for confession. From what I know, it’s supposed to take only a few minutes for people to confess, but it feels like an hour passes before a person finishes their confession, as if they’re conducting therapy sessions. The smell of strong perfume turns my attention to a woman who walks into the church and kneels by me. She’s dressed with a veil over her face, makeup, long skirt, long-sleeved frilly shirt, and heels, all of which are colored pink and red. I watch her pray with her eyes closed until she opens them and turns her attention to me.

With a smile, she says, “Aren’t you Thaddeus?”

“Huh? Yeah. I am,” I admit in a whisper.

“I’m a big fan of yours. I was surprised to see that you’re a wanted criminal. What are you doing in a place like this?”

“Giving honor to God, before I have to get back to work for Him.”

“Aren’t you afraid someone will report you to the police or Dominion before you do your work?”

“No. This is the life God gave to me, so it’s what I have to accept.”

“That’s what I always liked about you. You’re a fearless man who’s always willing to do what you think is right, no matter the risks.”

“Thank you for the compliment, but…uh…”

The woman moves her face close to mine.

“Can I get one kiss from you before you leave?”

“I…uh…I guess I don’t see the harm in it.”

I move my face close to hers, intending to kiss her on the cheek, only to be surprised when she grabs my face and kisses me on the mouth for a good long while.

“On second thought, you shouldn’t leave here, or at least, shouldn’t leave without me, Thaddeus. I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

“I…”

“Thaddeus, that woman is a man,” my guardian angel says.

The words wake up my head from its infatuation so that I can clearly see the truth about the man. I didn’t notice it before, but now that I see it, based on a better view of the man’s shoulders, hands, and face. I’m also now realizing that the man’s voice was only slightly pitched up, and I wish that I recognized this sooner.

Immediately, I push away from the man and say, “Who are you really?”

“As I said, I’m a fan of yours and would like nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you. I know the kind of person you’re into and dressed this way because I know you’d be attracted to me.”

Knowing that there’s only one way this man could have known to find me here, there’s no doubt in my mind that this is the work of demons. Without a second thought, I pray to activate my powers, transform, and stick one of my crimson swords through the man’s neck.

“Never meet your heroes,” I say before taking the sword out.

Looking over to Tanith and Terah, who just got out of the confessional, I tell them what happened, and they transform as everyone in the church either hides or starts to flee from it.

“I’m both surprised and not surprised at all that this is how the demons start to go after us,” Tanith says.

“I know, and I’m sorry for my failure to resist my temptations,” I say as I cross myself. “May God forgive me.”

“Don’t dwell on your sin now while the enemy is already attacking us. I’m sure God has forgiven you because of the circumstances, so let’s strike back before they can attack us again,” Terah says.

“You’re right. Council of Punishment, let’s get to burning.”

Exiting the church, I follow my guardian angel’s lead, and we fly to our targets’ destination. We fly into high-rise buildings and underground basements to burn and punish everyone in the area, especially where cultist activity is occurring. With my powers, I cut people apart with my crimson arm sword and burn them with supernatural fire that reduces most to ash while sparing the somewhat innocent. Tanith freezes and burns people with her blue flames, and Terah uses the green lightning emanating from his body to shock and burn people and to take control of some of them, turning them to our side or making them simply kill themselves. No one we face is a match for us. In fact, most try to run in fear, while a few beg for mercy, which they don’t get.

“Beg to God for mercy, not us,” Terah says.

After burning and killing at several locations, I take a look out at Detlef to see the many fires we’ve started and the damage we’ve done to the buildings. It’s like a series of missiles has struck the city, like it’s a warzone. Sure enough, the police and the local hero associations come after us.

“Execute these people as well. Most of them are on Hell’s payroll,” my guardian angel says.

Will do. The Council of Punishment engages law enforcement in a one-sided battle. Their attacks with guns, robots, and superhuman powers of all kinds do little against us when they’re able to hit us. Not long into the fight, I begin seeing doubles of every foe I’m facing, and then start seeing myself as the double.

“This is it, Thaddeus,” the doppelgangers say in my voice. “After this, your usefulness to God will be up.”

I start praying while trying my best to focus on the fight at hand.

“He’s already let you sin in His own house. What makes you think He won’t let it happen again? What makes you think you won’t be thrown away and damned with the rest of us after this? You already know this day will be your last.”

“Tanith, Terah!” I say.

Turning around, I see Tanith burning herself with the blue flames coming out of her left arm. She says, “I know! I’m trying to deal with it!”

“Pray and let your fighting be a prayer to God,” Terah suggests.

Together, we pray and battle until the battle around us is over and temptations fade away. Detlef is in more ruins than before, with even more fires burning the city, destroyed buildings, and dead and unconscious bodies in the streets. This is our God-given work. This is what true justice and doing the right thing look like, and we’re just getting started.