Treachery : book 2 of Codex Elysium

Epilogue

Epilogue

Three months after the battle of Nidavellir: Elysium forest

The forest held a dark and brooding presence, twisted branches and trunks reached towards the sky. The deep shadows were full of malice and unblinking eyes. Even in the clearing with blue sky above there was still no escape from the baleful influence of the forest. Next to the lone standing stone in the centre of the clearing sat a lone angel. She had her knees drawn up to her chin, she wept endlessly. Her lovely white dress was stained with mud, leaves and twigs were tangled in her long blonde hair. Her big blue eyes darted to the tree line every time there was a slight motion or noise. Even the very wind seemed to be laughing at her. She cast her gaze wildly around the clearing. It wasn't the wind, someone was actually here with her. The cruel and mocking laughter drew closer. A man in an expensive grey suit stepped out of the trees. His black hair was oiled back and greying at the temples. His eyes burned with a crimson light. It was the last person she wanted to see.

"Well, well, well" purred Satan as he drew closer "Omael! To what do we owe the pleasure?"

The angel looked up and Satan smiled evilly at the stricken look on her face.

"You have been a very naughty girl. Yes I know what you have been up to"

Satan folded his arms and began to slowly circle the stricken angel. He stopped and peered closely at the pure white feathers of her wings

"It seems to me that it has been less than twenty four hours since your fall from grace. But that little stunt you pulled in Nidavellir was over three months ago! Why did it take so long for them to cast you out?"

Omael began to cry harder as she rested her chin on her knees again, her body trembled but she said nothing. Satan's voice cracked like a whip

"Answer me!"

Omael flinched at the anger in the prince's voice and she whimpered but still didn't speak. Satan's eyes blazed brighter as his anger grew. He could guess the reason for the delay. Omael was one of the most beloved angels, almost as much as Lucifer had once been. There had obviously been a trial. Satan balled his fists and growled in frustration. There had been no trial for him, no chance to defend himself. No second chance. It had been over three thousand years and it still angered him just as much. He narrowed his eyes at the stricken angel

"Why are you here? I mean out of all the places in the nine worlds, why here?"

Satan had a good idea of why she was here, it was the same reason that he was here after all. He considered whether this was a trap for him or not. He decided to go along and see how it played out

"Oh I know why you are here Omael! You have come to find your whore. Rumour reached me too that the traitor was hiding out here"

Satan spread his arms wide and turned in a slow circle, his eyes scanned the trees as he turned

"Come out, come out. Oh Lucifer! Did you really think you could trap me that easily?"

Only ringing silence answered him. Satan frowned and scanned the tree line again. Maybe Lucifer had set a better trap than he first thought. What if he was wrong? He turned a puzzled look on Omael

"You are here to find your girlfriend right? Why else would you dare to come to a place like this? You were in the kingdom, you would have seen where she was"

"She is not my girlfriend" croaked Omael weekly. Satan's smile turned truly evil, his voice ice cold

"Only one day on this plain of existence and already you tell lies. I am impressed, perhaps there is a place for you in Hell? I do have a vacancy for a princess." he scowled down at the angel as his memories of the kingdom of light stirred in his mind