Demonic Angels

Prologue

Ancient Rome

111 A.D.

"Quickly! We must get them to the to the capsule!"

"Hurry men!"

"This is the only way!"

Solders filed through the ruined corridors beneath the great city of Rome as it fell only a few meters above their heads. Most were only known to be foot solders, like Atticus, but a few were of higher rank. Some even Common Folk or Nobles. But the one thing they were all, they were the Keepers of the best kept secret throughout history. Magic. A power that will work for anyone, but only work with a select few only known as The Chosen.

     Atticus is huddled with others who wish to protect it as they hurry to get the magic items out of Rome. Many of them have left their families while some witnessed their deaths during the very beginning of the attacks on this once mighty city. Atticus had never considered himself lucky, but today he was one of the lucky few without a family to say goodbye too.

He was abandoned when he was hardly two months old, but rather then being given him to a distant relative, his parents left him on the doorstep of the soldiers barracks. Presumably to be killed. Somehow, the gods believed him worthy enough to live and he's been a solder ever since.

     For the first time, Atticus was thankful for this, as he had no one to miss and no one who would miss him when he was summoned to protect the magic. Rome had experienced a few raids and small attacks from barbarian tribes for years now, but none of them had been as successful as this one. Said to be brought on by Death itself. But Atticus and the other Keepers knew better.

What really rallied these tribes and lead this attack, were three men. At least, at one point they were. Now, they were said to be monsters of darkness and shadow. And all because of the magic. These men knew about it. Wielded it. But they were not Chosen.

Supposedly the had birth names of their own but now they are only known as Azrael, Hul, and Malachi. Some said they are siblings by blood, while others believed they were just close friends who only considered themselves brothers after what happened to them. What it was that happened to them was also a mystery. Atticus had never seen the magical objects for himself, but somehow they were related to these monsters.

     As the story goes, the three boys, all around the same age, were playing at the edge of the city, daring each other to prove their bravery by going deeper and deeper into the forest. It's said that they were miles past the city limits when they found themselves lost and wandering. Hours into the night, the youngest of them, now known as Malachi, found a small box hidden in the hallow of a tree containing three chains with different pendants on them. Calling his brothers attention, the each took one. That was the day they became what they are now. However, those like Atticus know more to the story. What they found was indeed magic. And what set them on the path to find what Atticus now so helplessly is trying to protect. He couldn't help but recall this story as he and so many others were rushed through the hidden halls underneath the city.

Suddenly, a rushed silence and stillness washed over everyone coming from the direction the came. Atticus, along with everyone else, froze dead in place. A darkness blacker than the night flitted around on the broken ground, weaving itself between peoples feet. It suddenly slowed its fluid movements before coming to a full stop with everyone's eyes on this strange substance. It then retracted fully and was simply gone, only a second passed before the cries of death echoed through the corridor.

     "GET TO THE CHAMBE-" a man yelled, but was silenced just before another scream sounded from the same voice.

    Everything launched into motion.