Unlimited Legends #15 (Featuring Zauriel)

[spiritofvengeance]

Unlimited Legends #15
Guardian Angel
Part 1
Gone, Gone, the Form of Man

Written By: Daniel Dyer
Edited By: Mike Bowen

Featuring...

Los Angeles, California.

Her name is Crystal Rodriguez. She’s 23 years old, and lives alone. Nine months ago, however, she made a mistake. She had a one night stand, and never heard from the man again. Now she’s due any day.
Sometimes she stays up late, crying, wondering just how she’ll be able to raise her unborn child. The thought of an abortion crossed her mind, but she just couldn’t live with herself if she did that. One thing’s for sure. This baby will never go unloved.

“That’s her?” asks a man who’s standing alone on a rooftop overlooking Crystal.

“It is,” answers a voice from thin air.

“Michael...” the man starts, “what is it about her?”

“Ours is not to question the Presence, Zauriel. It is our job to obey. Yours is to protect.”

“I know, Mike. Just wondering what makes her special, is all.”

The bodiless voice responds, “Zauriel, sometimes what makes those special, lies within.”

****

[spiritofvengeance]

Below, a being with wings and what appears to be grayish-white feathers covering his body waits. He is in blueish-green armor with horns on the helmet, and he has his sights set on the young Miss Rodriguez.
Suddenly, the alleyway gets engulfed by a dark green fog. Stepping forward, as if emitting from the fog is a blonde, thin, grey skinned being in green. His eyes glow green.

“That’s her, Asmodel?”

“Yes, Neron. That is the soul which I offer you.”

“And why would an angel... one of your rank, no less... want to make a deal with me?” inquires Neron. “After all, you do remember the last time an angel went against the oh, so mighty ‘Presence’,” the demon says sarcastically.

“My reasons are my own.” Asmodel turns from Neron and looks on at Crystal. “She is a carrier.”

“A carrier?” Neron’s grin widens. “The unborn has the destiny?”

“Yes. She is close. If she comes to term then the babe will be untouchable.” Asmodel turns back to Neron. “Is such a soul good enough for one such as you?”

“You are a fool.” Neron turns to leave. “Or you think I am. Only a fool will attack a carrier.”

Asmodel grabs Neron by his arm. “Must I remind you what this child will mean to us?”

“Mean to you, maybe. What will the Presence do to me? Send me to Hell?” laughs Neron.

“But if you have the child’s soul?”

Neron stops and ponders this.

“The soul could be a powerful ally.”

“Hmmm... maybe there an indirect way I can help.”

And in a puff of dark green smoke, they are both gone.

****

[spiritofvengeance]

“Hey there,” Zauriel says as he approaches the bench Crystal’s sitting on.

Crystal looks up from her book. “Hi.”

“Mind if I sit down?”

Crystal looks up at the man.
Cute.
She scoots over and allows Zauriel to sit. “Hope you aren’t planning to take advantage of a pregnant woman.”

Zauriel laughs, “You’re pregnant? Woulda never guessed.”

“Yeah, with this belly?” She offers Zauriel her hand. “I’m Crystal.”

“My name’s Zauriel.”

“Zauriel? That’s a... unique name.”

“My... parents were a bit... uh... old school. My friends call me Z”

“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Z.”

“Likewise. So, how far are you along?”

“I’m due any day now.”

****

[spiritofvengeance]

San Francisco, California

Jason Blood is an old man. Ancient old. He dates back to the times of Camelot. Knights and dragons and King Arthur and Merlin. He barely looks 30. His long life, though, isn’t a gift by some higher being, but rather a curse. Punishment for a crime he is reminded of every one of his numerous days.

“Blood...” a voice says, disturbing Jason from his meditation.

“Who’s there?”

“Jason Blood,” the voice says once more. “There is a deal to be made, Jason Blood.”

“Show yourself!”

A grin begins to form from thin air, the body of Neron forming around it. “As you wish.”

“Hello, Neron. I don’t make deals with devils. Not anymore.”

“Oh, but I believe you may be receptive to this deal.”

“Begone.”

“And if I could rid you of your... better half?”

“No deal.” Jason doesn’t even stop to think. He knows better than to deal with such a being, no matter how much he hates the other to which he’s bonded.

Neron’s grin fades. He had hoped to do this without a struggle.

“Very well. I was hoping to do this the easy way, instead of the painful way.”

“What are you...?! AARGH!” Jason drops to his knees, grabbing his mid-section as he screams in pain.

Asmodel appears from thin air, reading a single incantation from a book. “Gone, gone, the form of man...” he repeats over and over again.

“You’re getting careless in your old age, Blood,” Neron spits out as he begins pouring his own magic into Jason.

“Gone, gone, the form, of man...” Asmodel continues.

“Listen now to the bargain. Your demon will kill a woman, allowing me to retrieve her soul and that of her unborn child.”

“Gone, gone, the form of man...”

“Your demon then will be free of you...”

“Gone, gone, the form of man...”

“And since you refuse to aid, Jason Blood, you will wither and die, in a day’s time.”

“Gone, gone, the form of man,” is read one last time when a burst of light shines out from Blood’s form.

”ARISE, THE DEMON, ETRIGAN!” comes the voice of an orange-hued demon, horns on its head and blood red eyes. He wears red medieval garb and claws on his hands and feet. Jason Blood lays motionless at Etrigan’s feet.

Neron puts out his hand. “Do we have a deal, Etrigan?”

“SUMMONED, YOU HAVE, THE DEMON ETRIGAN. YES, I ACCEPT YOUR BARGAIN.” A fang-laced grin forms on Etrigan’s face.

To Be Continued...