The Rebellion of The Angels, page 13
Like all the rooms on the upper floors, it was full of endless rows of furniture containing books, maps and other writings, and they extended along the corridors in different directions; some were covered the entire width, others all the length, and others were transverse to the previous ones, transforming those rooms into a labyrinth of furniture of different types and sizes. The girls advanced a little more, until Youth used her auditory sense and heard a thud coming from the centre of the room, perhaps the area of greatest number of furniture. Shortly after she heard the same noise again, which in this case, reached them from the back, that is why she took Rahab from her clothes and threw her into an interior corridor formed by the furniture, since they were full of books, and they did not let see into the neighbouring corridors. As if they were hiding from something or someone, the pulse of the young women was increasing. Youth looked once again at her guardian angel and it was still twinkling between transparent and white, thus describing both the presence of natural humans and neutral angels. Quickly, Youth gestured Rahab with her head that she had to walk towards the interior of the corridor while she did the same thing behind. From time to time, Youth looked backwards for fear that someone might appear on their backs, for she did not know whether or not she could trust those who were neutral angels, or why they were in that building. She even thought that maybe the neutrals were looking for that map that she hid in her clothes, after stealing it from a piece of furniture on the second floor.
They approached a corner that was on another corridor that interrupted the one they were walking through, where they stopped and clung to the furniture. Youth tried to see from there, hoping not to find anyone, and since there was no one, they crossed to the other side; with the difference that now it was Youth who walked in front.
Shortly after, Youth discovered that a new corridor interrupted the one they were walking through, while as they approached the intersection, they could hear a murmur of voices. Once more they slowed down, clinging to the column of furniture near the south wing; but when they arrived at the intersection of both corridors, Youth discovered, observing as she did in the previous intersection, that on the south wing of that new corridor, six people were talking sitting by a long rectangular table, while they were observing different books.
Then Youth looked at her guardian angel again, who was still twinkling between transparent and white, indicating that they were indeed neutral angels, now with the skin of men and women.
Youth watched for a few seconds the large room in which that group was, discovering that it had several corridors surrounded by furniture, and a staircase that led to a mezzanine floor that extended to the end of the south wing, so it could be assumed that there must be some other staircase. Then she gestured for Rahab to be quiet, and with some effort, she took out her bow and her quiver that she had hidden among her clothes very well. She hung her quiver across her chest and she took an arrow that she placed in her bow; after making a new gesture for Rahab to follow her, she went to meet that group of neutral angels, and when she was seen appearing in one of the many corridors that surrounded that wide place she said:
—Do not try any strange manoeuvre and I will not hurt you! I just want to talk with you —The six that were, hundreds of years ago maybe, neutral angels looked at each other surprised by such an unexpected visit, but without getting scared. In fact, an attractive young woman with clear eyes, barely older than Youth, answered:
—For us to talk, you do not need to point us with your bow and arrow. Are you part of the king's army? I do not think so. And if so, what role would play the girl behind you? —She said referring to Rahab, who looked scared.
—No, I do not belong to the army of this town —Youth answered, advancing a few steps as if to make sure that there were no other people in some corner of that wide reception, since she, from the mouth of the corridor closed by furniture, could not see. Rahab was still her shadow walking behind—. But I need information that only you, because you have been neutral angels, can give me —The girl who spoke with Youth immediately stood up, more surprised than before, while the five men who accompanied her seemed to have seen Satan in person, while Youth raised her bow and arrow.
—You are an enemy! —The girl said, disturbed, when suddenly, two men appeared by surprise from the front of the mezzanine floor, pointing their arrows at Youth.
—Drop your weapon to the floor, young lady. Your adventure is over — And Youth had no choice but to follow the order.
—I am not your enemy, and you will regret what you are doing...
—Are you with someone? —The young woman asked, who had been threatened by Youth.
—¡Very well accompanied! —A voice suddenly interrupted, which Youth recognised immediately, since she first smiled, but then complained in a low voice.
—Why she has to rescue me? —She was Light, who appeared with Peace through another mouth of the corridors of the ground floor, and while the first one pointed two arrows at the same time at the men that appeared from the mezzanine floor, the second one did the same, but in this case threatening the girl who apparently represented that group of men with a single arrow, or at least she seemed her representative. A few seconds later, several doors creaked at the same time, which apparently opened and closed violently, and the footsteps resounded as if they were in neighbouring corridors.
—You two, come down, fast —Light ordered the two men she was pointing at, while Peace asked the group at the reception desk.
—How many are you?
—Only those of us here —The same young woman who spoke to Youth answered. While the two men Light was pointed at, joined their companions on the ground floor, next to the table in that large room that seemed to be the reception, Youth exclaimed after looking at her guardian angel:
—Got damn! —Since that one twinkled between transparent, indicating the presence of natural humans, white, indicating that of neutral angels, and red, also warning the presence of demons.
—This cannot be possible! —Peace added, while the footsteps and runs were heard closer, as if a horde was approaching.
—What! Then what or who are you? —The same young representative asked, more astonished than before, in the middle of a sudden silence that produced a great uncertainty, among those who were there, since it was not known if the demons were near or far, although the guardian angels of Youth, Light and Peace did not stop twinkling, among others, in red. But the doubts were cleared when a demon of the many that entered the library, and that were already hiding in different corridors to fight, appeared from a mezzanine floor, pointing his bow and arrow at Youth without she noticed it, while that same demon was surprised by Experience, who suddenly appeared on the scene, shouting from another corridor:
—¡Duck, Youth! —While she shot from the mouth of a corridor next to the reception against the enemy, who, shortly before falling under the weight of her arrow, managed to shoot his own to Youth unsuccessfully, since she followed her friend´s order immediately, avoiding the enemy arrow. In turn, another arrow was shot from another mouth of the mezzanine floor, impacting the chest of Experience who, wounded, fell on her knees to the floor.
—¡No…! —Youth shouted, until she almost lost her voice and she burst into tears, and after taking her bow from the ground, she loaded it quickly and shot an arrow to that enemy who, in turn, threw a new arrow to Experience... The arrow that Youth shot went through the demon´s head, but the one he shot shortly before impacted on Experience´s chest as the first one, who fell on the floor this time.
Youth ran as never before to where their fallen friend was, while the group of men and women who were once neutral angels looked disoriented... They had been hiding from demons and good angels for years after that struggle in the Celestial Kingdom, in which they, the neutral angels, led by Hope, stole the Holy Grail, for understanding that in that way that sacred cup would be protected from the hands of Satan. And suddenly those angels were involved in a new battle between good and evil, as at that time many years ago maybe, without understanding, in the present, for whom to take sides, even knowing that, by neutral, they were not in favour of neither God nor Satan. But these doubts were cleared when Love and Compassion appeared, who shot their arrows eliminating demons that attempted against the neutrals, allowing them to take their weapons that were hanging in a closet.
Then Love said:
—We must cross to the other end —But the demons did not stop shooting their arrows, while the neutral angels, hiding behind the table of the reception that was now upside down, counterattack their true and only enemies: the demons. On the other hand, Compassion ordered, when the battle stopped for a moment:
—¡Let's go, now! —And pushing Rahab to hurry, Love, Compassion and the young girl crossed to the other end, from where the first two continued shooting their arrows against the demons, who constantly came and went from the scene of the fight, taking refuge next to the mouth of the corridors.
Meanwhile, Light and Peace covered the unprotected Youth who, leaving her bow on the floor and held the apparently lifeless body of Experience, saying with no consolation:
—No, do not leave me, Experience! Forgive me for my bad behaviour. You did not deserve that I treated you like this, forgive me... Do not leave me. I love you, Experience. You are everything to me... my partner, my friend, my sister, my mother... It was my fault. If I had not treated you as I did, now you would be.... —Youth did not dare to complete the sentence that would surely have been: “now you would be alive”, and after making sure that Experience no longer breathed, she cried against the face of her beloved friend screaming once more in a heartbreaking way...
—¡No...! —Taking off the arrows stuck in her chest, as if that action brought her back to life; Meanwhile, Light and Peace continued shooting their arrows to protect Youth and helped the neutrals; those who, taking advantage of the offensive of those two young women who blocked the attack of the demons, left their refuge behind the table of the reception that was upside down, and shooting arrows as a shield, they hid in the same corridor as Love, Compassion and Rahab.
While at the other end Peace said:
—Let's go Youth, we must leave this place —Taking her by the arm; but Youth did nothing but answered with a face immersed in tears and pain.
—We must take her. I will not leave her here.
—We will see her again. When we return home we will see her again! — Peace insisted.
—¡And if we do not come back...! —Youth exclaimed putting her head on the body of Experience, while Light, also with tears in her eyes for the loss and for not wanting to lose anyone else, told Peace:
—Cover me —While she crossed her bow along her chest saying:
—Get up or you will be killed too —Light took Youth from the jacket and she dragged her forward so that she walked, after which she drew her sword and with great precision and skill she destroyed every arrow that tried to hit her or Youth, who, affected both physically and spiritually for the loss of her best friend Experience, did not even try to defend herself.
Slowly they moved forward, inside a whirlwind of arrows that looked for their bodies with anxiety, until finally they could reach the corridor where, protecting themselves, Love, Compassion, the neutrals, and Rahab, were still fighting. Rahab, crying, hugged Youth without hesitation.
—Now yes, would you be so kind to take us out of this place? —Love demanded kindly to the young woman who apparently led the small group of men who were once neutral angels, and without lowering their guard, they all ran into the corridor, following that woman, after which they turned into another corridor, surrounded by the furniture, and then to another. Apparently, the demons were far away. However, the guardian angels of Youth and their friends were still twinkling, among others, in red warning them about the close presence of demons.
—We have not lost them yet! —Compassion said.
—We will not lose them, unless we leave this library —Peace assured.
After running several meters among the rooms, they entered an area where furniture containing books, maps, and other writings seemed to curling up like those who protected themselves from the cold, describing very brief passages that constantly changed their direction between right and left, and even repeating at times the same direction, until reaching a small circular place practically stuck to the wall, where no more than two people could fit, and on whose floor there was a worn and dirty circular manhole cover, which the young woman who was leading the group of neutrals did not hesitate to move.
—Are we going to the second floor? —Compassion asked.
—No. This is a secret passage that goes through one of the many cylindrical columns that, if you have paid attention, you have seen them on the floors below —The young woman who led the group of neutrals explained.
—And where does this secret passage take us? —Light asked this time.
—The underground roads that lead to our real house, within the mountains in the free lands of the south —The young woman answered.
—And how long it will take to get to that place? —Light continued.
—If our transport works fine, in a few hours —The young woman said.
—What kind of transport are we talking about? —Peace asked this time, while the first men who were once neutral angels entered through that dark circular passage, which allowed no more than one individual at a time and which had a worn stair.
—They are old wooden wagons that travel through underground roads — The girl described, while Rahab was lost in the passage followed by Youth, and behind by Love and Compassion.
—Hope is still alive? Does she lead you? —Light asked and the young woman answered:
—Do not ask anything else, or I will regret what I am doing —She said after Peace entered the dark, cylindrical place, which descended from the inside through the old stair. But Light asked one last question:
—Why are you taking us to your lair, to your secret base, to your house?
—Because the war has began, and although it may not be the best, we must help each other... —Light continued the descent down the stairs, and later it was the young woman, who led that group of neutrals who, after entering the dark passage, took the stair with one hand, and she closed that circular, worn and dirty manhole cover that hid that place, with the other.
Chapter VII
Rebirth
Meanwhile, part of that group of demons that fought against Youth´s group, including the neutrals, remained in that kind of reception as if inspecting the place, and in the middle of that task, a woman approached the lifeless body of Experience, as if trying to find out who it was, when suddenly, a minority group of demons appeared by one of the many corridors. Then, one of them talked to the woman who apparently was leading them, and he said:
—Rage, there are no tracks of the enemies.
—Keep looking, or we will leave the librarians your head hanging from a piece of furniture as a trail of us —She said raising her voice. So the threatened demon did nothing but follow the order, and he and his companions left through the same corridor from which they had arrived.
Then that woman bent down and resting one hand on the ground, she called her little messenger demon in an inexplicable and magic way -Like the one that all the demons had, regardless of whether they were leaders or not, and they moved underground maybe, as a mole- and she gave him a message that he then had to repeat.
—We have arrived at the library in the town of Chacra, where we found the girl who was helped and protected by some enemies, of whom I think some were angels, although I cannot say whether they are neutral or followers of our traitor Father. In fact, one of their companions has died, and although we have not caught the young woman yet, tell our Lord, —She said referring to Satan—. that I will return to the base only with her as a hostage —And when she finished the message, she ordered:—. Go... —And the demon twirled until he reached the speed of a spinning top, and making a hole in the floor, he disappeared from that reception, while Rage looked once again at the lifeless body of Experience, even without knowing who she was.
Rage´s messenger demon moved underground at an incredible speed, which a physicist might have confused with that of light perhaps, opening the way like the aforementioned moles, although otters and other rodents were capable of performing this action, although not as fast as he did it.
So, in an underground way, he reached the cloud forest that bordered on the Ghost Port located on the northern continent, where the demons settled that camp they called “alternate base”. Precisely, inside the largest tent located in the centre of that camp were five leaders, who were in charge of the operations that Satan ordered from hell, with the company of the wizard Suleiman, who they had captured time ago.
Then, the messenger demon burst into the dark tent, calling the attention of the five leaders distributed, at that moment, through different parts of it, who without hesitation approached him, who stood with his back to the burning mirror that was in front of the table, next to which the wizard Suleiman was, and after making a reverence before the leaders, he repeated the message of Rage. When he finished, Hate told him:
—You can go back to your mistress —And the messenger demon twirled, once more, like a spinning top, and at the same time that he made a hole in the floor, he disappeared from everyone's sight.
—If our Lord had sent me to find that young woman, I would have brought her already —Envy said.
—I could not wait for our Lord to send me to destroy our enemies —Revenge said.
At that moment, part of the enemies that Revenge was referring to, that is, the group of Youth and her company, reached the underground surface thanks to the secret passage they took, through the stairs that began on the third floor of the library. The place was similar to an underground station located inside a cavern that extended for hundreds of miles and that led to many other caverns underground. Although there were lighted torches attached to the walls, the place was dark and wet, because in the high ceilings there were cones that dripped at their ends.
