Holy High - IC III - Open!

[Charlia]

"Xavier, brother, let me lay hands on him, and bless him in the name of our father." He moved closer to Lux, and laid his hands on the baby's forehead. "It is done. The blessing should take time. Go greet Lucifer."

Xavier handed Lux to Michael, and he stood back and watched. All the same, he felt an odd, off feeling in his stomach. This was the first time, at least that he could remember, that Michael and Lux had ever met, since after the War in Heaven. Michael knew who Lux was. He had led the search party to find him, when he had been captured by Satan.

However, Lux had no idea who Michael was. Thus, when he laid in his arms, he looked up at him with a dazed, blank look. Not to mention that while he seemed to be unfreezing, now, he was still wounded, and his wings would have to grow back. Thus Lux had to be in incredible pain, and was more focused on that than anything.

Charlotte watched nervously from nearby, and began to whisper something.

A single feather fell to the ground behind her, and a wide smile spread across her face.

[Luminesa]

Xavier handed Lux to Michael, and he stood back and watched. All the same, he felt an odd, off feeling in his stomach. This was the first time, at least that he could remember, that Michael and Lux had ever met, since after the War in Heaven. Michael knew who Lux was. He had led the search party to find him, when he had been captured by Satan.

However, Lux had no idea who Michael was. Thus, when he laid in his arms, he looked up at him with a dazed, blank look. Not to mention that while he seemed to be unfreezing, now, he was still wounded, and his wings would have to grow back. Thus Lux had to be in incredible pain, and was more focused on that than anything.

Charlotte watched nervously from nearby, and began to whisper something.

A single feather fell to the ground behind her, and a wide smile spread across her face.

Arael saw her, and he walked toward her, worried. "...Charlotte?...Is something the matter?" Falling feathers and smiles were not good signs, when Charlotte was involved.

[Charlia]

Charlotte watched nervously from nearby, and began to whisper something.

A single feather fell to the ground behind her, and a wide smile spread across her face.

Arael saw her, and he walked toward her, worried. "...Charlotte?...Is something the matter?" Falling feathers and smiles were not good signs, when Charlotte was involved.

"Not at all," she said in a cheerful tone. "Will you excuse me for a moment?"

Approaching Michael, she placed a hand on Lux's shoulder, and the feather fall began to grow more frequent. In return, Lux would begin to feel his own wings healing.

[Luminesa]

Arael saw her, and he walked toward her, worried. "...Charlotte?...Is something the matter?" Falling feathers and smiles were not good signs, when Charlotte was involved.

"Not at all," she said in a cheerful tone. "Will you excuse me for a moment?"

Approaching Michael, she placed a hand on Lux's shoulder, and the feather fall began to grow more frequent. In return, Lux would begin to feel his own wings healing.

Lux hardly noticed her, though he did begin to feel his wings growing back. It would take a little while, but they would eventually return. Hopefully, with his wings grown back, the magic would completely reverse itself, and he would be healthy again.

At least in body. Not so much in mind.

Xavier, at the same time, watched Charlotte to see what she was going to do. She was wearing an unusually large grin on her face, and it was unsettling him...

[Charlia]

"Not at all," she said in a cheerful tone. "Will you excuse me for a moment?"

Approaching Michael, she placed a hand on Lux's shoulder, and the feather fall began to grow more frequent. In return, Lux would begin to feel his own wings healing.

Lux hardly noticed her, though he did begin to feel his wings growing back. It would take a little while, but they would eventually return. Hopefully, with his wings grown back, the magic would completely reverse itself, and he would be healthy again.

At least in body. Not so much in mind.

Xavier, at the same time, watched Charlotte to see what she was going to do. She was wearing an unusually large grin on her face, and it was unsettling him...

It was perfectly balanced.

She healed his body, leaving herself briefly wracked with pain, several new scars now present--she was going to have to wait for her own wings to grow back, now, but he'd need his more than she did her own--and then continued to attempt to heal his mind.

Her smile disappeared.

"It's going to be all right," she whispered. "Let me take your pain."

This is what I was made for.

[Luminesa]

Lux hardly noticed her, though he did begin to feel his wings growing back. It would take a little while, but they would eventually return. Hopefully, with his wings grown back, the magic would completely reverse itself, and he would be healthy again.

At least in body. Not so much in mind.

Xavier, at the same time, watched Charlotte to see what she was going to do. She was wearing an unusually large grin on her face, and it was unsettling him...

It was perfectly balanced.

She healed his body, leaving herself briefly wracked with pain, several new scars now present--she was going to have to wait for her own wings to grow back, now, but he'd need his more than she did her own--and then continued to attempt to heal his mind.

Her smile disappeared.

"It's going to be all right," she whispered. "Let me take your pain."

This is what I was made for.

Lux huddled away from her touch, at first, the same way he had huddled away from Michael's touch. After all he had been through in the last day, he was scarred. He did not want to be touched, since everyone who touched him seemed to only want to hurt him. "...Charlotte...you are in enough pain...Leave mine...to me..." he whispered, his soft voice back to normal. His heart, however, was far from normal. He had been cut deep, with the loss of his wings and his will. He simply wanted to sleep, and to dream away from the world.

[Sky-TheLandOfNekos]

It was perfectly balanced.

She healed his body, leaving herself briefly wracked with pain, several new scars now present--she was going to have to wait for her own wings to grow back, now, but he'd need his more than she did her own--and then continued to attempt to heal his mind.

Her smile disappeared.

"It's going to be all right," she whispered. "Let me take your pain."

This is what I was made for.

Lux huddled away from her touch, at first, the same way he had huddled away from Michael's touch. After all he had been through in the last day, he was scarred. He did not want to be touched, since everyone who touched him seemed to only want to hurt him. "...Charlotte...you are in enough pain...Leave mine...to me..." he whispered, his soft voice back to normal. His heart, however, was far from normal. He had been cut deep, with the loss of his wings and his will. He simply wanted to sleep, and to dream away from the world.

Inari trotted over to him as a fox and gently nuzzled his arm. Her golden fur shimmered, producing light of its own. Lux. Are you okay? she thought to him, looking up at the angel. Please, be okay...

[Charlia]

It was perfectly balanced.

She healed his body, leaving herself briefly wracked with pain, several new scars now present--she was going to have to wait for her own wings to grow back, now, but he'd need his more than she did her own--and then continued to attempt to heal his mind.

Her smile disappeared.

"It's going to be all right," she whispered. "Let me take your pain."

This is what I was made for.

Lux huddled away from her touch, at first, the same way he had huddled away from Michael's touch. After all he had been through in the last day, he was scarred. He did not want to be touched, since everyone who touched him seemed to only want to hurt him. "...Charlotte...you are in enough pain...Leave mine...to me..." he whispered, his soft voice back to normal. His heart, however, was far from normal. He had been cut deep, with the loss of his wings and his will. He simply wanted to sleep, and to dream away from the world.

"I could say the same to you," she said quietly. "But you were not created to carry a burden like this..."

She placed a gentle hand on his head. Light flowed into him, and at the same time, darkness was slowly torn away from his soul, streaming into her eyes. She shuddered uncontrollably, and squeezed her eyes shut, refusing to cry out as her mind filled with pain.

[Luminesa]

Lux huddled away from her touch, at first, the same way he had huddled away from Michael's touch. After all he had been through in the last day, he was scarred. He did not want to be touched, since everyone who touched him seemed to only want to hurt him. "...Charlotte...you are in enough pain...Leave mine...to me..." he whispered, his soft voice back to normal. His heart, however, was far from normal. He had been cut deep, with the loss of his wings and his will. He simply wanted to sleep, and to dream away from the world.

"I could say the same to you," she said quietly. "But you were not created to carry a burden like this..."

She placed a gentle hand on his head. Light flowed into him, and at the same time, darkness was slowly torn away from his soul, streaming into her eyes. She shuddered uncontrollably, and squeezed her eyes shut, refusing to cry out as her mind filled with pain.

Lux reached an arm out to grab Charlotte's wrist, a little harder than he initially intended. "...Please...stop...Let me be..." he whispered, his voice cracking. He could not bear to see anyone else suffer, now that he had regained his consciousness.

[Luminesa]

Lux huddled away from her touch, at first, the same way he had huddled away from Michael's touch. After all he had been through in the last day, he was scarred. He did not want to be touched, since everyone who touched him seemed to only want to hurt him. "...Charlotte...you are in enough pain...Leave mine...to me..." he whispered, his soft voice back to normal. His heart, however, was far from normal. He had been cut deep, with the loss of his wings and his will. He simply wanted to sleep, and to dream away from the world.

Inari trotted over to him as a fox and gently nuzzled his arm. Her golden fur shimmered, producing light of its own. Lux. Are you okay? she thought to him, looking up at the angel. Please, be okay...

...I do not know...I do not know... In his mind, he sounded horrified. He was beginning to realize what he had allowed Tharzidun to do, and he felt sick. Please do not leave me. Stay near me. I do not know what is wrong...but I feel ill...

[Charlia]

"I could say the same to you," she said quietly. "But you were not created to carry a burden like this..."

She placed a gentle hand on his head. Light flowed into him, and at the same time, darkness was slowly torn away from his soul, streaming into her eyes. She shuddered uncontrollably, and squeezed her eyes shut, refusing to cry out as her mind filled with pain.

Lux reached an arm out to grab Charlotte's wrist, a little harder than he initially intended. "...Please...stop...Let me be..." he whispered, his voice cracking. He could not bear to see anyone else suffer, now that he had regained his consciousness.

"Why? This is what I was made for. Would you stop the Christ's crucifixion?"

Her voice echoed with power and conviction.

"Would you stop the salvation of mankind?"

[Sky-TheLandOfNekos]

Inari trotted over to him as a fox and gently nuzzled his arm. Her golden fur shimmered, producing light of its own. Lux. Are you okay? she thought to him, looking up at the angel. Please, be okay...

...I do not know...I do not know... In his mind, he sounded horrified. He was beginning to realize what he had allowed Tharzidun to do, and he felt sick. Please do not leave me. Stay near me. I do not know what is wrong...but I feel ill...

She rested her small head on his lap, closing her eyes. Don't worry, Lux. she replied, attempting to comfort him. I'll stay by your side until your feeling better. I won't let anything else happen to you... I promise.

[Luminesa]

Lux reached an arm out to grab Charlotte's wrist, a little harder than he initially intended. "...Please...stop...Let me be..." he whispered, his voice cracking. He could not bear to see anyone else suffer, now that he had regained his consciousness.

"Why? This is what I was made for. Would you stop the Christ's crucifixion?"

Her voice echoed with power and conviction.

"Would you stop the salvation of mankind?"

He froze, as she said this. He truly thought about this.

No...I would not...

She is not the Christ!

But that is not the point...

I do not want her to take my pain...I do not want her to suffer...

She has suffered enough...Adam will only make her suffer more...

I cannot add to her pain. I do not want to.

Somehow, his strength came back, or at least some of it. He slowly let go of her wrist, and then he fell out of Michael's gentle arms. He first fell to his knees, which prompted Xavier to get close to him, in case he needed help. Yet Lux did not want it. Standing feebly, he ran unsteadily into the darkness to hide.

As he ran by, he rushed past Hyperion, who would have seen the unearthly panic in his eyes. He then huddled into a dark, rotten corner, curled into a ball, and stared into the darkness.

[Charlia]

"Why? This is what I was made for. Would you stop the Christ's crucifixion?"

Her voice echoed with power and conviction.

"Would you stop the salvation of mankind?"

He froze, as she said this. He truly thought about this.

No...I would not...

She is not the Christ!

But that is not the point...

I do not want her to take my pain...I do not want her to suffer...

She has suffered enough...Adam will only make her suffer more...

I cannot add to her pain. I do not want to.

Somehow, his strength came back, or at least some of it. He slowly let go of her wrist, and then he fell out of Michael's gentle arms. He first fell to his knees, which prompted Xavier to get close to him, in case he needed help. Yet Lux did not want it. Standing feebly, he ran unsteadily into the darkness to hide.

As he ran by, he rushed past Hyperion, who would have seen the unearthly panic in his eyes. He then huddled into a dark, rotten corner, curled into a ball, and stared into the darkness.

She just shook her head sadly, and whispered after him, her voice resonant.

"Oh, archangel... Where has your faith gone?"

[Luminesa]

He froze, as she said this. He truly thought about this.

No...I would not...

She is not the Christ!

But that is not the point...

I do not want her to take my pain...I do not want her to suffer...

She has suffered enough...Adam will only make her suffer more...

I cannot add to her pain. I do not want to.

Somehow, his strength came back, or at least some of it. He slowly let go of her wrist, and then he fell out of Michael's gentle arms. He first fell to his knees, which prompted Xavier to get close to him, in case he needed help. Yet Lux did not want it. Standing feebly, he ran unsteadily into the darkness to hide.

As he ran by, he rushed past Hyperion, who would have seen the unearthly panic in his eyes. He then huddled into a dark, rotten corner, curled into a ball, and stared into the darkness.

She just shook her head sadly, and whispered after him, her voice resonant.

"Oh, archangel... Where has your faith gone?"

Lux sat in the darkness alone, cold and afraid. He did not have enough tears to begin to cry, so he simply held his head in his hands and sat there. He felt a terrible, haunting sensation melting through him, as Charlotte's voice reached him.

Where has my faith gone? Where has my faith gone?

Where has my faith gone?...

He then slowly began to whisper to himself, over and over again... "Father...Father...Father...Father..."

In the meantime, Joaquin whirled on Charlotte. "You've got some nerve, Princess. After all he's been through, and you're picking on-"

"Joaquin, stop!" Xavier commanded him.

Joaquin clamped shut, sensing the heat rising off Xavier as he shouted at him.

When the Angel got quiet, the Throne continued, "Come on, Charlotte...let's go see what's wrong..."

[Ranoria]

Otohime, who was still not feeling fully awake despite everything, stumbled over to Hamiri, rubbing her temples to try and wake up, "Hamiri..?" She blinked the sleep out of her eyes, or tried, to, before continuing, "Um...I was just wondering, where was I? I know I wasn't awake, even though some of those dreams..." the dragoness trailed off, thinking about them. Some had seemed so real, where others had been almost obviously dreaming. "I-I don't remember any of it, really..."

[Theocretes]

Tharizdun chuckled. Slowly, oh so slowly, the low, light chuckle increased, increasing in pitch, and volume, until reaching a crescendo. The fiery figure flexed, the massive, hulking beast, snapping apart the ropes and shadows entwining it. Fire consumed it, and it clasped a giant, taloned fist around the flying Griffin, crushing it, and tossing it aside, still stomping forwards, alight in flames. The flames of the beginning of time couldn't scorch me.

He walked forward, kicking aside Hamiri and Ianar, launching them into buildings around him, the living flesh of the realm, snatching at them, snapping at them, hungry. The flames around him reached a crescendo, burning up, a pillar of smoke billowing up into the sky, the smell of crackling flesh in the air. The chains of eternity couldn't contain me.

Still he came, stalking forward, the flames dying around him, as he shrunk down to his human form, burned flesh, within silver and leather armor, hair burned to a crisp, but breath still coming out in an icy mist. He reached up, wrapping an icy cold fist around Patriah’s throat, strangling the precious life carried within those veins. Yet, you think you can stop me. Don’t make me laugh.

Kill me

[Charlia]

She just shook her head sadly, and whispered after him, her voice resonant.

"Oh, archangel... Where has your faith gone?"

Lux sat in the darkness alone, cold and afraid. He did not have enough tears to begin to cry, so he simply held his head in his hands and sat there. He felt a terrible, haunting sensation melting through him, as Charlotte's voice reached him.

Where has my faith gone? Where has my faith gone?

Where has my faith gone?...

He then slowly began to whisper to himself, over and over again... "Father...Father...Father...Father..."

In the meantime, Joaquin whirled on Charlotte. "You've got some nerve, Princess. After all he's been through, and you're picking on-"

"Joaquin, stop!" Xavier commanded him.

Joaquin clamped shut, sensing the heat rising off Xavier as he shouted at him.

When the Angel got quiet, the Throne continued, "Come on, Charlotte...let's go see what's wrong..."

"Why?" she queried, true bewilderment crossing her face. "He has abandoned an offer of relief from suffering and proven himself another one of the faithless. Another who refuses to trust the Father with his troubles, instead clinging stubbornly to them and insisting that he can do it himself. My brother and I were created as messengers from a loving God, created to take the suffering of others, and yet so many people have rejected the chance to have peace. Why? Why would they do that? And why would I spend time attempting to help someone who has clung to his pride and refused to simply accept the offer of rescue?"

[Luminesa]

Tharizdun chuckled. Slowly, oh so slowly, the low, light chuckle increased, increasing in pitch, and volume, until reaching a crescendo. The fiery figure flexed, the massive, hulking beast, snapping apart the ropes and shadows entwining it. Fire consumed it, and it clasped a giant, taloned fist around the flying Griffin, crushing it, and tossing it aside, still stomping forwards, alight in flames. The flames of the beginning of time couldn't scorch me.

He walked forward, kicking aside Hamiri and Ianar, launching them into buildings around him, the living flesh of the realm, snatching at them, snapping at them, hungry. The flames around him reached a crescendo, burning up, a pillar of smoke billowing up into the sky, the smell of crackling flesh in the air. The chains of eternity couldn't contain me.

Still he came, stalking forward, the flames dying around him, as he shrunk down to his human form, burned flesh, within silver and leather armor, hair burned to a crisp, but breath still coming out in an icy mist. He reached up, wrapping an icy cold fist around Patriah’s throat, strangling the precious life carried within those veins. Yet, you think you can stop me. Don’t make me laugh.

Ianar shook the blow off easily
Tharizdun would have to do better than that to discourage Ianar
"Im sure they could, they held Fenrir for a long time, and you're much weaker than him."
Ianar did know a bit of mythology, but not too much
But what he did know, was that he did not like Tharizdun very much
Too arrogant for his own good
He charged back at Tharizdun, laughing
Ianar continued to assault the beast every chance he got, his savage attacks cutting up Tharizduns flesh

OOC: Tharz is done (PUNNY!!!!! HAAAAAAAAAAA!!! GAHT 'EM.)

[Free Empire of the Low Isles]

Lux sat in the darkness alone, cold and afraid. He did not have enough tears to begin to cry, so he simply held his head in his hands and sat there. He felt a terrible, haunting sensation melting through him, as Charlotte's voice reached him.

Where has my faith gone? Where has my faith gone?

Where has my faith gone?...

He then slowly began to whisper to himself, over and over again... "Father...Father...Father...Father..."

In the meantime, Joaquin whirled on Charlotte. "You've got some nerve, Princess. After all he's been through, and you're picking on-"

"Joaquin, stop!" Xavier commanded him.

Joaquin clamped shut, sensing the heat rising off Xavier as he shouted at him.

When the Angel got quiet, the Throne continued, "Come on, Charlotte...let's go see what's wrong..."

"Why?" she queried, true bewilderment crossing her face. "He has abandoned an offer of relief from suffering and proven himself another one of the faithless. Another who refuses to trust the Father with his troubles, instead clinging stubbornly to them and insisting that he can do it himself. My brother and I were created as messengers from a loving God, created to take the suffering of others, and yet so many people have rejected the chance to have peace. Why? Why would they do that? And why would I spend time attempting to help someone who has clung to his pride and refused to simply accept the offer of rescue?"

"Because God gave us all free-will, Justice. And it is not in your jurisdiction to dictate how the mortals, or immortals, use that gift." Raphael replied, looking up from Hime at her.

[Luminesa]

Lux sat in the darkness alone, cold and afraid. He did not have enough tears to begin to cry, so he simply held his head in his hands and sat there. He felt a terrible, haunting sensation melting through him, as Charlotte's voice reached him.

Where has my faith gone? Where has my faith gone?

Where has my faith gone?...

He then slowly began to whisper to himself, over and over again... "Father...Father...Father...Father..."

In the meantime, Joaquin whirled on Charlotte. "You've got some nerve, Princess. After all he's been through, and you're picking on-"

"Joaquin, stop!" Xavier commanded him.

Joaquin clamped shut, sensing the heat rising off Xavier as he shouted at him.

When the Angel got quiet, the Throne continued, "Come on, Charlotte...let's go see what's wrong..."

"Why?" she queried, true bewilderment crossing her face. "He has abandoned an offer of relief from suffering and proven himself another one of the faithless. Another who refuses to trust the Father with his troubles, instead clinging stubbornly to them and insisting that he can do it himself. My brother and I were created as messengers from a loving God, created to take the suffering of others, and yet so many people have rejected the chance to have peace. Why? Why would they do that? And why would I spend time attempting to help someone who has clung to his pride and refused to simply accept the offer of rescue?"

Joaquin nodded at Raphael, and he added, "Kinda presumptuous to think he's lost his faith, when in reality he's, oh, I dunno, mentally-scarred because of all the torture he's gone through! Gosh, how insensitive can you get?! He barely even knows where he even is, but you wanna go ahead and say he's at fault?! How would you like it if someone hurt you, and you were shaken like that, and people started saying stuff like that about you?! Huh?!"

[Luminesa]

Otohime, who was still not feeling fully awake despite everything, stumbled over to Hamiri, rubbing her temples to try and wake up, "Hamiri..?" She blinked the sleep out of her eyes, or tried, to, before continuing, "Um...I was just wondering, where was I? I know I wasn't awake, even though some of those dreams..." the dragoness trailed off, thinking about them. Some had seemed so real, where others had been almost obviously dreaming. "I-I don't remember any of it, really..."

Hamiri turned from the debacle unfolding with Charlotte and Lux, and she happily wrapped an arm around Otohime's shoulder. It was good to see her sweet, gentle little sister-friend again. "Well...you were with this...guy...who stole you from the team, after the whole thing with Thanakron. Luckily, we found you and saved you, before he could do anything with you," she explained.

[Ranoria]

Otohime, who was still not feeling fully awake despite everything, stumbled over to Hamiri, rubbing her temples to try and wake up, "Hamiri..?" She blinked the sleep out of her eyes, or tried, to, before continuing, "Um...I was just wondering, where was I? I know I wasn't awake, even though some of those dreams..." the dragoness trailed off, thinking about them. Some had seemed so real, where others had been almost obviously dreaming. "I-I don't remember any of it, really..."

Hamiri turned from the debacle unfolding with Charlotte and Lux, and she happily wrapped an arm around Otohime's shoulder. It was good to see her sweet, gentle little sister-friend again. "Well...you were with this...guy...who stole you from the team, after the whole thing with Thanakron. Luckily, we found you and saved you, before he could do anything with you," she explained.

"Guy..? Who?" She looked even more concerned now, despite the small comfort of Hamiri being there, "What was he planning to do?" She squirmed a bit, nervous, "A-am I alright now? Or..." She looked down, afraid that she was somehow hurt or under some sort of influence after this, biting her lip, "And..." There was something else that was bothering her, though, much more than this was.

[Charlia]

"Why?" she queried, true bewilderment crossing her face. "He has abandoned an offer of relief from suffering and proven himself another one of the faithless. Another who refuses to trust the Father with his troubles, instead clinging stubbornly to them and insisting that he can do it himself. My brother and I were created as messengers from a loving God, created to take the suffering of others, and yet so many people have rejected the chance to have peace. Why? Why would they do that? And why would I spend time attempting to help someone who has clung to his pride and refused to simply accept the offer of rescue?"

Joaquin nodded at Raphael, and he added, "Kinda presumptuous to think he's lost his faith, when in reality he's, oh, I dunno, mentally-scarred because of all the torture he's gone through! Gosh, how insensitive can you get?! He barely even knows where he even is, but you wanna go ahead and say he's at fault?! How would you like it if someone hurt you, and you were shaken like that, and people started saying stuff like that about you?! Huh?!"

She stared at him, and for a moment her eyes were completely empty.

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry, Father... Please... Forgive me... Please, forgive me! I tried to stop it! I truly did!"

"Please, Father, please, have mercy--no!"

"You are not My daughter."

"Father!"

She blinked at him, once, twice, and then turned away.

"Why is mercy extended to some and not to others?" she wondered aloud. "Where is the balance in that? If one mistake is enough to condemn one person, should it not also be enough to condemn another? Where is justice? Where is mercy? Where is the world I knew as a child? When did it crumble?"

As she asked, she knew the answer.

She knew when everything had stopped making sense. How could she not know?

Everything had stopped making sense after her first painful betrayal.

Everything had stopped making sense after her personal midnight.

Everything had stopped making sense after her Fall.

[Free Empire of the Low Isles]

Joaquin nodded at Raphael, and he added, "Kinda presumptuous to think he's lost his faith, when in reality he's, oh, I dunno, mentally-scarred because of all the torture he's gone through! Gosh, how insensitive can you get?! He barely even knows where he even is, but you wanna go ahead and say he's at fault?! How would you like it if someone hurt you, and you were shaken like that, and people started saying stuff like that about you?! Huh?!"

She stared at him, and for a moment her eyes were completely empty.

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry, Father... Please... Forgive me... Please, forgive me! I tried to stop it! I truly did!"

"Please, Father, please, have mercy--no!"

"You are not My daughter."

"Father!"

She blinked at him, once, twice, and then turned away.

"Why is mercy extended to some and not to others?" she wondered aloud. "Where is the balance in that? If one mistake is enough to condemn one person, should it not also be enough to condemn another? Where is justice? Where is mercy? Where is the world I knew as a child? When did it crumble?"

As she asked, she knew the answer.

She knew when everything had stopped making sense. How could she not know?

Everything had stopped making sense after her first painful betrayal.

Everything had stopped making sense after her personal midnight.

Everything had stopped making sense after her Fall.

Raphael sighed and looked down, shaking his head. "You were punished before the coming of Christ, Charlotte. That's why no mercy was allotted to you. It's horrible, it really is, but our Father then is not our Father now... Or... Was... Earlier..."

The angel kept looking down, the loss of his father still hanging over him. "Charlotte, you have to stop..." he muttered.