Vanna's POV
"I have to commend you for making an effort to summon an angel."
We stopped what we were doing when we heard that voice. We looked around the house but we did not see any shadows or angels. We could only see the smoke coming from what we were burning.
It has been a few days since the angels fell from the skies or to correctly say it they descended from their home. Nothing has happened yet because of their fall but Vlad is nowhere to be found.
I know for sure that we will not be able to find Vlad because he's in another dimension created by angels and we cannot enter that. But we can't just wait for her body or what Cassy will do because she's gone. He seemed to disappear like a bubble and forget about us.
We tried praying, but no one answered for us. So, my mother decided to summon an angel specifically Cassy, ​​but no lock, because right now we are sure it's not Cassy who just spoke.
"Who's that?" Via asked Fermine who taught us how to forcibly call on angels. We also forced him a few times before she taught us the other way because there was no witch who could help us to do that.
Van, together with Stan, is currently looking for Mira the Gemini witch though we are not even sure if she's still alive after the ancient war.
We don't want to waste our time waiting for nothing, so for the meantime, we decided to summon an angel in a way ... well in an evil way because we don't have a choice.
Fermine told us if we burn something precious to that certain angel, they will appear to kill us. Yeah, we actually bet our lives on it.
And we were hoping Syne would indeed appear when we burned thousands of butterflies after catching them in the field. They were beautiful, but it would be more beautiful if Syne appeared.
Unfortunately, she wasn't the one who appeared.
"I don't think Syne loved butterflies," The voice added, still not showing his face.
"Who is he?" I asked Fermine.
"You told us Syne loved butterflies!" Via added. "Are you kidding us?"
"I think it's more of Uriel since he usually turned the souls into butterflies before they reincarnate," The voice explained. His voice is baritone and I can say it is full of sarcasm.
"Who are you?" Via pulled out his knife even though I knew we were nothing against them. "Where is my brother?"
"Uriel sent his regards, vampires."
In a flash, an angel appeared before us. He has no wings, it seems like he is just a normal person at first glance but when you stare at him you can see the strange light surrounding him.
"Gabriel," Fermine whispered softly.
Before we could react Fermine was gone. We just found ourselves in a dark place.
"What the fuck!" Via shouted. I looked in his direction as the surroundings gradually became brighter.
"Where the hell are we?" Via cursed.
I rolled my eyes in frustration. Ugh! I am hating the situation. I couldn't do anything.
We were inside a cave where only a few candles on the wall served as light. I could also hear the water flowing at the end so there was probably a creek or whatever form of water there was. I didn't see anything like this in my visions so I didn't know where we were.
"Is that a skull? Bones?" Via pointed to the side where there were human bones. "What the-"
"I demand silence!"
I held my breath when I heard that voice. My stomach automatically twitched with nervousness and fear until I saw the face of the owner of that voice.
"What do you need from me, Gabriel?" he irritatedly asked.
"Cassy?" Via asked in shock as he looked at us. "No, I mean, who are you?"
The angel raised an eyebrow in front of us. He was wearing black clothes with a hood that covered his whole body so we could only see her face that was the same as Cassy's.
"You stole my blade and now you are bringing unwelcome visitors to my territory. Do you really want me to visit the earth?" The angel's voice was firmer than Gabriel's, and I could sense authority in him. It was like he's more powerful than Gabriel. Is he?
I think Gabriel is an archangel, so this guy must be ... Ugh! I don't know anything about angel's hierarchy. I should start studying about them, if I will live after this.
"Azrael," Gabriel smiled. "Well, I am here to actually send you some souls. I thought you were so bored since the afterlife is in chaos and you can't send souls away. Brought you some food," he looked at us as the man lowered his hood.
I wanted to say Gabriel was ugly when he smirked, but I think angels are really flawless and beautiful. Even if you are angry when you look at them you will feel peace but except for this man who looks exactly like Cassy because fear was the first thing that entered me when I saw his gray eyes. Only his hair was different, his posture, his necklace, and his voice.
"He's Syne's twin brother," Gabriel introduced. That explains why they looked exactly the same. "Meet the Angel of Death."
I blinked.
Damn! The Angel of Death? So, are we going to die?
He looked at me after looking at Via who now couldn't figure out what to say. I feel like she was also thinking of what could possibly happen to us if she lost her temper, especially that we had nothing against them.
"Are you trying to make fun of me?" Azrael turned to Gabriel. "You are bringing me vampires."
"Special vampires since they are the sisters of the guy your twin sister Syne is still protecting until now," Gab stated. "Is she here? Where the hell is your sister? You are connected so-- "
"Bring me back my blade, Gabriel." Azrael's language was serious and emphatic. "You don't want me back in heaven because the last time I went to, I collected hundreds of angels souls -"
"Michael will bring it back after he kills the vampire lover of your sister. Are you really not going to help us find her? Michael will hear about this. "
"Michael can hear anything he wants to hear. And, my sister? " Azrael stepped back and comfortably sat on his throne in the middle of the cave. The last time I checked, there wasn't a throne inside the cave so imagine my surprise when it just appeared.
In a glimpse, Azrael was holding a glass of wine. He sipped before saying, "She can handle herself. Have you forgotten she's my beloved sister: The Mistress Afterlife," he waved his hand and with a narrowed eye Gabriel disappeared in front of us.
We just heard her deafening scream. "CURSE YOU! AZRAEL! MICHAEL WILL HEAR ABOUT THIS! "
It just shrugged while not losing the smile on its lips. Is this really the Angel of Death? Its presence is frightening but I wasn't scared of her face, especially that I am seeing Cassy.
"Next time you visit my territory, make sure you have coins to prolong your stay. I don't welcome unwanted visitors," he told Gabriel, who is no longer to be found inside the cave. Maybe he's outside? Or, how would I know?
"Ugh! Now, open the door, Azrael! They're my prisoners!"
"They are now mine, Gabriel. So, go back to Michael and tell him I will wage a war if you kill my twin sister."
"I'll make sure to kill you using your own blade when you set foot on earth! Don't you dare!"
Azrael did not respond to what Gabriel said. He just kept looking at us and slowly he smiled. In just a glimpse, he already had a dagger in his hand.
"Is that your blade?" Via asked, having also read my mind. "They have the wrong blade, right?"
"I have different versions of blade," Azrael replied. "Let's say what they have is something that can make angels bleed, but can't kill them," he gave us with a wide smile.
"Now, now ... what should I do with both of you?"
"Are you going to kill us?" I asked directly. "Are you the same as Michael and Gabriel? I mean, are you an enemy? "
"I am Death..." he stated. "So, it's Syne."
"What do you think?" he looked at Via. "Am I going to kill you?"
"Gabriel gave us to you as your prisoner. So he knows you can kill us and you will kill us for our soul, "Via answered.
Azrael chuckled and turned to me. "You are some kind of vampire prophet, right? What do you think? "
"Before that, I would like to know about you, Syne, and Uriel. I mean, do you work together? " I asked curiously.
"Is that what you really want to ask? Why not go to the point? " he replied.
"You're smart. I like you, "Via confessed with a smile. "But, that would be too complicated just like my brother and Syne, you know? Sucks! "
"Where is Syne?" I will ask. I'd rather just use Syne's real name. "And, my brother, is he okay?"
"Syne will come if she thinks she's already done."
"Done with what?" Via asked, impatiently. "What if my brother died? What if we die? Is she going to help us? Are you going to help us? C'mon, if you want to kill us, do it! "
"I don't think you can kill us," I blurted. "You are the Angel of Death. You don't kill. You pick dead people. "
"Yet it doesn't mean I am not capable of killing people, right?"
"Why aren't you killing us?" I glared at him.
"There's a natural order of life," he closed his eyes and peacefully leaned his back on his skull throne.
"Syne ruined the natural order of life when he saved my brother, right? And, she is still ruining it by letting my brother live, "I stated. "So, my brother should really die."
He nodded a bit though I don't know if what I said was true. It was so hard to know his feelings.
"Is that what Syne told you? That the afterlife was in chaos?"
"It's not true?" Via raised her brow. "C'mon, I thought angels don't lie."
"I collect dead people here in this place," Azrael stood up and we followed him.
We got to the part of the cave that was surrounded by water. I was right from what I heard. When Azrael flicked his finger, a door appeared inside the cave and I saw a long line of people. I don't know how far it is but I'm sure the end I see isn't the end, it seems like an endless queue.
"I sentenced the dead people here if they are all capable of reincarnating. If they pass, Syne will bring them to the afterlife, collecting all their memories. When time comes, Uriel will reincarnate them. "
"So?" Via lifted her brows. I just laughed because I think she's no longer afraid of Azrael anymore. "I mean, because of my brother, the afterlife was in chaos? And, why? Syne didn't collect his soul? Wait, he didn't even die. What's to collect? How did he ruin the afterlife?"
"Your brother was once a human. You were once a human when your parents sealed your blood and gave you to the human world. Syne gave her blood to your human brother instead of letting him die for me to pass his sentence," he explained. "Your soul's brother ruined the afterlife, so until that soul passes here..." he pointed out to the people in line.
They looked so tired, like they've been waiting for a thousand years. They cannot hear us and cannot even see us. They stood there wondering though they never left their place. It must be their minds who wander around the earth because they cannot find peace.
"Afterlife will never open again. I told you, we have a natural order of life. You already have the time of your death before you were even born."
"So my brother really needs to die."
I should curse Syne right now, but no, she saved my brother, prolonging his life even if it means fighting against her belief just because she loves my brother. But, that should end now. It's been a thousand years, so I hope my brother knows this. He should know about this.
He needs to end this, his life.
"That's easier said than done," Azrael frowned.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Syne was the one who gave him life, so the only person capable of taking it away would only be her. My sister being so stubborn will never kill your brother because that's love."
"That's ridiculous!" Via sighed. "Where is she? I'll talk to her! C'mon, I want this to end."
"Same. I really want to give these souls new bodies, but it's taking forever. A lot of people are even stuck in the afterlife because Syne cannot go back to her world, "Azrael shook his head. "Ugh. I am starting to hate my twin sister."
"It's easy. Syne will just kill my brother, "vI told him. "Why can't she do it? Why prolong the agony? My brother can be reincarnated, right? Syne can just make another mistake again in another lifetime, "I joked to make my heart light, but it was so heavy I couldn't breathe.
What happened to Vlad?
Is Van and Stan even okay? I hoped they would find Mira.
And, Mom? She must be so worried. Dad's sleeping in the coffin, restoring his powers. How I wished he's also here.
I am just hoping the other owls will see these visions so they have a guide to find us and save us.
Azrael faked a laugh until he apologetically smiled at us.
"My sister loves your brother so much that she was willing to fall from the sky, but I know that she can also kill your brother if she knows that is the only way to fulfill her duty."
"Why isn't she killing Vlad?" Via asked, confused. "Ugh. You are all giving me a headache!"
"Love..." I replied. "Is that how love works?"
"Kill Vlad and reincarnate him as soon as possible, duh!" Via was already annoyed.
"But, my brother will still be reincarnated as a vampire or human, right? So, it's still forbidden. Must be the reason why she's still fighting for their love because she doesn't want to lose him forever," I added.
"To begin with, we reincarnate souls ..." Azrael flicked his finger and just like that we stood near a church. I recognized the church in our town and it was burning with fire. Is this my vision? Is this real?
What time is it?
Is this ... wait? Mom?
Vampires...
"Did Mom and ..." Via thought as we both looked at the burning church. "Are they burning the church?"
I blinked. Don't tell me we are waging a war against them?
No ... that would explain my visions of fire and blood and I clearly know that wouldn't end well.
Via immediately ran to where they were while I was still stunned.
Azrael stepped beside me and said, "You know why Syne doesn't want to kill your brother? Well, I assumed you didn't know because the rest of the angels weren't aware... "
"She loves my brother and she doesn't want to..."
Azrael laughed which made me stop. I waited for him to stop laughing because it seems to him that everything that's happening is just a game. I think I am starting to hate him now.
I decided to leave him there until he said, "Your brother has no soul."
I turned to him. "What?"
"Vampires have no soul. Aren't you aware of that? "
I was caught off guard. I never thought about it. I didn't even realize how important having a soul was because we are vampires, we don't die. So, why do we even need souls?
But ... wait ... if we have no soul? Where do dead vampires go?
"Where do vampires go when they die?"
Azrael smiled devilishly as he dropped, "Hell."