not our allies. In time, they become demons, seeking revenge against God for their exile here. They must not know that God is imprisoned here, or they will seek Him out and destroy Him."
"So what do we do? I won’t leave Anael strung up and at their mercy."
"They can’t hurt Anael’s immortal soul. They can only inflict physical pain and torture. If we wait long enough, they will grow tired of their toy and leave him alone."
"How do you know all this?" Martin asked.
"Time runs faster in Heaven. I have been an angel for a very long time, watching Gabriel and gathering information as his rebellion grew. What was only days for you was hundreds of years for us. Time runs slower as you descend. Tartarus, lower beneath the Earth than even the human Hell we know as Gehenna, is timeless. No matter how much time you spend here, nothing will ever change above. Imprisonment here is true eternity with no chance for redemption. That’s why Gabriel imprisoned God here. If he cannot awaken, he cannot come back to smite the rebellious angels and create the world anew.”
They watched as the demons continued their satanic ritual, drawing a pentagram on the stone. A demon stepped up and pierced Anael’s side with a spear. Martin fought to hold himself back as blood gushed from Anael’s wound and he howled in pain.
"Do you love Anael?” Sarah asked out of the blue.
Martin closed his dry eyes and licked his cracked lips. He thought about the pain he had felt when Anael had melted in the act of protecting him, leaving only his wings. He thought about an eternity without Anael by his side, wanting and lonely.
"Yes, I love him." Martin’s voice was barely more than a whisper.
Sarah nodded. "Then I’ll create a diversion. Don’t worry about me. Focus on Anael. The whole future of Heaven and Earth depends on you and Anael. Find God and wake him. Restore Him to His rightful place as Creator and I will be freed." Sarah stood up, walking out from behind the rock. The demons looked at her with hungry eyes that made Martin feel sick to his stomach. The demons turned from their ritual and surrounded their new prey. Sarah blew them a kiss, her black wings twitching behind her as she led them to a nearby cave. He smirked as he heard the pained howl of a demon. Sarah could take care of herself until he freed God.
Martin hurried forward, kicking over the candles and disrupting the red dust that the demons had lain down for their ritual. He unstrung Anael from the cross, holding him in his arms and supporting him as he led Anael back to the safety of a cave. He set Anael down softly in one corner of the cave, the light from the imprisoned angels bathing Anael in a blue glow.
"Anael, listen to me." Martin stroked his cheek gently, staring into his eyes. "God is down here somewhere. Do you know where He is hidden?"
"Martin, what are you doing here?" Anael’s head lolled back, a dozen wounds bleeding from his chest and side. "You shouldn’t be here."
"Anael, this is important. Have you felt Him at all?"
"I did feel His warmth, if only for a second. I thought it was a dream..." Anael fought the pain, trying to concentrate. "Yes, I do feel Him, though His warmth is faint."
"Can you take me to Him?"
"I think so." Anael looked up at Martin’s face. "I don’t know how you got here, but I’m so happy to see you again. I never thought..."
"Sarah is holding off demons for our sake. We need to hurry.” Martin squeezed Anael’s hand, telling him in one swift motion that all his feelings were reciprocated.
Anael got to his feet, leaning against the wall as he gathered his thoughts and traced the holy aura of God. "Follow me."
Anael led Martin through a twisting maze of pathways and caves that seemed to go on forever like a giant beehive. Each cave held thousands of angels. Martin wondered how many Gabriel had sent to Tartarus for disobeying him.
"Wait." Martin pulled Anael back behind a rock as two demons passed by. Their yellow eyes spoke
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