Prayers of the Forsaken

PROLOGUE

BY LARA WINNER

Most people believe heaven is beautiful. In their dreams they see every materialistic desire they could ever fathom at their fingertips while choirs of angels sing and God sits on his mighty throne, no pain and no suffering. They see what they perceive to be a place of true bliss and peace.

They have never seen Heaven's golden streets soaked in blood.

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord... I have seen many things since my creation but I have never laid eyes on my God. I've walked heaven's streets, I've touched it's pearl gates, I've looked on the world below and shed many a tear for those who have not made their way here, I've even watched Michael defeat the most heartless of demons and yet I've never seen my maker.

And now I know I never will.

Fear. I know fear is real, it's coursing through my veins, making my body tremble as I stand before heaven's high council. They have gathered here to judge me. Gabriel, Michael, Raphael, and Oriel sit upon their golden chairs, looking down on me, waiting for me to beg for forgiveness. I say nothing.

I see the compassion in Michael's silver eyes. He raised me, trained me to lead his army. He trusted me with this honor. Gabriel will say I have failed but not Michael, he knows why I have done this. But I don't expect him to stand up to my defense. He is greatly out-numbered here and will not dare to speak his mind so freely.

Nervously I glance at the boy standing beside me. He glares at the council of angels, challenging them despite the hopelessness of our situation, and I feel my pride in him rise. He stands so tall, fearless in the face of death, his dark violet eyes angry and willful even now. Gently he grasps my hand, entwining his fingers with mine and I shift a little closer needing his support. His skin is cold.

Gabriel's features contort in anger but he doesn't let go of my hand. A bold move for a demon held captive in the Grand Hall and surrounded by a legion of armed angels. I suppose we are the ultimate blasphemy but what a stunning picture we must present. He wears his armor proudly; the tarnished sliver is a striking against his black knee-length tunic. His chestnut hair, woven in a long braid, gives him a softer appearance than most of his kind but his eyes tell the tale in their deep bottomless depths. His wings are onyx, darker than the feathers of a raven while mine are white, pure as freshly fallen snow. Upon my ebony hair rests a circlet of gold and my robes are the palest shade of blue.

Despite my fall from grace I still have my innocence.

The council will have no mercy on me as I stand my ground.

Gabriel's voice breaks the silence; echoing through the enormous chamber as he asks, "Have you nothing to say?"

I swallow hard. "No."

Gabriel looks away from me, disgust evident on his youthful face. He drums his fingers on the marble armrests trying too keep a hold on his temper though I know he wants nothing better than to rid heaven of my tainted soul. "You are an abomination. To turn your back on your brothers and sisters because you say you love this creature, this dog of hell. What could Lucifer's spawn know of love?"

Gabriel has antagonized him and he responds with the fires of hell burning in his eyes. He pulls away drawing his broad sword from its sheath. The blemished metal, a testament of past battles, gleams with unholy hues of crimson as he points the savage weapon directly at Gabriel. "I've seen you kill children, infants sleeping in their mothers arms, you take their souls mercilessly for the sheer sport of it. So tell us what you know of love?" He screams as four angels, with gold swords drawn and pointed at his throat, force him to relinquish his weapon.

They restrain him as Gabriel turns to me and I am leveled with the force of his fury as his gold eyes pierce mine. "What you have done is unforgivable. The emotions you feel for this serpent have turned you to the darkness. I will not stand for this or bare the insult of you presence here any longer. Since you find defying the order of God so appealing then I sentence you to eternity with nothing but unruly chaos to keep you company." He pauses and then smirks at the irony of his decision, "Hell will not gain another warrior and you are no longer welcome in God's grace. There is only one place suitable for a headstrong wretch such as you. Enjoy your mortality."

Suddenly the hall is echoing with the murmur of shocked voices at the severity of my sentence. I am to be cast away from everything I have ever known. I feel sick as Gabriel's words sink in. Raphael rises from his seat and walks away, Oriel nods his head in agreement with this decision, and Michael says nothing but I can see the sheen of tears that glimmer in his eyes. The only one speaking out against this sentence is my love, but I can't focus on the words he's shouting. All I can see is the rage burning in his eyes as he tries to shake off the hold of his captors. His efforts are futile.

Gabriel gives the signal and I feel my stomach turn as hands cruelly grip my arms, holding me in place for what is about to happen. I've seen angels exiled from heaven. I feel a scream well up in my throat as I close my wings as tightly as I can around me. It doesn't hinder Manoe as he wields his golden dagger in his skillful hand. Roughly he takes hold of one of my wings, gripping it tightly as he begins to sever it from my body.

Pain is real.

I scream as agony crashes over me. Wave after nauseating wave, it floods my senses blocking out everything but the burning tearing sensation. I can feel my blood running down my back, warm and sticky, as it stains my robes. Manoe does the same to my other wing and my legs buckle as I crumple in a bloody heap on the ground. Once again I see heaven stained in blood, only this time it is my blood.

It takes my last bit of strength to keep conscious. Gabriel gives me one last disgusted glance before he turns away. Where is my God now? Is he watching with approval or is he disheartened by what has happened? It doesn't matter now for even as I question everything around me starts to fade. I turn my gaze once more to my love. Tears are streaming down his pale cheeks but there is still love in his eyes. The pain in his beautiful eyes is the last thing I see as the very realm of haven fades completely.

I'm falling. The air stings my skin as I see the ground coming closer, ready to swallow me. I was always told it was impossible for demons to love. I was always told angels were incapable of hate.

It was a lie.

I realize this as my body hits the solid ground forcing me to succumb to the vast abyss of unconsciousness...