The Devil Among Us: A War is Coming

One in the light of the Heavens, To Hold the Knowledge of the Universe.... 
One In the Fires of Hell to bear the dates of Destruction.... 
One in the world of those doomed to Die, to seal the doors closed and force those who break through back into the darkness...

Previously in the Devil Among Us:

The Ancient Fortress of the Gateway, the only place where the Veil of energy dividing the three kingdoms of Heaven, Hell and the Earth could be bypassed, where the living could pass through the Veil and enter the Land of the Dead.

Alexander the Son of the ArchDemon (The Devil) Lucina (Yes the Devil is a woman) and Samuel, the most powerful of the Arc Angels was forever cursed to live upon the Earth. Watching over the more ancient monsters, beasts and legends that were here upon the Earth before mankind, to ensure that the Ancient Pact was followed, that the Harbingers did not involve themselves in mankind's life.

For three thousand years Alexander lived in anger, frustration and pain, slowly increasing the number of Harbingers that would guard the Gateway and the Veil from Mankind and what lies beyond, the Harbingers being, Jack the Ripper otherwise known as Sweeney Todd, Spring Heeled Jack, the Wendigo, Moby Dick, Marina the Mermaid, Kieron the Centaur, Fenrir the great wolf and Minos the Minotaur of Crete lived in security. But now things have changed, a young human woman willingly gave her future to save her father.

Alexandria, gave her soul to the Gateway in exchange for the son of the Devil letting her father go.

Yet something is coming, the world is changing around them, for very soon war shall come.


Chapter 1:the Wraiths are Coming....

One in the light of the Heavens, To Hold the Knowledge of a Universe.... 
One In the Fires of Hell to bear the dates of Armageddons.... 
One in the world of those doomed to Die, to seal the doors closed and force those who break through back into the darkness
 They are the embodiment's of death, They are the Wraiths

The Ancient three existed long before the Veil, long before the Gods and their demons and angels.

As the sun set of the Alexandria's first full day in the Fortress, although she had enjoyed speaking with Kieron the Centaur, working within the gardens and farm ground of the fortress, looking over the different crops. Ranging from the wheat and corn to the potatoes and carrots, and when she was away from them, she cared for the many chickens, pigs and cows that Fortress had to feed those living within its walls.

Yet through all this she was still held back by the sadness of losing her future and the fact that she shall never see her home or her father ever again. She just stood in the gardens, watching the monsters and creatures that were now her  house mates, the monstrous Wendigo, the cannibalistic beast with the body of a large ape, but with a human like face and deer like antlers.

The Pied Piper still whistling and musically speaking through his flute, wearing his fashionable and colorful clothing. The Ripper with his many knives strapped to his belt, his face hidden by a cloth mask with only eye holes to see through.

But then as she watched a sudden change in the weather came, the sun and low mist began to swiftly change into dark rumbling clouds and the sun slowly beginning be blacked out. Then from beneath her feet the earth began quake and shake.

The harbingers nearby recognized the weather in an instant, "Alexandria!!" a call came, she turned to see the answer Spring Heeled Jack, with his long claws, hooded head and face hidden by an old beaked plague mask. He was calling over to he waving his clawed hand for her to come with him, "Come on you need to get to safety!" he shouted.

She looked back to the other Harbingers and could see them gathering their weapons, Minos brandishing a great double Axe, Kieron with a extremely long sword, Ripper with pulling long curved knives. Then from above Alexander came crashing down, landing upon his knees and fist pushing into the ground, he looked around and she could see a face of anger yet again, on his back was a sword of some kind yet upon the blade was a chain  and upon the chain were strange markings that looked like Runes curved and straight.

She followed the instructions and began to run across the empty courtyard, as she did she began to notice that certain things were becoming darker, the grass was dying as were the flowers and other forms of life, a wasp fell to the ground for no reason.

As she ran to Spring heel, who stood in front of the great double doors that lead into the fortress, she turned back and saw something truly terrifying. Coming down from the sky were paths of what looked like smoke, yet when they hit the earth the smoke cleared to show four ghostly figures, upon their bodies were pieces of dark clothing and strange metallic armors that resembled bones there was no skin visible at all. Their faces were covered by the same metallic armors one of them had a mask that looked like a Skull, another that appeared to be spikes, the third was one like that of a snake and the fourth was of a strange demon like creature, the mask was skull like but with strong fang ling points running downwards and a series of short spikes pointing upwards.

In their hands were a variety of weapons, one had a spear, the second a mace, the third an axe and the fourth a sword. They moved fast, faster than anything she had ever seen, they engaged Alexander and the other Harbingers, as she ran all that filled her ears was the sound of weapons ringing as they as metals clashed beyond that only a high pitched sq-eel like sound that pierced her ears.

Spring heel led her through the fortress, yet as she passed a window looking into the courtyard she could not help it but see what was happening. She could see Alexander fighting them with his chain covered sword, fighting the strange ghost like beings, should one be near a wall or tree they would clamber up them and use it to attack from above, yet when they did so their legs seem to disappear and their bodies like that of a ghost with the smoke trail where their legs would be.

Yet for all their speed, Alexander seemed to be winning, he would counter their attacks and help the Harbingers standing with him from their ghostly attacks. Yet every time she stopped to watch the fight Spring heel would either call for her or grab her arm and drag her behind him.

Soon they came to her room, he tossed her in and locked the door behind them, he then ran to her balcony door and like the main door he locked and bolt it firmly.

"What the hell are those things out there?" she shouted

Spring heel, looked over and began to check every window and every nook and cranny "Their Wraiths" he stated, "Ancient monsters... that live beyond the Veil... they are the embodiment's of Death, Wherever they go death follows, everything they touch dies"

She didn't understand "But I thought the Veil kept the living and the dead apart?"

Spring finally stopped with his checking, and despite the fight going on outside he calmed and tried to explain"Wraiths existed before the universe.... the Veil was built to keep them away from it.... away from the three Kingdoms....yet as the millennia have gone on the Veil has slowly begun to weaken and is allowing a few Wraiths to break out of the darkness.... only one thing can drive them back, the same thing that keeps them "Chained" in the Darkness"

She finally clicked to what it was he was telling her "The Chain on Alexanders sword, it had markings on it.... it can send them back" Spring just simply nodded.

Chapter 2: The 3

After what seemed like a long fight, a strong knock came upon the door to Alexandria's room. Spring readied himself just in case. He slowly moved to the door his claws ready, he slowly pulled back lock and the bolts, flinging the door open claws raised for a swipe, he saw a friend.

It was Alexander, bloodied and bruised, cuts to his face and body, one of the horns atop stretching across his head was broken, over half of the horn had been torn away, with blood spilling across his skull. His breath was heavy as he finally spoke "We.... We've sent... sent them Back".

Alexandria could see Spring finally breath a sigh of relief, he turned to her and waved for her to follow, "Come on deary.... the others could require a woman's touch", she understood straight away what he meant, if Alexander was like this then there was no telling how bad the others were doing. She sprang from her seat and followed as quick as her feet could carry her towards the door, as she did so Alexander wandered away, his chained covered sword in hand.

As she got to the door Spring stopped her "Can I ask you a favor?" he asked, she gave a quick and sudden nod "I'll see to the others, but will you take care of Alexander, he'll be the worst off trust me"
At first unsure, she finally gave a slight nod with a firm look on her face in agreement to which Spring gave he a large bag of sought from the corner, after which she began quick marching after Alexander.

She finally caught up to him, in a large room unlike any other, the room was held by stone columns, at first thought she swore it resembled a chapel she heard that castles once had within them. At what would be the alter was a table of some sought, in front of it as Alexander kneeling down, his shirt and armor removed he was kneeling down with nothing covering his back and chest, gripping his stomach, yet on the table held by a pair of statues, one was a male with large wings behind on the left, whilst the other was a woman on the right. Each had an arm stretch out together, hands holding onto some kind of object, one she recognized easily. It was the chain she had seen on Alexanders sword. The statues were very badly cared for, they were both covered in weeds that had over grown them, the stems circling the stone and brown or green leaves dotting the stems length.

Yet she focused, running towards the kneeling Alexander, who still clutched his stomach. She kneeled down next to him, and found a deep wound, a gash running across left to right across his abdomen, she quickly ruffled through the bag she had been given and found all she needed, cloth that resembled bandages alongside flowers and herbs she knew were medicinal along side a metallic water container.

Slowly she pulled the bandages around Alexanders Abdomen, as she did she easily saw dozens of scars, ranging from puncture marks from sharp teeth to long slashes that resembled the current injury. She now understood what they had all been telling her, Alexander truly had been having a tough life, filled only with pain, physical and emotional, for on his back were two Scars more obvious than the others, they were straight going down his shoulder blades, she slowly reached to check them, and finally a show of pain, for as he finger tip touched the scarred skin a sudden heavy breath came alongside a quick quiver from her patient.

When she was finally done patching him up his abdomen, she turned to his head, there was still blood coming from the broken horn atop his skull. As she stood to try and care for it,  using some of the bandages she reached for the broken horn and found something very odd, the horn was growing back, so she forgot trying to patch him up to cleaning up the blood, wiping away what she could with the water from the container and the bandages, she had expected him to react again.

Yet he didn't he just remained there kneeling on the floor, staring the stone floor, Alexandria was finally done tending to him, she didn't quite understand why he was so important for Spring heel to ask her to care for him. She look up to the two statues, and saw some striking resemblance to Alexander in each of them, from the female statue, she could see Alexanders facial structure, his cheek bones and strong chin and from the man she saw the forehead and eye structure that Alexander had, "These must be his parents" she thought. One an Angel the other the Devil.

Soon her attention turned to the chain being held by the statues, the chain that Alexander held upon the sword he used to fight the Wraiths. She stood to get a closer look at it, she was enchanted by it, she slowly reached out to touch it but then "Don't!" a voice came, she turned to see Alexander. Whom had finally moved, looking at her "Don't touch it... if you wish to live", he rose to his feet, standing tall high above her again.

"What is it?" she asked cautiously, turning back to the strange chain hanging between the statues.
Alexander walked up, standing next to her he finally brought his answer.

"it is the Chain of the Veil" he stated "One of the Ancient Three", stretching his right arm around her back, he gripped her right shoulder and began to pull her away from the chain.
As they moved away a new question came.

"Three?" she asked

He nodded "One in the light of the Heavens, To Hold the Knowledge of the Universe.... 
One In the Fires of Hell to bear the dates of Destruction.... 
One in the world of those doomed to Die, to seal the doors closed and force those who break through back into the darkness" He described, "They are ancient artifacts that make up the veils power....the book of Knowledge in the heavens, The Hands of Armageddon in Hell and the Chain of the Veil here"

"Spring said that the Veil has begun to weaken" she stated

He nodded "Slowly....we don't know why but it just has, and as it has more and more wraiths have begun to break through, and the only thing that can send them back is the chain" He took a moment to catch a breath and check his wound "Yet the three are so powerful that should any touch them, they are.... quickly destroyed by its power"


Chapter 3: Wings no more

Alexandria looked up to his head as they continued to walk and saw that already the broken horn atop his head was growing back, she couldn't believe something could heal so quickly. But this thought merely brought her back to the scars on his back, the two that came down over his shoulder blades.

"Can I ask how you got them?" she pointed to the scars, yet he didn't answer he just removed himself from the conversation and walked away at a quicker pace leaving her behind. She didn't push the subject, she could already guess that the subject was touchy. Yet as she followed close behind, she noticed something out of the corner of her eye, a strange stairway heading downwards, as she peaked down the spiraling stairs she was suddenly startled.

"I wouldn't do that if I was you" a voice came, she turned to see something she had not expected, it was Minos the Minotaur, he was something she had not expected. His head was definitely that of a bull but his entire upper body was hairless, his skin was dark grey almost black. his legs were a strange mix of Bull yet obviously changed to allow him to walk upright, he bull legs were covered with dark black fur that went down to his strong grey hooves.

Atop his legs and covering his private areas was a pair of cloth shortened trousers that only came just above the first joint, she guessed to be his knee. "That down there" he said in a grumbled voice "Is Hydras room.... and he likes to be alone" he extended his right arm in a direction of a different hallway. She took the queue and made her way down the hallway, closely followed by Minos, she could hear the stone floor and rugs above it echo as Minos walked alongside his hooves almost stomping the floor.

She felt uneasy but finally decided to break the Ice and attempted to ask the question she found no answer for from Alexander "How did Alexander, get the scars on his back?".

Minos looked to her and began to slow down "You've seen the statues in his room right?" he grunted, her answer a simple nod, "Well the best person to ask, or well best creature to ask is Cerberus, She'll tell you more" he stopped and pointed to a hallway leading to a large door, she looked to Minos and yet again Minos just pointed, "You want answers don't you. she'll be the one to give them" after he grunted these words he just simply walked away.

She took a deep breath to gather her strength and prepare herself, finally she began to move forward down the lonely corridor on either side she saw paintings of all manner of beasts and monsters, ranging from a dark black dragon fighting a knight in shining armor to what appeared to be a painting of a man who is actually two.

Finally she got to the door, its iron handle in her hand, she plucked forth her courage and pushed it forward, the inside of the room was mostly empty, but then a growl, then another and another.
Slowly from the darkness came a creature she had never thought to ever see, it was she, it was Cerberus. A large dog its front shoulders came to her to the top of Alexandria's head, who resembled a doberman, with three heads all facing her, she gulped as she felt her heart race faster and faster, until the three heads began to speak in unison with a voice of a middle aged woman "So... you are the woman.... Alexander spoke of" they went "Why is it you come to me?" Alexandria paused for a second as the Cerberus began to circle her,"Do you...not have.... a voice in which to speak..... Or is it because you do not know how to answer......."

Finally Alexandria brought her words "I want to ask you something?" she asked, Cerberus paused in front of her and all three of her heads stared her directly in the eye. "How is it Alexander got the scars on his back? the ones that haven't healed"

Cerberus halted her pacing and slowly brought herself forward before finally beginning to relax using one of her heads she pulled open a set of curtains allowing the setting suns light come in, she fell onto her side her heads held high as the rest of her body relaxed. "The story is not a happy one..." she stated "Before Alexander, there was only one Harbinger here.... Me..... he was sent down as a baby... I raised him as best I could..... but then one day his wings began to grow, he was growing fast.... so fast and I tried to do right by him...." she began to speak with a more and more pain, Alexandria could tell that there was so much pain in the story.

"When the wings finally properly formed, they were powerful, he used them help harbingers like Minos and bring in others like Kieron and the Piper..... but it caught the attention of the Celestial beings and they sent down someone to remove them" She paused for a moment as all three heads began to feel tears run down their furry cheeks, "They sent down his father..... to not cut the wings off.... but....but to.... " she paused again as the pain of the memory was bringing the pain back worse than ever before.

when she finally finished the sentence Alexandria herself could feel the pain "To Tear them off...."
Alexandria gasped in shock, she now truly understood, Jack the Ripper and Spring heel had told her that Alexander hates his parents for choosing him to live here, and that he has only known anger all his life, but hearing that his own Father had physically torn his owns sons wings off, made the anger even more reasonable.

Chapter 4: The HellGuard

Another day went by before Alexandria saw him again, during that small time though the other Harbingers had begun to accept her. They had even given her a nick name for her alone Lexi they would call her now, she liked it after all it was a lot easier than calling her Alexandria all the time.

The next time she saw him though there was something very different, he seemed calmer like he had a good nights sleep. When it came time for them all to have a bit of dinner, everyone was shocked to find that he had come down from his solitude within the shrine to his parents. He had removed the cobwebs from the main chair that sat at the head of the table in the dinning room, for the first time in the memory of all present he ate his dinner with the others instead of alone in seclusion.

All were amazed, as he actual spoke with a calm and nicer manner, it was like he had nothing wrong with him. There was laughter and love being spread through the room, even Alexander smiled seeing the cheerful side of things, instead of all the Harbingers being silent, quietly eating their food without  word being said. No now he could see the truth of the world he was in, he had for countless centuries believed he was without a family, when all along he had it with him and now he could see that this Fortress was his home.

Yet the following morning things would rapidly change, for that morning the sky was open and the sun shown bright, Alexander looked up knowing full well what was happening, the Fortress was getting a visit from the HellGuard. "Lexi!" he shouted, the first time he had called her that.

She quickly made her way over,  pausing when he held his hand open to her, a signal for her to stop "GET INSIDE BEFORE THEY SEE YOU" he shouted over to her with the look of fear, care and even love. She looked up to the sky and saw why, swooping down from above were sets of wings she instantly understood was going on.

Another shout came from behind her, turning to see Kier-on the Centaur, charging towards her, again she heard Alexanders voice "Get her out of here". Kier-on grabbed her and pulled her onto his back, before continuing his charge into the fortress at highest speed his hooves could carry him. She turned back to check and she could see the winged shadows coming down faster and faster showing themselves to be human.

Alexander stood firm ready to face down his Heavenly bound family. The Winged individuals set themselves down, they were ArchAngels, the most powerful of the Angel class and Alexander knew their leader very well, "Hello.... Uriel", the leader stepped forward wearing golden armor, the metal was engraved in a decorative manner, the engravings were like those of feathers. Their leader removed his helmet, showing his full face and head, He had dark black hair cut short, his face was clean and free of any facial hair.

"Hello, Nephew" he said in a calm crystal clear voice, he gave a small smirk. But then began to look around, noticing the number of Harbingers rallying around Alexander weapons readied, all of them were readied, Minos with his axe, Spring Heel with his claws, Ripper and his curved knives and finally with his flute turned blade was Piper. "I see a good number..... how many is that now?" he asked

Alexander just stared into his face "Nine" he answered not once taking his eyes off his uncle, "I don't see Gabriel here.... he's usually the one to come when there's a problem".

Uriel smiled again at his nephew "Gabriel is busy... with something else" he paused "I understand that a Mortal has been welcomed here.... knowing full well that it is against the Laws of the Gods"

Alexander just nodded "She is here to ensure her fathers silence... that he may never  speak of our place here"

Yet Uriel is not done "You and I both know that I cannot tell a Lie..... So believe me when I say a price has to be paid" Alexander paused and only watched as Uriel and the other angels spread out their wings and lept into the air and into fliet. Then all of a sudden he understood what he meant, a price had to be paid, "Lexi!" he whispered, he turned and ran as fast as he could, he ran through the empty garden, up the stairs and through the doors.

Meanwhile as Alexander talked in the heart of the Fortress Lexi was finding shelter with the one creature Kier-on trusted, Cerberus. She paced back and forth knowing full well what was going on, the Hellguard had come for Lexi, "Whats going on?" Lexi asked.

Cerberus turned all three of her heads to Lexi "Its the Hellguard" she stated Lexi looked unsure, not truly understanding, "the Hellguard was founded after Lucina s rebellion, after the Heavens drove her and her supporters into hell and they became demonic, Heaven created an army solely for the preparation of war, the Hellguard" she explained "lesser angels lead by the powerful Archangels... eventually they became an army greater than any.... just in case Hell should rise again..... but when Alexander was born.... they've been worried.... scared because there's never been a Hybrid before.... their afraid of what he might become.. they" suddenly she stopped as all three heads began to sniff the air.

When from the shadows came the reason " We are afraid of what he shall become" a voice went, stepping into the light was another Archangel, one Cerberus knew very well.

"Gabriel!" she growled

Back in the present, Alexander continued his drastic run towards Lexi and Cerberus, smashing open the battered and broken doors of her room with the archway of the door badly broken and almost turned to rubble, to see something he had dreaded. He saw Lexi kneeling caressing the central head of Cerberus, all heads had their eyes gently closed, for Cerberus was laying on her side. In the light from the torn curtains he could see the shimmer of tears coming from Lexi's eyes, "Is she?" he stuttered.

Lexi turned to him, eyes filled with tears, Alexander stepped forward and knelt by the body the one who had raised him. "You have earned your rest... Mother.... may you find peace" Giving each of her heads carefully and lovingly one last time.

But then Lexi could hear something, like something burning, turning to Alexander she could see small flames coming from his back and from the flames came a set of dark black wings, demonic wings, like those of a dragon. Then his body began to burn and change, turning from a taller human being into a more demonic state, his skin slowly began to turn more like armor, metallic, plated and strong, his head began to turn more and more demonic as well, his skull altered in the fire. It became longer and more animalistic, a long snout with large canines and pupils that were vertically elongated.

Standing tall, he turned to see all the harbingers that could walk on land living in the fortress, from Kier-on to Minos, all of them were in pain and anger, they all looked to Cerberus as a mother. "My friends" Alexander stated firmly and angrily "Heaven prepares to march on us.... whilst Gabriel.... Cerberus's Murderer sits from its gates.... laughing at us...." They were all nodding their heads firmly they all agreed, "Stand with me..... and together let us show those Bastards what happens when you mess with Harbingers"

He Marched out the door and was quickly followed by all the others, Lexi could only sit and watch as they marched their way to war.