☩ The White Faces ☩ IC ☩

[Deathmaker]

Harlequin turned his head around as a much stronger force appeared from the shadows, one that he had always respected from eons ago... Abatu. Satan's demonic trump card and one of his best generals in hell. Harlequin is a tad bit insane but even he knew power when faced with it. As he always did, Harlequin transformed into his true form and bowed in respect to Abatu. Although they were all demons, they still considered some as comrades and stuff. Here there was a hierarchy between classes and strengths. The weak obey the strong while the weaker obeyed the weak. As it is written, Submission to greater power is the only rule in the Pit. That's why when it comes to Abatu, he had some respect to him. Although some demons did respect Harlequin.

"I think I can say I'm already done with my prey. That Tony had a delicious cocktail of fear and guilt. I'm telling you, the taste was golden." Harlequin chuckled as his smiling face turned to a sight ahead of them. Angels. How Harlequin hated those bastards. Those winged birds who were just puppets. However, mortals always cry to those birds. Futile efforts, they'll all die anyway. What was the point of trying to act brave? All this will bring them is pain... Pain is not a negative stimulus but just a sign of their imperfection and they are all imperfects. Why not just dedicate their lives to the one and true savior of the world? Well Humans really are just muppets, being manipulated. How Harlequin pitied them. So naive, so fragile and so weak. Easily manipulated and easily enticed. Why do those winged bastards still protect these mortals?

"Even Angels fear death and we are death itself. It's only a matter of time before they come crawling to us on their feet. Hahaha! How I'll love that day." Harlequin laughed as vanished in a cloud of black smoke.

"Even if they are self proclaimed servants of the Most High, they are still too weak to take us on. No matter how many of them there might be, I'm sure we can take them all. I'm not hesitating to turn this town into a warzone, all the more souls to bring down to the furnace. Lord Satan will be pleased." Harlequin laughed as he licked his lips.

"I can't wait..." Harlequin's voice echoed across the mortal world as he faded to the shadows and awaited their next move.

[ladybella]

Angelo

Angelo had been watching the little girl, Amy color on the sidewalk for some time before he suddenly felt a cold chill. He frowned, something he rarely did and didn't notice as Amy stopped coloring and stared at him, her arms crossed and a sour look upon her face.

"You have to go don't you," She said flatly.

"I do I'm afraid, there are others in the world who need my help, but I'll be back child, I promise," Angelo said. He looked at her and smiled, then stood and began to walk down the street. Once he had turned the corner, Angelo flew into the sky and headed for where he sensed the other angels gathered. He knew the little girl already thought he was an angel but, there was no reason to confirm her suspicions.

Angelo landed, seeing Gabriel, Nathaniel, and Zadkiel there under a tree. He nodded at each of them then looked out towards a building where humans were gathered and there, looking at them were the white faced demons.

"I though I could be of some assistance," Angelo said softly.

Perry

Perry jolted up in her chair as the phone rang right by her ear. She looked groggily at her computer screen then to the phone. She picked it up and rested her elbow on the desk and her head in her hand as she put the receiver to her ear.

"Hello?" She said gruffly.

"Hey, you said you were coming home for lunch," The voice of her roommate, Megan sounded through the phone. Perry looked at the clock realizing it was indeed a bit past lunch.

"Oh, I'm sorry I fell asleep, I'll be there soon," Perry said rubbing her face. She hung up the phone and starred at her finished piece. She had already read through it a few times, and the editor would take out what he didn't want and add what he felt needed to be added so she attached it to an e-mail and sent it to him. She yawned and stretched, watching the little animated letter fly away. Then she stood, gathered her purse and headed out of the office.

Perry's roommate, Megan, was also a newspaper reporter, for another newspaper of course and the two of them bounced ideas off of each other quite frequently. They had taken a special interest in all of the mysterious suicides that had been happening and had been quietly looking for answers on their own time. Neither of their editors wanted to hear anything about it, saying that the investigators didn't come in and write the news so why should Perry and Megan investigate? It was all rather frustrating, their editors and the fact that they were basically getting no where in all this investigating. None of the dead knew the same people, killed themselves in the same way or had anything in common. It was terribly discouraging.

Perry sighed as she stepped out of her car and began to climb the stairs to the shared apartment. When she reached the door she could smell the cooking coming from the kitchen. Megan was a part time reporter, part time culinary student and she kept Perry fed and out of trouble most of the time. Perry walked in and sat down at the table, a plate of food already there. She looked up to the wall just opposite her and saw all the newspaper articles about the suicides, whether they had wrote them or not. There were notes in the margins, red lines connecting similarities between victims but not a single solution.

"Did you write the piece on the guy who jumped 38 stories?" Megan asked sitting down. Perry nodded, and picked up her fork.

"I'll have it up there with the others soon," Perry said sadly.

[Harbringer]

Groaning loudly, Nathaniel raised his head and placed his thumb and forefinger onto his temples, rubbing them lightly as she did her little shrug. It was that nonchalant attitude that pissed Nathaniel off the most, maybe even more so than Gabriel’s lateness. When she gave her explanation, Nathaniel was mildly mollified, letting it go with a few words hidden beneath a growl as he dropped his head down to face her once more. “As long as you can swear by that reason, I will not hold the lateness against you,” he said with a sigh, slicking his unruly blonde hair back with an immaculately gloved hand as his other remained in his pocket.

Removing his free hand, he produced a box of the things that the humans called ‘cigarettes’. While technically unholy and bad for one’s health, Nathaniel didn’t care. He was already immortal, so there were no bad effects from it, and the action, for some reason or other, calmed him down, allowing him to be a little less hot-headed and more lucid. Opening the carton, he brought it to his mouth and pulled out one of the sticks with his teeth, before bringing out a lighter with his other hand from within his blazer, placing the carton back in his pocket. His first time with one of these had been when he was trying to evangelise one of the humans. The man had offered him one of these ‘smokes’ and Nathaniel had accepted more for the humanising quality than anything else. He needed the man to trust him, and so he took what bones he was thrown. Eventually, it became an everyday for him. This was just one of the many reasons why the other Archangels distrusted him, and why he was one of the less favoured. He did unconventional and disgusting things such as putting poison in his body.

Lighting it with a practised movement, he put the lighter away and turned around as he felt another presence. It was an angel, that was for sure, but it was too weak to be an Archangel. Probably one of the lower ranking angels coming to report something or other. “Oh, it’s you,” he said casually, noting Avarielle joining them. He had nothing against the seraphim, but she always seemed to be on guard around him. From what he had heard, she had a fear of flames. ‘Ah well’ Nathaniel thought as he took a long draw on the stick of tobacco, bringing the smoke into his lungs, ‘it’s not my job to be friends with anyone.’ With that, he expelled the smoke into the air and held the cigarette between his index and middle finger, letting it drop down to his side, although he could feel none of the effects that humans described it as. He was still as numb as ever. Watching idly as the smoke curled around the air, he directed his eyes back to Avarielle. “May I ask what business you have here today?” he asked bluntly. If she was hoping for pleasantries, she was horribly wrong. The archangel was famed for being brash, blunt, and utterly unaccommodating to even the most likable individual. In this way, he proved to be a bit of a foil for many of the other seraphim, not that he cared.

A fourth presence made itself known, and Nathaniel groaned quietly as he turned to face it. Raphael, by the sound of his voice. Someone he could never get along with. They were like fire and ice. One could not exist while the other was alive, although they somehow made things...tolerable. Destruction could not exist in the presence of Healing and regeneration, and vice versa. When the other Archangel gave his excuse, Nathaniel rolled his eyes as he brought the cigarette back to his mouth. “Of course you did,” he said sarcastically, before placing the cigarette filter to his lips and taking a large draw, “you always do.” Looking down at the little Gabriel, Nathaniel fixed her with a death glare, before simply shaking his head and looking away. He wondered how he was created as a sibling for these people. He was utterly out of place.

A sudden chill descended down his back, and he felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise up. An animalistic growl escaped from his lips as he turned his head to face the source of it, two smiling children, although he saw their true forms. Great, toothy grins and blank eyes. White Faces. His eyes narrowing in hatred and disgust, Nathaniel turned to face them as the cigarette remained in his mouth, held in place by his hand which hovered in front of his face, obscuring his mouth. Just then, another angel descended, but, as was the case with Avarielle, he was not an Archangel. His name escaped him, although the appearance looked mildly familiar. Striding forwards, his free hand in his pocket, Nathaniel pushed past the newcomer. “You can help,” he said in his deep voice, “by getting the hell out of my way.” Alone, he approached the white faces, heedless of any consequences. Taking a final draw from the stick of tobacco, he let the smoke curl from his nose, before dropping it to the ground and stamping it out with a single violent movement. “Oi, you scum sucking little bastards,” he shouted towards the white faced demons across from them, “just hurry up and get over here, I want this over and done with.” With that, the area behind Nathaniel burst into flames, and Nathaniel himself was immolating. The fires themselves would not harm the angels, but they would prove to be a powerful barrier to the demons. His eyes burned with zealous fervour, and his hair blazed merrily, as if it was a flame itself. His left hand remained in his pocket as he drew closer, his right one raised upwards and clasping a ball of phosphoric flame.

[KuiKarasu]

Zadkiel felt the presence of Nathaniel's flames, a sensation he'd grown accustomed to when danger was near. Putting away the little pocket mirror, he tucked it within his robe along with the book. "I do hope it doesn't get destroyed again. I had a difficult time explaining to the librarian that the last one turned to ash." His hold over dimensions sprang up around him, bringing up a barrier of invisibility while his ice-white wings erupted from his back. Straight up, he flew, until he could spot the holy flames. Narrowing his eyes, he could see a gathering of the other angels. "Ah, that's right. There was a meeting today." His wings tucked in, and he dived towards their locations, the feathery appendages snapping out to pull him up once he was above them. "Forgive me for my lateness."

At this distance, it was easy to sense the decaying feelings of nearby White Faces. A rotting that seemed to seep through the back of his mind. So this is why Nathaniel brought out his flames, but surely this wasn't the best time or place to pick a fight. Hovering above the group, he only caught sight of a single White Face vanishing, but the presence definitely called for more. With this many angels in one place, they couldn't be outnumbered, but... Zadkiel recalled that this feeling in his gut might be what his books called 'uneasiness'.

[Lucielt]

It couldn’t have been more than two seconds before Nathaniel had started to act as the brat he often behaved like. Not only did he have the least amount of respect that could be imaginable among an angel but he also had absolutely no control over himself or his actions. With an openly reproachful look he spoke rather dryly. “And I can still see you are still vulgar, as per usual.” He eyed the smoke trailing from the deathly human artifact with a strong distaste, what a pointless waste of time. And how was he even obtaining those things? But Raphael let the thought drop from his mind ignoring the rather questionable means that Nathaniel may have gone through to get them and focused on the new presence that could be felt. White faces as well as two other angels.

And soon his thoughts were laid to rest as the white faces were revealed. And it seemed that filth Abatu was here, but even still there couldn’t have been more than three or four, so they were clearly outnumbered and the angel’s had nothing to worry about. As per calling one of the angels by the name of Angelo showed up, followed not long after by the archangel Zadkiel. Six angels, four of whom were archangels would certainly not lose to petty demons, not even Abatu could beat those odds. But demons were hopelessly arrogant as was the original so there was not a doubt in his mind that they would stay unless they actually felt the odds turn against them. Then they would run away as quickly as they could, like the cowards they were.

[XxRikaxX]

Gabriel

Date: November 9th, 2003
Time: 3:43 P.M.

As much as Nathaniel's foul mouth and useless items unsettled her, she simply pursed her lips and moved on with something else, perhaps another topic or just walked on. But this time, she shook her head and sighed silently to herself. Suddenly, Gabriel turned her direction to the two angels that arrived later than others. First was Angelo, a rather lower rank but genuinely kind one. She did enjoy his presence and, even though she was much older, admired him. The other was Zadkiel, one of the older angels that took pleasure in Japanese tradition(considering Father had created him to have similar traits to a Japanese person. Despite him being older, he was usually a man of logic, sometimes forgetting the emotions God had given them. Smiling to the two, she dipped her head, once again, the red flame hair falling to her face.

"Do not worry. There wasn't a specific time to arrive, anyway." That was just to irritate Nathaniel for his foul mouth and useless ministrations. Gazing to see if all the angels were already there, she nodded and turned back to the White Faces, who had gone invisible to the human eye. Emphasis on human. Suddenly, Nathaniel had started engulfing himself in flames and making a barrier from where the demons stood. It certainly made the innocent children run away in fear, but Gabriel decided to make herself invisible as well.. to the human eye, that is. She expected the others to do the same. Good, Nathaniel. Stuffing away her wings, Gabriel studied the three, pale demons and pursed her lips in absolute disgust. They were lowly, nasty, practically the mafia of the supernatural world. And Gabriel wanted to throw away every ash of their existence down to the pots of Hell. Farther than Hell, if possible. She wanted them to be consumed in their hatred and die, never returning to see the world. But most of all, she wanted them to be at her feet, begging for mercy. To show that they at least cared for something. Their selves. It made the petite one sad to think that way... but they were like ice and fire. Neither liked each other... never will and never shall.

Abatu

Date: November 9th, 2003
Time: 3:49 P.M.

Ah, many had arrived, but the fun was only just beginning. True, only three White Faces certainly could not defeat six angels, especially with four being archangels and all. However, with one or two seraphim down, that could be enough to weaken the whole group. They did "care" about their brothers and sisters, after all. Taking advantage of his invisibility, before the firewall had started, he turned to Harlequin and Jolon, his black mouth, uttering up and down. "Hey, listen up. You both know we can't defeat all of them... It's three against six. Barely fair. However, if we damage one or two, possibly even three, it will benefit us greatly. They're foolish and they "care".." At that word, Abatu let out a small and dark chuckle. He did enjoy the angels' poor emotions greatly. True, their minds did not work like humans and it was extremely difficult to taunt them, but still... It was hilarious watching those spineless bastards function in battle. Smirking, he noticed one had charged into battle and created a giant fire barrier trapping the demons. Certainly, their was no passion in his eyes... Anger. Determination. Hatred. But no passion. Was this even an angel at all?

Abatu's large, coal eyes studied the angels and picked out the weakest ones by appearance. Two of them were once humans, a woman and a man, but the rest were archangels. Those he could find out which were weakest. He had never met one, but his master often talked about them. Of course the once human man was to target(Angelo), but not the woman. He would save her for later. However, Abatu noticed someone else in the crowd of winged beings. A little girl. That was possibly the weakest one as well. He had never heard Lucifer speak of her.... Someone who ripped off his wings and that was it. But nothing more. Laughing hysterically, he turned to Jolon and requested he fought the little girl.

[Whyntir]

The strength from his recent kill was still pumping through his form, like a surge of adrenaline in a time of necessity he felt he could take on an angel, maybe two. Jolon's unhappy frown twitched up in amusement, finding his superior's laughter contagious to say little; but at the same time he felt unsure. There were so many powerful Angels, and he himself was not Abatu; not to mention the little girl did not feel little. Jolon was always around children, not preying on them, but the adults around them and could feel an age that dwarfed his own radiating from the small body.

But Abatu had accosted him . . .

"Of course," the child-like demon grinned, hiding his ill-at-ease with a perfect mask that lacked as much passion as the Angels. He ran, he admitted it; he was more known to escape instead of engage. His strongest power was his deception, which did not work against heavenly beings.

[Deathmaker]

Harlequin let out an insane laughter as his true form erupted. His eyes searing with rage as he stood on the brink of death and destruction. Harlequin looked at Abatu, his superior. Harlequin's bloodlust was high now and few could stop him. Harlequin's wide mouth opened as an echoing tick resounded in his vocal chords. Harlequin's eyes opened in glee as he shot forward an expanding cone of sonic blasts that was headed towards the angels. He couldn't care less for the casualties since mortals are of no use to him other than a meal. He knew Abatu would be mad at him for initiating the fight but heck, killing Harlequin would just send him to his home... although bound for another eon or so. The demon then followed up another cone of sound that was headed towards the weakest angels.

Harlequin's specialty was sound and silence. He did well with both of those powers, combining shattering sound waves along with taking the sound away. While proving flexible, this power has a weakness. Mainly an open space or by blocking it. The sound is quite carefree, being able to traverse through open spaces, making it less effective. The worse scenario would be in an enclosed space where the sound reaches its full potential.

The playing ground was in the White Faces' favor as the angels cared for the mortals and had two missions: To defeat them and to save the mortals.

"You can scold me later Abatu but this time, I want to gauge my strength. It's been a while before I managed to fight an angel." Harlequin's twisted voice was accompanied by crazy chuckles.

"How will you defend yourself against sounds that make you break and silence that makes your ears ache? Don't underestimate us!" Harlequin shouted in crazed battle fervor.

The cone of sound began to expand as it shattered obstacles in its wake... The angels could block it or better, they could dodge it and destroy a portion of the surrounding area.

[KuiKarasu]

Zadkiel reacted quickly as the ground crackled and shrubbery was uprooted by the force of the sound waves, nearly visible to the naked eye. Ah, but this White Face was at a disadvantage against him. From his place above the group, he thrust his fists out together as though shackled by chains and slowly pulled them away from each other. As he did so, a wall of gravity and sheer heaviness poured down in front of the sound waves, the vacuum that his gravity created, stopping the attack in its tracks.

"Be on your guard. I might not be able to shield its every attack." While his shields were very effective against that White Face's attacks, it was still invisible. He wasn't going to be able to know from where its attacks are coming from until it's already happened.

[Lucielt]

Everything was moving quickly, as is to be expected in the heat of a pending battle. But the archangel Raphael could not match up to par with the caliber of his fellow angels when concerning this matter even as he wanted to. Unlike his siblings, he devoted most of his time to healing those who were wounded and that included fixing wounds of the flesh. So it was somewhat of an uncomfortable situation to him when he needed to damage another living being, even if they were unredeemable and absolutely evil, even if he felt like tearing them apart limb by limb and scattering their insides across the earth-he found it difficult. He lacked not the passion or the anger but was restrained by the same mental block that made him so useful elsewhere.

But he didn’t have the time to worry about these sorts of things, as prevalent as they may be. He cleared his mind and focused on the situation around him, deciding it would be best to make a reaction as opposed to charging. Nathaniel and Gabriel had seemed to jump on the offense fairly quickly; Zadkiel had taken up a defensive position while both Angelo and Avarielle had yet to make a move. All of the white faces remained invisible, so this was their first trick. But he’d never fought any of them before he had no way of knowing what their other ‘tricks’ might be. He’d have to be careful and just take a more defensive method.

In a single quick movement he placed himself within a small pace from Zadkiel. To him this seemed to be the most beneficial place to be at the current moment, doubly so in that if one of the White Faces made an attempt on Zadkiel that got past his shield Raphael could at least do something-he did find it much easier to attack when it was in defense. He would wait and observe for the moment, but would not hesitate if he was required.