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Unknown Within 6

Raphael and I flew towards a place where he and his friends gathered. We flew through the night and into be beginning of a new day.

The first thing we talked about was how nature all around us felt like it was the same everywhere. Trees, rock, dirt, water. Raphael concluded that in our world of demons there is no weather, there are no season. Everywhere it is the same temperature. You would only see variations in the biome when you approached a blue blood territory. They telegraphed their powers very clearly.

But, just like most demons were the same and just differed in slight coloration differences, mane stylings and appendage sizes, nature was pretty much the same everywhere. Trees clumped together making forests of varying sizes, where the trees are all the same, everywhere. Rocks in a variety of formations. Beaches of varying lengths where the shore was. The water with waves over it constantly but nothing too turbulent.

I realized that maybe it wasn't all the same, but my mind constantly compared it to memories I had of the human environment.

We talked about his power over light. He expressed that compared to others in his family, his power is limited, but getting stronger over time. Currently his power over light just improves on what he is already capable of doing. By tapping on it, he can become faster and stronger. He also notes that the hardest part of his body are actually his wings, which was interesting because they look very soft.

Members of his family can project light as weapons or projectiles, or use it to heal, as he had already mentioned one of his sisters could do. He could use his power of light to heal, but with only very minor effects. "Merely boost mine or someone's natural regeneration." He said about that.

We also talked about what he and his family did, do and were planning to do. They were all preparing for what they call a paradigm shift, which meant that the whole realm was changing. Even more, this one was apparently so expansive that it could bring humans and other outrealm creatures into the fray.

He finally told me that his friends are all blue bloods with a mentality similar to his. He was sent to try and find who could be allies during the peak of the paradigm shift. The three he calls his friends had an interest in gathering outside of determined meetings, and they slowly grew closer. Raphael didn't say much about them, feeling that meeting them and letting them speak for themselves would work better.

I didn't have much to tell him about me. Other than that I didn't want to ever be away from him.

"I think this journey will show you who you truly are, Dose. And I'm very interested in seeing who that demon is." Raphael smiled and I felt very warm inside when he told me that.

.-.-.-.-.-

After all the talking, there was a bit of silence. He later signaled to land, so we did. We ended up on a mountain, a flattened portion of it with a cave, probably halfway to its peak, where the bottom was partly covered by trees, and there was a lake nearby. Raphael signaled that inside was where we were going. He moved toward it and was ahead of me by a few steps.

I watched his tail closely. His rump even more so. He looked back and smile.

All of a sudden, the sound of thunder. It was very loud, and sounded like its epicenter was above Raphael. Then, blinding light engulfs him, and I am knocked on my ass.

Where once stood Raphael was now a pillar of white flames and some that reached toward the sky and seemed endless. Tears formed in my eyes and I couldn't help but start shaking.

.-.-.-.-

"Raphael."

The angel heard his name but he couldn't react. A blade made of light and engulfed in white flames hung over his head.

"Patriarch." Raphael spoke, his voice uneasy as he remained prostrated before his father.

"What are you doing, Raphael?"

"Dad"- The smaller angel finally said, and he let the word hang for a moment. Raphael didn't mean to say it like that, it just slipped. But it felt appropriate, regardless. Kafziel is his father after all.

"Dad. Patriarch. I am plagued with questions. Questions that even you, blessed by Pazuzu, cannot answer."

Kafziel watched his son.

"Look at me, Raphael."

The smaller angel looked up and his face had tears running down, dripping to the ground. Tears that were not of sadness, but of sheer awe causing them to involuntarily escape. Raphael was shaking.

He looked at the tip of the fiery blade of light. He had seen it bring judgment before. Then he looked at his father's eyes, which glowed white.

"You have two choices, and you must decide now." He said and Raphael nodded slightly.

"You either return with me, and I personally help you find your answers-"

Something caused Kafziel to pause, and his severeness waned for an instant. Raphael barely caught it, and didn't know what it meant.

But Kafziel continued, his expression growing very cold

"-or you continue on your path, and try to find your answers on your own."

"If you don't return with me, you will never be allowed to return. You will not only no longer be under my protection, you will be under my contempt. I will give orders to kill you on sight if you return to the tower or its protected territory."

Raphael really trembled now. Kafziel sounded menacing.

"You will continue to hold the power to wield light. You carry that in your blood. But you will be treated as an enemy if we cross paths, especially if you impede us in any way."

"If you also take any action to spawn a son of your own, you and all you hold dear will be tracked down and exterminated."

"I will give you a moment to think on this, Raphael."

Kafziel kept his fierce glowing eyes locked with his son's.

There is a lot more he could say, but wont.

...

Between them silence passed, but not for long. Raphael hadn't had to think about it for very long

"Dad, I'm not going back with you." Raphael said.

"Very well. If you are making this decision without emotion clouding your judgment and accept what is at stake, then let us seal your decision. You will bear the full weight of its consequences, Raphael."

Kafziel allowed another moment for final objections.

But there were none.

Kafziel's last bit of patience and mercy vanished then.

The angel of death took his sword with both hands, lifting it over his chest, tip of its blade pointing to the ground. Kafziel looked down, then at his son.

"The only one who can save you now is our father king, Pazuzu himself."

"May he have mercy on you, my son. Because Raphael, I-"

The patriarch raises the blade higher

"- will have none."

Raphael stood and looked at his father, in what was probably going to be the last time in a very long time.

Next time they see each other, it would be the end of one, or both.

Kafziel brought down the sword.