Welcome to Gaia! ::

A pleasurable feeling echoed through her as she stood in a pleasant field. The sun smiled down upon her, bathing her in its radiant light. Behind her the moon slowly descended beyond the horizon. The sun though should be rising began to sink as well. She pushed forward, gaining speed as she raced for the sun’s warm light. Tears streamed from her eyes like small rivers, darkness began to cover over her; the sun was almost gone.
Evangeline still ran holding out her hand trying to reach out for the light. It vanished below the horizon leaving her in darkness. Suddenly a strange red glow like a raging fire started behind her. She turned, to face the light. Her courageous eyes widened with fear and dismay at what had met her.
Her hand smacked against her mouth as the rivulet tears continued down her cheeks. The pleasant field that had been full of light and happiness was now a charred battle field. Piles of dead, forsaken warriors burned, the sky was a thick cloud of black smoke. A woman stood in the middle of the horror, her back to Evangeline. Black leather covered her from her torso to her feet, her hair was an endless black river, the color of a raven, and was flowing through the windless air almost like it was in water. She held two swords tightly in her hands and turned. Solid neon blue eyes caught Evangeline; there was no white, no pupil, just the glowing blue that caused Evangeline to gasp. The woman’s skin was as black as coal and did not reflect the lights of the fires around her.
Evangeline stepped backward, trying to escape the woman’s stare. Her mind echoed with voices that all sounded the same, a calm but deeming voice full of wrath and retribution. Where are you going? Why are you running? What are you doing? Come to me, except me.
She turned run from the woman but instead twisted to fast and clumsily fell to the burned ground. She looked back at the woman who was now standing behind her. Where are you going? The voices continued through her mind. Evangeline tried to scream out but no sound would come. Why are you running? What are you doing?
The woman crouched down her pitiless blue eyes showing no emotion, her black skin giving way to no light. Do not fear me, for thou art thee and you art thou. Our hearts are one, except me, free me. I can avenge thou.
Evangeline was confused, Avenge? She thought watching the woman skeptically.
Yes avenge. They have forsaken us. We shall bring their paradise down. Without thee, thou can never be complete.
The woman held out a hand, waiting. Evangeline took it and they stood together. She watched the woman, the darker side of herself. “I free you, for thou art thee and you art thou. Together is the only way that our hearts can ever be one. We have been purified through fire, baptized in blood, and forsaken by the heavens above. Only we can remember our name.”



Evangeline awoke gasping for air. She sat up taking in her surroundings. The walls were a deep red with gold trimming; the sheets on the bed matched the walls along with the gold painted dresser and chest of drawers. The door to the closet, bathroom and to the hall was a deep ebony wood with brass handles. Evangeline placed a hand on her head and tried to recall what had happened. Flashes of God, a prison cell, and the council clouded over thoughts then vanished as quickly as they had come. She threw off the sheets and stood on the stone floor before walking into the bathroom.
After a quick shower she dressed in a black tank she found in the dresser and a pair of blue jean shorts. She left the room and followed the hall, her bare feet cold against the floor. The hall was lit with torches, the walls adorned with deep red velvet drapery between each torch. Every other curtain was pulled back with a gold braded band reveling an ebony door.
She continued down the corridor taking in the warm air and the simple yet elegant adornment before reaching a large open door way. Taking it she entered a vast room filled with spiraling gold pillars, at one end large ebony and gold doors stood, closed, while at the other stood a throne of pure gold and red, its engraving beautiful and terrifying as it told the tale of the Mighty Prince of Heaven and the horrid tragedy of his fall.
Evangeline walked toward the throne, memories of her battles against the Lord of the Damned and his group of fallen flashing through her mind, his lies and her near fall, the battle against Kestrael and their deaths. She fought the tears that began to cloud her green and blue eyes. She had fought against him, tried to destroy him, in a previous life she had defeated him causing his failure, why was she here of all places why Hell?
She roared out in anger hitting the nearest column sending a wave of force thought the metal and stone. Then she stopped, frozen in place for a few slow moments before crumbling to the ground. Tears poured down her cheeks while confusion swept her mind.
“Evangeline?” a voice called, echoing from the other side of the throne room.
She looked up as a woman walked toward her. Her long orange-gold hair swaying as she walked, her heels clicking against the stone softly and gracefully. Her gold eyes looked intense yet concerned and she wore a full white leather outfit which complemented her dark skin. Evangeline jumped up eyes narrow and hissing as the woman approached.
“What are you doing?” she spoke with a soft British accent that was barely noticeable yet caught on certain words. “I am not going to fight you.”
Evangeline looked quizzical about her remark and stayed in a defensive stance. “What do you want?”
“To know why you are out of bed, your body is still adjusting.” She said simply, an annoyed expression on her face.
Shocked Evangeline stood up straight. “Since when do you care about my welfare, Isis?”
She smiled broadly and wickedly, “Since you made me the proudest mother in the world.” When Evangeline looked confused, Isis continued, “You destroyed his spirit when you told him you were like me, you defied his order, crushed his angel’s hopes and fell just as everyone in this castle has. You looked just like me. My little Exile.” She spoke with excitement and a proud ness that Evangeline did not truly understand and some what feared.
“I need a drink…” Evangeline said holding her head.
“I know just the place!” Isis said thrilled about going out.

An hour later Evangeline sat in the Angel. The bar used to belong to Riana before she had sold it to her old bouncer Sam, who now ran the place with his girlfriend, Arazael. She sat on the bar stool listening as Sai, her protector and close friend told her about everything that had happened in heaven.
She sipped on her drink as Sai took a drag on her cigarette. “From what I heard from Raphael, you didn’t stand a chance. They were going to eliminate you before the council, but Gabriel took the floor and talked on and on about nothing until someone could stop that idea from progression. Then, during a break Raphael sent Leetera to Hell to inform Lucifer of the situation.” She paused taking a slow drag then continued, “Seeing as the situation affected his life as well he broke into Heaven and joined the arguing. It was his idea to exile you.”
“Of course it was. If war is to break out then it would benefit him to have me alive rather than dead.” Evangeline finished off her drink.
Sai shrugged slightly and put out her cigarette. “Well, he did save you in a sense.”
“Only to damn me,” Evangeline narrowed her eyes.
“Yeah well, beats being dead right?” she looked at Evangeline with a soft look in her intense purple eyes.
“I guess…” Evangeline trailed off, slightly pushing the empty glass away from her.
Behind them Isis was boasting, “Yeah, well my daughter just got exiled by God!” she nearly screamed, obviously proud and excited about Evangeline’s ‘betrayal’. Evangeline stood, letting out a deep breath. She looked back at Isis and shook her head then she looked back at Sai who was watching her. “Well I’ll be in hell if you need me… I’m sure there will be a meeting about me being there.”
“Keep me posted.” Sai smiled partly then she looked away to order a drink.

The rest of the meal was spent in silence. Once they had both finished, Kestrael lead the way to the council room and said his good-bye before disappearing into the business of the council room.
Evangeline looked around taking in the difference of the room, compared to that of the council in heaven. Instead of silver and white, deep reds and gold filled the room. Ebony desks that shaped themselves to the circle room sat in columns, instead of the white oak that she new all to well. A large desk that looked much like a judge’s stand towered before the floor of the council room. It had three sections, all at different levels. At the bottom on sat five chairs all equally spaced apart, at the middle sat two chairs, and the same for the highest. The highest of the levels branched out on either side, creating a second floor. Large ebony doors could be vaguely seen from where she stood. She looked back at Rosalie who was standing at the entrance with her pleasant smile.
Swallowing Evangeline looked away and stepped further into the council room. She looked around puzzled, watching as others made their ways to their seats. Fallen that she had fought, some she had nearly killed and others she had almost been killed by moved busily around her. She felt trapped and unarmed, watching all her former enemies move around her, watching her, excepting her.
She looked back at the stand, where there were now others beginning to take their places. Her eyes locked with Isis who was taking her seat on the middle section of the towering desk. Isis smirked before her attention shifted to a man who was taking the seat next to her. She said something that made the man laugh and look in Evangeline’s direction. His red eyes lingered on her before looking away abruptly with a slight expression of anger.
“Damien still has yet to understand that not everything belongs to him.” A deep voice said softly from behind her. She turned to find a built man standing before her. He had almost the same stance as Michael but seemed to have the brains to even out his size. His hair was deep chocolate in color and poured over his shoulders. Every one of his features were stern and strong, his eyes were a deep golden red, that danced like fire and gave a threatening impression.
Jazen, Evangeline thought, remembering the battles between him and her foster father Michael, the damage he had caused and the damage Michael had done to him. He was the first Arch Demon of hell’s court, Lucifer’s top general and warrior, plus his protector. Jazen was one of Lucifer’s main followers during the fall of the Heaven’s Prince. He continued his way to his seat on the lowest section of the main desk.
She looked around noticing that everyone had already made it to their seats, only a few of the seats remained empty among the crescent shaped desk. The room was filled with opponents of her past, though they seemed so different here than in battle. They laughed and smiled, talked and joked with one another. They were no different than those of heaven.
The doors above the high desk crashed open and the room instantly fell into a spell of stillness. Lucifer appeared face firm and blood red eyes penetrating the room, every fallen, even those on the main desk stood and faced where he had appeared. His long black hair flowed behind him as he made his way to his seat. Once at his seat he looked down at Jazen, who in response turned and motioned for all to sit. There was a few seconds of everyone taking their seats then silence. All eyes remained on Lucifer, who did not look at anyone but instead looked down at his desk and shuffled around the papers.
“Evangeline Eve Phoenix, step forward.” He called out looking almost bored. She swallowed hard then stepped forward slowly making her way toward the center of the floor. She felt the eyes of the fallen watching her intensely. Once on the floor he continued, “You have been tried in the court of heaven and deemed as an exile. Therefore you shall now answer to me, but only during war.”
“I was only deemed exile on your word.” She said slightly annoyed with this game of his.
Whispering filled the room. Lucifer looked up at his council and the eerie stillness returned. “My brother was going to kill you child,” his penetrating gaze bore into her, “You owe me your life.”
Evangeline was silent.
“Now, your seat shall be here, next to the Executioner and the Angel Slayer.” He gestured toward Kestrael and a woman with eyes of blue ice. Her blonde hair was pulled back and she looked as if she had been rushed to the meeting. She held herself with pride and had a daring flare about her. This was the same woman who was called the Fallen Arch Valkyrie, Teresa, daughter of Odin himself. Between them was an empty seat.
Evangeline licked her lips and made her way to her seat in silence, at least she was next to someone she knew. Kestrael did not look at her when she took her seat, his gaze remained on Lucifer. There was a long moment of silence before Lucifer stood, “Council, I would like to address our newest member, Evangeline Eve Phoenix, daughter of my dear Isis and Phoenix, Exiled Executioner of Heaven and our Destroyer.”
The council erupted in clapping and whistling, causing Evangeline to sink lower into her seat with a cherry red face. Kestrael nudged her softly, urging her to stand for all to see. Instead she lowered her head in a flustered embarrassment.
“Council,” the eerie silence followed Lucifer’s voice, “You are dismissed for the day. Enjoy it.” His last sentence seemed more like a threat then a parting.


Rosalie rushed toward Evangeline as the committee members poured out of the council room. “Congratulations Miss Eva!”
“Yeah I actually walked out of there alive…” the words did not even sound convincing to herself.
They walked in silence, Evangeline leading the way. She found her way back to the throne room; Lucifer was sitting in silence, a book in hand. She averted her gaze and took the next hallway. It looked just the same as the last time, golden lamps and crimson drapery. Confident she was going the right way she picked up her speed. Soon the drapery vanished, being replaced with large paintings. Evangeline slowed her pace and looked up, entranced by what she saw.
Spiraling clouds of color behind the Golden Palace, the painting so comprehensive, she could see the fine detail of the feathers of the angel’s wings. Before the gates to the Golden Palace stood seven men, all smiling differently and all showing their beautiful wings different in color from the others. The older men looked nothing alike though both dressed in the white robes of the council members of heaven. One had white silver hair pulled back out of his face, his blue eyes melted like mercury and his wings were the purest white Evangeline had ever seen. She wondered how the artist had captured all of the fine details without changing the color of the wings. While the other had long black hair that spilled over his shoulders, and bangs falling into his scarlet eyes, his wings black in color, a dark charcoal color that reflect the light like those of a raven, glossy pulls and deep purples. God and Lucifer before the fall, Evangeline thought.
She moved her attention to the tall built blonde man standing on the opposite side of God. Michael, the first Arch Angel of heaven’s court, God’s lead general and Evangeline’s foster father. He was not the brightest of the Arch Angels but he was their leader none the less. His golden hair long and straight did not fall over his shoulders but instead remained behind him. His bright gold eyes were intense even though he still showed a slight smile on his face. His golden white wings were bent slightly, arching in just the right way so he did not hide anyone around him.
The next man stood a step behind Michael; he looked to the youngest of them all. His face still partly round and emerald eyes still big. His red hair was cut short and was kept in a messy heap atop his head. He smiled just enough to show the top row of white teeth. Uriel was the fourth Arch Angel, and only two years older than Evangeline. They had practically grown up together. He was the archer, his eyesight the best in all of heaven. Evangeline had seen him hit the target without aiming or looking at the board. He had his wings folded almost flat against his back, like a bird. They were a golden red with random yellow feathers scattered throughout them. Uriel’s wings reminded her of a phoenix, fiery and hot, even though they were nothing more than feathers and she knew they were soft to the touch.
A taller more sophisticated man was next. Gabriel had his long black hair half pulled up like normal, his deep ocean eyes held a vague smile while his hands held a heavy looking book. His deep ocean blue wings were bent so that they hid the lower half of his body. They reflected the light showing the brilliant blues and deep greens of the sea, like much of him did. The scholar and the second Arch Angel, he knew everything it seemed, and rarely took sides during a conflict. Gabriel was known as the historian, he had copies of every book in heaven and even some from hell. He was also the best council man heaven had. There was a rumor that he, Jazen, and Lucifer had been close friends before the fall.
Pure white hair and deep scarlet eyes met her next. He was glaring, and obviously not enjoying the white robe. His hair was a slightly tangled mess and poured down his back in a strait river of white. Thick bangs fell into his blood red eyes. Azrael, the fifth Arch Angel, the Angel of Death, well the original. Azrael had long been replaced by Arneth. He had fought along side Lucifer during the great battle, and as punishment was killed, reborn without his powers and without his wings. Lucifer in response had turned him into a Bone Dragon, a painful yet fulfilling transition that the past Angel of Death had enjoyed. Azrael now went by Ramus and lived on the outskirts with his wife Natisha. He did not talk about the past, nor did anyone ask him to.
The last man was standing in front of Azrael and Lucifer, his bright scarlet hair pulled back at the nape of his neck, and even though the painting did not show it, Evangeline knew it was a deep blue-black ribbon that held his hair in place. His bright emerald eyes sparkling as he gave a wide, silly grinned for the painter. He had his wings partly extended but since he was crouching, they did not cover the faces of the other angels. They were the deepest red, with a coppery gold highlighting the areas where the light hit them. Around his neck was the black cord that had been braided through a chain. On the end was a large black cross, engraved with silver though the artist failed to capture that bit of detail of him. Raphael, the third Arch Angel of heaven’s court, the mentalist and psychic, the mathematician, the artist, the scientist, a father and a husband. His voice echoed softly through her mind, “Have you ever wanted to just reach out and pull down the moon?” he had asked, thrill and excitement hanging to his every word.
“Not really… I lived there remember?” she’d answered every time.
“Yeah, but it’s so much more different to see it here than there. There it couldn’t possibly look as beautiful.” He’d turned to her, green eyes sparkling in the dim light. “Just like you.”
She had blushed, like with many of his comments. “You’re crazy…”
“Am I?” his eyes would gleam then. “Or are you?”
“What do you mean?”
He would pull her to him and she would let him, “The moon will always look at the sun and see its beauty and glamour, then at itself and never believe that it is just as magical. Same with the sun, it will always envy moon’s grace and elegance, never realizing that it has all the same traits as well.” She had snuggled into his arms listening to his idolism, “No one will ever know just how truly great they are because they are always looking at everyone else. Up close, things look as if they were the same as everything else, and since we are the closest to ourselves we cannot see the magic that holds us together like others can. Never say you’re not beautiful, because everyone is. They just can’t see it.”
Evangeline reached up and placed a finger on his picture a tear escaping, “you’re just the same… you’ll never know how wonderful you are.” She turned away forcing the tears back, noticing that Rosalie was no where to be seen. She shook her head and continued down the corridor curious to see what other secrets she could find.