An Angel's Dream

“Hello Parfaxitas.” He said calmly. A gasp of astonishment came from Serene.

“Parfaxitas?! You didn’t tell me we were going into one of the tunnels of Set!” This was bad and Serene wanted to be home in the worst way. The archangel should have told her the truth. If she had known this was a tunnel of Set, she would have told Raziel to stick it! The Tunnels of Set were supposed to be myth, a fictional work of misguided beliefs, and an occult fairy tale. These tunnels were populated with ghastly demons, swarming diseases, and countless dangers. “I should have known! You people never tell the whole story, its always riddles and parables! Doesn’t anyone from Heaven just speak the plain simple truth?” by now Serene was yelling, panic and fear causing her to back up from both archangel and demon. Complete blind terror was beginning to take control in a matter of minutes she was going to go insane!

Reaching out, Raziel pulled her back into the shelter of his arms. Instantly warmth and tranquility surrounded her, restoring sanity. “There is no need to be afraid Serene. No one will hurt you.” No sooner did the words of comfort leave Raziel’s mouth, bitter laughter escaped from Parfaxitas.

“You never let me down Raziel. I can see once again you have used me to protect one of your many secrets.” The demon pointed at the object the archangel held so casually.

“Merely one of mine many journals. You know how it is everyone tends to think everything I write is of great importance.” Serene glanced up at Raziel in stunned disbelief. Who was he kidding? Everything he did write was important! Besides, the book was too big to be just an insignificant journal. The demon shook his head, displaying the same disbelief as the woman.

“Don’t insult me!” Parfaxitas flung his arms wide causing the tunnel to light up as if the noonday sun were hanging from the ceiling like a damn disco ball. “I know who she is.”

“Who I am!” squeaked Serene. “I’m no one! Tell him Raziel, I’m no one important!”

“It was my understanding you were away on business.” Said Raziel ignoring Serene’s frightened words. She stared back up at him in shock. The archangel was now talking as if the three of them were standing at the mall and had just run into each other. The demon grinned and leaned a shoulder against the wall of the tunnel, looking as relaxed as Raziel sounded.

“Well, you know how it is, Lucifer gets his panties all up in a bunch and the next thing I know; I’m on my way to the home office.”

“Our Lord never gets his panties in a bunch. Lucifer needs to study the art of Zen. I find mediation does wonders for the soul.” Hands clapped over her ears, Serene struggled to stay reasonably calm as she tried not to listen to this ludicrous conversation between an angel and a demon.

“I’ll remember to suggest that next time I’m in Hell. So, as I see it, you thought I was gone and saw the chance to retrieve a journal of no importance.” Parfaxitas rubbed his nails across the cotton of his shirt, glancing once at the shine of his well manicured nails. Serene had a brief vision of the demon sitting in an expensive salon located in Beverly Hills, flirting with an overblown Blonde bimbo as she filed his nails.

“I saw no need to bother you with this, as you know, I am somewhat of a recluse. The less company there is; the better.” Raziel gently removed his arms from around Serene. Slowly and carefully he placed the object into her backpack. Zipping the pack up, his eyes never left Parfaxitas, who watched his every move. “Serene, will leave now and I think I will invite myself for lunch.”

“Lunch?” the demon straightened up; no longer relaxed his body was tight and several muscles in his arms jumped with barely held rage.  “There will be no lunch, unless you don’t mind me ripping your treacherous sneaky heart out of your chest? I’ve always favored an angel’s heart marinated in a sweet mixture of honey and virgin blood.” With evil intent his eyes took a hold of Serene’s terrified gaze. “And since we are blessed with the presence of both an angel and virgin.”

“Run Serene! Remember all I said and don’t look back!” Raziel shoved Serene roughly behind him. The woman didn’t even bother to question or think, she only reacted. Shaky legs of liquid jello slowly gained strength as she ran through the tunnel. Suddenly the ground moved with a side-to-side motion like that of a snake slithering. The vibration of a heavy and penetrating musical note throbbed through her body. Her heart began to pound in sync, warming her blood and body temperature. Boiling heat washed over her senses, covering her with fever. Standing absolutely still she watched in terror as a thick mist wound its way up and around her legs. Like a python the mist tightened. Poisonous coils ruthlessly squeezed and squeezed.

Caught in a nightmare of fear, Serene couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe! No sounds came from her gaping mouth. Grasping handfuls of hair, she yanked as hard as she could until pain rippled across her scalp. Finally a scream emerged from within her, echoing through the tunnel.

“Breathe! Run!” it was Raziel’s voice. Sucking in air, Serene watched as another mist surrounded her, one, which sparkled with stars. The heat abated and coolness pushed the poisonous coils away. “Run!” Somehow her legs were moving again and Serene was plunging into darkness with no sense of direction. She ran as the world around her filled with combative sounds, fire flashed up all around. The sight of it caught in her peripheral vision. Still she ran, headlong into the blackness in front of her.

Lightning flashed directly in front of her, momentarily blinding her eyes. Wind whipped around her body