#I THOUGHT HARPS HAD FEATHERY EARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[yakkitylylac]

i am suffering from the mandela effect. Badly

#I THOUGHT HARPS HAD FEATHERY EARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! #APPARENTLY THEY DO NOT.. #ON MY KNEES #brambles #pyre

[kathyprior4200]

Heavenly Boss S1 E3: Autumn Intact

Part One: Kiva

A silver-colored van was held aloft by a pair of large white feathery wings attached to the sides. The surface was in pristine condition, shining in the sunlight. The license plates on the front and back read “E.L.F. – 777.” In the driver’s seat sat a thoughtful Docile, leader of E.L.F. The elf angel wore his usual work outfit: a long white coat with round teal buttons down the front and a pin attached to his undershirt. He had white pants and boots with blue trim around the ends. One part of his face was black, the other was mostly a dark teal green. He had a white birthmark on his forehead and pointed teal green ears extending out on either side of his bald head. His pupils were white with teal irises and dark blue sclera. His wings were folded behind him, and a white spiked halo hovered above his head. On the radio, a calming country song about God played as the elf hummed along.

“I love this song!” he said.

Sitting next to him in shotgun was the ever-smiling Sunna, the brown Heaven-cat. She had pointed ears and long hipster-style brown hair that framed her furry brown face. She wore her usual white sundress with a golden sun symbol on it. Decorating her brown furry body were several black stripes. Her sky-blue eyes shined as she peered out at the passing clouds around her. The windows were down to let in the clean, crisp air.

In the backseats wearing seatbelts were their two elf colleagues, Tirred and Timmid. Tirred, grumpy as ever, covered his ears and grimaced in disgust at the music. He had black hair that stuck out slightly on either side of his teal green face. His young white-haired girlfriend Timmid was curled into a ball, fearful of heights and almost everything else. Ironically, she was an angel with white wings and a halo like her colleagues. Both elves wore their white and teal work outfits.  

Sunna waved out the window as they flew by a family of bi-pedal humanoid swans who played harps on a cloud. Even the three kids were playing miniature lyres and flapping their wings in excitement. Holy City was bustling with music, cars, and people with animal-like traits. Several signs read, “Saintz,” “Cloud Nine,” “Paradise,” “7th Heaven” and “Elysium Gymnasium!” Doves, swans, and sheep danced together on a hovering golden platform while small curly-haired cupids played instruments in the clouds. Several angels took pictures and selfies with their cell phones. A large group of children chased each other in the air while they played the popular “Gabriel’s Truth-Telling Trumpet Toys ™. Now only seven spirits.”

“Those things don’t even work,” Tirred mentioned as Sunna played Docile’s trumpet he had gotten at Woo-Hoo Land.

“Probably not,” she said, looking back behind her at him. “But I heard that people are still more likely to tell the truth, even if it’s unintentional.”

“Herd mentality,” he said with a roll of his eyes. “People will believe anything, the mindless sheep they are.”

A group of flying sheep angels “baa-ed” and gave him angry glares as E.L.F. drove by at a leisurely pace. 

“What?” he spat at them. “I’m just being honest!”

“Told ya,” Sunna grinned, blowing the trumpet closer to his face. Tirred pushed the trumpet away as Sunna giggled.

A nearby marching band of uniformed bi-pedal lions and eagles played trumpets on a path as they strolled around a golden Greek temple. Inside the temple, Metatron was busy organizing records at a fancy desk in a closed off portion of the vast room. A few Seraphim with six fiery red wings circled a golden empty throne inside, chanting “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty! The whole Earth is full of His glory!” Their chants were amplified to the outside world via magic megaphones.

“I always hated those annoying fiery things,” Tirred remarked with a roll of his eyes. “They never stop!”

Timmid glanced over at a group of council members surrounding a magic hovering sphere that showed the various things happening in Hazbin Heaven. On the outskirts of Hazbin Heaven through the sphere, a few dark Exorcists were flying and sparing with angelic spears as part of their training. They had long black feathery necks, talon hands and feet, plus curved horns with small lines along them. They also had white and black spiked halos of their own above their heads, with a small crystal in the center surrounded by a cross. Timmid shivered as she spotted the Xs over their right eyes and their LED grins. The vulture-like demon exterminators had a smaller base and not as many numbers as the first Heaven next door, but that did not make them any less skilled or threatening.

“Those things give me the creeps,” Timmid whimpered. “I don’t understand why the Exorcists have to exist.”

“Well, they do live on the outskirts for a reason,” Tirred explained. “They have their own military society and even families there. Children are trained from birth to cleanse demons and protect Heaven. The more elite fighters guard the Empyrean, God’s abode. Some angels can become Exorcists but only after many tests and trials.”

“Thou shall not kill,” Timmid recited, forgetting her fear. “Thou shall love thy neighbor and not covert his goods. Why is it then, that Exorcists, mortals, and demons to the extreme extent…aren’t seen as our neighbors?”

There was a silence, save for the country music.

“Did you even listen to your lectures in school?” Tirred asked. “Demons are destined to suffer and be separated from their purified family members. Without the Archangels, Overlords, Saints and royalty, Heaven and Hell societies would crumble. Whether we like it or not, we all have our roles to play.”

“Sure, like you play your role so perfectly at E.L.F.” Sunna added to Tirred in sarcasm. She mimicked Tirred in a low voice: “‘I shall use my healing powers to discipline you mortals!’ ‘Kill all demons and imperfections!’ ‘I’m so tired, I hate this place. No one else but me deserves to fu…’”

“Do you guys mind?!” Docile glared back at them. “I’m trying to listen here.”

“Look out!” cried Timmid as a shocked Docile narrowly missed a white Pegasus flying to the side of the van. Docile swerved around it, and rapidly spun the wheel, dodging other flying vehicles. They dove under a large white flying truck that read “Fizzipop’s Soda,” on the sides in bold pink letters. The sky highway was flanked by streetlamps on clouds, the poles made of gold. As they plummeted down, Tirred put his hand on Timmid’s shoulder, trying to comfort her. She looked at him, taking deep breaths and forcing a small smile. The van narrowly dodged a flying horse’s hooves in the air.

“Horses,” Docile snorted in disgust.

Docile maneuvered the van over toward E.L.F. headquarters. It was a large white pristine office building in Elf City, decorated with large golden wings jutting off to the sides. The double doors were decorated with harps. A nearby sign read “Welcome to Elf City, established 1981: Second Sphere.”

“Whoa!” Docile called, lowering the van, and pressing onto the brakes. The van landed and skidded to a stop on the street.

“Holy spit!” Docile cried as they stilled.

The parking spot usually reserved for E.L.F. in front of the building had been taken by a large chariot.

But it was no ordinary chariot…it was a breathtaking vehicle of energy and moving symbols. The wheels were golden and glowing, with small eyes along the rims. Spheres of light seemed to glow between the spokes. A griffin with shimmering tan fur stood at the head of the chariot, squawking from his eagle head, and resting from its flight. A small white sheep with wings served as the driver.

Four women got out, two on each side of the golden chariot. One had the head of a lioness and was dressed in red. The second wore white and had the head of a white bull. The third wore a purple robe and had the head of an eagle. The last woman wore green and had silky blonde hair and a white face with red blushes on it. All four women had silk scarves with peacock eyes draped over their shoulders. The license plate below read “SERVE-4-LIFE.”

“Oh, you serve for life, do ya?” Docile asked in curiosity. He stepped out of the van. “Why don’t you do me a huge favor and let me have my parking spot back!”

Docile was silenced when another figure stepped out of the chariot. The four women made way for the last female.

“Is that…Beatrice?” Sunna asked, referring to the poet Dante’s lover and symbol of his ascension to Heaven and God.

But it wasn’t her. Instead, the woman who got out looked like a regular angel. She wore a black and white dress and white high heels. Her hair was long and pinkish blonde, her face white with blushes. She wore a pair of blue heart-shaped sunglasses.

“Holy Heavens! Kiva?!” Docile gasped.

“Docile,” she greeted, stretching her pink-white feathery wings. She had pronounced an extra “e” in his name, much to his annoyance.

Kiva Perdera was a famous popstar in Heaven. Her love songs could make mortals and angels alike swoon with feelings of universal love.

“I should’ve known you’d be here,” he said. “Who wouldn’t be able to sense your divine presence in both paradises?”

There was a mix of admiration and resentment in his tone.

“And how have you been, Docile?” She flipped her hair back. “Still stuck in choir practice and performances trying to make a living?” She sipped Jeshua-Juice from a vial.

“Only on occasion.” He smoothed his shirt and coat with pride. “I’ve moved on to form my own blessing company, E.L.F. Which reminds me…please clear off from my spot.”

Kiva grinned, her sharp white teeth matching her pale face. “This spot has my name on it, now,” she said, pointing to “Kiva” in blue paint on the ground. The blue “E.L.F.” was crossed out. “I’m doing some judging and assistant work for one of the more infinitely successful companies in Heaven…”

“No way,” Sunna breathed from inside the van.

“…I’ve come from the other Heaven to visit, and they invited me to perform some duties for a week for autumn break.”

“A week?!” Docile asked in shock. “You’re here for a week?”

“Yes indeed.” She removed her sunglasses, revealing green irises, white pupils, and dark blue sclera eyes.

“What’s the matter, Docile?” she mocked. “Are you sacred that I’m gonna judge you again after what happened all those years ago?”

“I…I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. “My former part-time job was decent enough. Bio Rizz had better jokes and songs…and I was fine with leaving the choir. My sister understood my new passion for saving lives.”

Kiva smirked and leaned slightly toward him. “Saving lives? How about reaping them?” She then spoke in a low angelic voice as eyes appeared on her wings. “Or your failure to properly do so?”

Docile’s eyes went wide, his body went stiff. One eye twitched. A surge of memories flashed through his mind.

0 0 0

“Docile,” scolded his elf father Jeshua Cantus. “Are you forsaking your Biblical studies for your trivial theater thoughts again?”

“Dad,” said Docile, holding up a flyer for a show at Woo-Hoo Land. “I’ve been wanting to star in my show for years. I could act and play music, too.”

“If you had more talent, then yes. But you know that our status doesn’t allow us to pursue whatever we want.”

“But it’s Heaven!”

“Heaven with rules just like Earth and Hell,” he continued. “Your destiny is to serve God and this realm…put your personal interests aside for the greater good.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. After all, that imp Blitzo’s father wanted him to give up his musical theater dreams in order for him and his sister to survive and kill other demons. Of course, I don’t want such a fate for you.”

Docile stared in curiosity. “How did you…”

“How do I know all that? Heaven has spies who risk their lives to ensure that we can keep a better eye on demons and their lives.”

“If that imp wants to pursue musical theater and circus performances, then I don’t see anything wrong with that. That means I can do it, too!” said Docile.

“It’s not a real career,” said his father. “You and your sister need to make some decent money and do real work for the community. Serving the higher ups is what imps, hellhounds, elves, heavenhounds, and heavencats have done for centuries.”

“You mean I can’t pursue my own hobbies on the side when I want to? That doesn’t make sense!” The young Docile had angry tears in his eyes.

“You’ll understand when you’re older,” his father said. 

Over time, Docile went to school and took class after class. He became proficient in choir and sang in several performances. But singing the same hymns every time soon got boring. Cleaning palaces, constructing stained glass windows, assisting divine doctors… He went through one menial job after another. He couldn’t even use magic and work with the guardian angels. The saints and higher angels got to do whatever they wanted and there he was, stuck with mundane tasks. Even the lower-class cherubs often bossed the elves around.

“Goblin dork,” mocked a small flying brown deer wearing a business dress.

“Which of the Seven Halos are you from?” asked a bee cherub.

“The first Halo of Humility,” Docile replied. “Where Holy City is.”

“Wrong! You’re from Halo Zero, where the losers are!”

The cherubs laughed and flew off toward their cloudy town, leaving a sad Docile behind.

Several of the stained-glass windows depicted seven Archangels. The joyful Jophiel, Archangel of Beauty, had beautiful long red hair and wore a rainbow colored dress. She was surrounded by yellow flowers in the background. The lovely but stern Camael, Archangel of Love, stood wearing white and held a red rose against a pink background of hearts. The mighty Michael, Archangel of Strength, stood out as a muscular blonde man holding a flaming sword and wearing gauntlets. His background was blue. Then there was the Archangel of Healing, Raphael, who wore a green robe and held a rod and herbs in his hands. His skin was brown and his hair was long and dark. The background was forest green. Uriel, the Archangel of Wisdom stood elegantly against a flaming red background, wearing white. There was Gabriel the Archangel Messenger, with his wings spread out and standing serene against white clouds. Finally, there was Zadkiel, the Archangel of Mercy, who stood against a purple background.  

After a while, Docile’s father suggested…or rather forcefully encouraged…that he try an alternative career. “You don’t want to be defenseless if you encounter an Anti-Exorcist, do you?” he asked. Docile gulped.

One December 31st, a being with white bat wings, horns and a bare chest flew up to a dog angel. The being held a book about demons in its clawed hands and the dog listened in a trance. A glowing black pitchfork struck the dog angel, and he cried out. At once, he plummeted out of the air, his wings burning off as he fell to Hell. His horrified family sobbed nearby.

The young Docile gulped as he walked toward a dark stone building that read “Cleanser Fort 33 – Realm 2P.”

By a stroke of luck, Docile was able to get in. He studied and trained day and night. There was Kiva, judging his every move. She wrote on a clipboard and stared with scrutinizing eyes as Docile practiced his flying. He grew used to using harpoon spears, holy daggers, swords, and shields. Docile felt every bit like an Exorcist, despite the different title of Cleanser.

“Cleanse as many human sinners as you can,” Kiva instructed, “and stay away from the hell-born demons unless you need to kill in self-defense.”

“The population of both Hells are overpopulated,” she said. “Thus reducing their numbers annually is crucial. Only in this case, you’ll also help them reach Purgatory with me.” She gave Docile a white feathery Cleanser suit and mask, enchanted to fit his form.

“Exorcist suits were invented to help us blend into the population…and also to inspire fear in demons. The Sinners will hopefully be able to see you to be their savior. Do not talk to anyone. Do not enter into any buildings in Hell…or else you’ll be cornered. Stay with at least two other Cleansers on missions at all times…for Heaven’s sake, Docile, never drop your holy weapons!”

“Sorry! I’ll get it,” he called, flying down to retrieve his spear. The older warriors shook their heads.

“And most of all…” said Kiva, “Show no mercy to any demon…no matter how innocent they may look.”

On Dec 31st, Docile and the Cleansers flew through a portal into 2P Hell. Docile did his job well, slaying demons with his harpoon with no mercy. He glided over the black grassy ground, the sky sanguine. His heart ached every time he dealt a blow to the Sinners, but he told himself it was for the greater good. There was no blood, but the screams and fading away of the Sinners was still unnerving.

Docile looked around and saw a horde of demons angry that their slaves had been taken. He promptly flew away.

Just then, he spotted a furry animal on a sidewalk. Tossing aside his weapon, he picked up the creature and carried it to safety. The animal was a fluffy white furred cat with a scrunched up brownish face like a cross between a Persian and a Siamese cat. He stared at Docile with light blue eyes.

Docile’s eyes shined as he removed his mask. “Aww, how cute! What’s your name?”

“I’m Nugget,” said the cat in a shaky child-like voice. “I fell from Earth, and I got lost here in Hell.”

Docile gasped. “It’s okay. I’ll take you back to Heaven.”

“Do you think you could help me find my family, first?”

“Of course.”

“I think they went this way.”

Nugget led him to an abandoned movie theater that read “Zoophobia: The Lost Characters” at the top. On a nearby wall, a deer head hung over a plaque that read “Hell Here” in bold letters. 

Docile went inside as Nugget posed in front of him. “Here they are!”

A black cat, Pixel arrived with a whitish mouth. Then a thinner tan cat with triangular ears stood close by: Muppet.

The three cats cuddled and purred against Docile as he pet them. Docile closed his eyes in bliss before feeling a sharp bite on his shoulder. Then another one on his chest.

“Hey, what’s going…”

He opened his eyes and gasped out loud. The three furry faces now had red glowing eyes and large smiles of bloody sharp teeth. They had increased in size as well. The cat demons meowed gleefully as they tore at his clothing, wings, and skin with their sharp claws. He struggled against them, but they held him down.

“We’re having angel soul tonight, gang!” Nugget cackled.

Through his darkened haze, Docile could hear laughing, then hisses and yells. He heard the cats fleeing and felt himself being carried by someone with strong arms. By the time he woke up, he was in a military hospital in Heaven, staring at Kiva’s stern face.

He smiled lovingly at her. “Kiva, you saved my life! How can I repay you?”

“Getting distracted and fooled by other demons,” she tutted. “Putting other warriors’ lives at risk. Almost bringing a demon into Heaven. Here,” she said, handing him a pink slip. “You’re fired!”

Three high ranking cherub angels hovered in front of Docile as he walked in shame along the street. “We can help you, little guy,” the leader said in a kind voice. They emerged from the light. Docile’s eyes went wide. It was the angelic versions of Nugget, Pixel and Muppet.

Nugget held out a generous paw. “Can you tell us your name?”

Docile took one look at their familiar feline faces and screamed as he scurried away.

The cats looked at each other in confusion.

Docile heard the taunts and jeers of other angels around him. “Does anyone love you, Docile?”

“No!”

Docile was back in the present, shaken. His crew looked at him in concern as Kiva awaited his response.

 He stuttered at Kiva. “Yeah well…uh I may have failed, but…at least I’m actually doing something with my life instead of singing love songs all the time!”

“You’re jealous because I’m still famous,” she said, moving her slender fingers through her tresses of hair. “I’ve heard your company is struggling to make ends meet. The chain company I work for now…It’ll likely outshine yours in a few months.”

“I don’t think so,” he argued, getting into her face. “As long as my employees and I are together, we’ll keep doing our job!” He stood; arms folded.

Timmid had never seen the normally calm and carefree Docile so agitated. Even Sunna had a worried look on her face.

“Now move your chariot or I’m gonna…”

A low hissing sound made him freeze. Towering above him was a giant white bi-pedal cat wearing a dark white suit. The cat’s left eye had a scar over it and was milky white. One of his ears was torn.

“You’ll what?” he asked, his eyes blue, his sharp teeth visible.

“I’ll…uh…” Docile stuttered. “I’ll call GOP.”

Kiva, Docile and the large cat burst into laughter.

“Anyway,” said Kiva. “Meet my new bodyguard, Portal. Unlike you, he actually does his job well.”

Portal and Kiva led the way as the four robed women followed. The chariot locked itself and was surrounded by a barrier of white flames.

“God bless and God speed, elf man,” she called.

Docile stomped his foot. “That holier than thou, pompous little bit…”

“You know Kiva Perdera?!” Sunna asked as she stepped out of the van.

“Huh? Oh yeah, she was my supervisor and…former crush.”

“Was that before or after your training?” Timmid asked, poking her head through an open window.

“You were a former Exorcist?!” Tirred asked in envy and disbelief.

“A former Cleanser,” Timmid corrected.

“Close enough. Both slay demons, don’t they?”

“Okay, why are you all acting like that’s such a shock?” Docile asked in annoyance.

“It’s Kiva Perdera?” Sunna replied. “An experienced traveler celebrity…with you?”

“She must be sick in the head,” Tirred added. “Perhaps trying to show mercy to the little ones in her spare time.”

Docile narrowed his eyes. “You guys are making this into a way bigger deal than it needs to be,” Docile said. “I don’t spy into your personal lives.”

The three overlapped, “You do that all the time, sir!”

“Drop it, guys,” Docile demanded. “Timmid, find a new parking spot for the van.”

“I’m scared to drive,” she said in hesitation.

“Then lift up the van and fly it! Sunna, Tirred, come with me.”

0 0 0

Sunna led the way as the three E.L.F. members stepped out of an elevator. The walls were white and free of cracks. The brown cat was unusually nervous and she started licking her furry arm repeatedly.

“Oh, my fur’s not clean enough,” she muttered between licks.

“Oh you look perfect Sunny,” said Docile.

Sunna kept licking her fur until she bumped into a strong arm. She looked up, stunned. Portal was standing tall and proud…and he gazed down at her.

“Say something, Sunny,” Docile whispered in encouragement. But all that came out from Sunna was a high combination of a meow and a squeak: “meoweek!” Her face blushed.

Docile walked up and cleared his throat. “Hello, sir. Where’s your employer?”

“She’s in her office,” he said. “There wasn’t room on the second floor, so they made room here on this one.” He mentioned to a pair of double doors right across from the E.L.F. office. The room was converted into an organized recording studio with microphones, headsets, switches, and of course, a thick Bible on a center table. Painted on the door windows was a large orange “K” and a large orange “P” that stood for Kiva Perdera (and Kathy Prior). The room number above read “42”.

“Oh, come on!” Docile cried.

“Sorry, man,” Portal said as he walked away. Docile muttered some fancy angelic words under his breath…his tone sounded high and echo-like, similar in structure to the lower sounding demonic language.

“Are you casting a spell?” Tirred asked.

“No, I’m cursing,” Docile said.

“Sir,” added Tirred. “Maybe I should head on in and give her and her gang a piece of mind. I like “pop genre” music better than country, but nothing’s better than the dark subtle portions of rock or metal or even ambient. Her status to me is…”

“Tirred, shush it,” Docile said, tuning him out.

“All righty then,” Tirred said, heading for the door.

Portal then moved in front of the door.

“Hey, I was going in there,” Tirred mentioned, holding up a finger.

“Office is closed,” he said in a gruff voice. Docile and Tirred looked at each other. Portal sighed. “What did you expect? You think I was gonna let you imps…erm, elves waltz on in, allow those angels to mess with you and have one of you make a stupid bet with them? I don’t think so.”

“Wow, he really does do his job well,” Sunna breathed.

Docile was about to say something else, but Portal waved a large paw dismissively. “Scram.”

Docile gave one last glare and opened the door to the E.L.F. office. Timmid ran down the hall to catch up with them. “I’m here!” she called. She glanced at the poker-faced Portal and smiled nervously, holding up her hands. “Nice kitty,” she said as she followed Docile and the others into the room.

The four of them crashed onto a nearby couch, with an old-fashioned brown TV in front of them. Docile held his head in his hands. “I can’t believe this. Kiva and her cherubs could shut down our company if she found a reason to. We don’t even know what company she works for.”

“What are we gonna do?” Sunna asked. “We can’t just sit here.”

“Which is exactly what we’re doing,” Docile said. “Unless you all have any better ideas?”

The others were silent.

“Can we watch Spirit?” Sunna asked. “Or Cats the musical?”

“That Spirit movie was boring,” Docile complained. “And that iced coffee my older colleague gave me this morning…unsatisfying. You know I always like my coffee hot.”

Sunna picked up a TV remote. “Let’s see what’s on. Maybe it’ll cheer us up.”

Sunna pressed a button and a series of commercials flashed onto the screen. One commercial stood out from the others. It featured three singing angelic cherubs from the parallel canon Heaven. The three of them posed in the clouds by a rising sun. The sky had white clouds below, making way for more orange clouds and rays of sunlight. In the center of the screen stood a bluish crystalline structure that looked like a rising sun. The structure had fifteen-pointed triangle spokes on the top, each increasing in size toward the center.

The leader cherub was a winged boy with a white halo, a white face, short orange hair in a bob at the top and large silvery eyes. He wore a pair of orange overalls, a yellow undershirt, and small white boots. He was flanked by two flying smiling sheep on either side of him. The sheep to his left had a dark face, bushy eyebrows, light eyes, and thick curly white woolly hair on his head. He wore a white bow tie, a teal shirt, and blueish overalls with four buttons on it. He also had white wings, cloven hooves, and a white halo. Finally, the sheep to the right was a female, with a light-yellow face and pink irises. Her hair was woolly and yellow, her eyes had thick eyelashes. She wore a matching yellow dress with a red bow with ribbons on it near her neck. The bottom trim of her dress was also red in a flowery shape. Her hooves and legs were light yellow as were her wings. Her white halo hovered above her head. The sheep used a Bible to travel to Earth via a created portal in the sky.

Cherub Towne was shown as an orange, white and blue pastel city in the sky. Golden gates surrounded it and a crystalline sun shaped structure that appeared was actually a Throne angel.

The leader boy appeared on the screen.

“Well, howdy! I’m Cletus! Welcome to Heaven! Guess you did something good to get here, and good people deserve to give loved ones special blessings!”

The jingle began.

The clip showed a man falling to his death without a parachute. “Owie!” appeared in a bubble over the man.

Collin sang, “Does it make you want to cry…”

Keenie added, “When a loved one has to die?” as another human got run over by a speeding train. “Oh No!” appeared in a censoring through bubble.

“Does it hurt you through and through…” sang Cletus as a man was shown accidentally shooting himself in the face. “Oopsie!” was in another bubble over his face.

“When you face is turning blue?” They all sang as a man struggled to breathe in a noose.

“Luckily for you…” sang Collin the indigo sheep.

“There’s something we can do…” sang Keenie the yellow sheep.

The leader cherub smiled against the sunrise clouds.

“We can help keep them alive…”

They all posed and sang:

“So you can watch them thrive!”

The three cherubs flew together side to side as their logo “C.H.E.R.U.B.” appeared in bold golden letters on the screen.

“Cause here at C.H.E.R.U.B.,

We’ll save your honey bun from dying violently,

The next series of clips showed the sheep saving people from muggers, natural disasters, and various accidents. Cletus rescued a woman from a pack of animals while Keenie shoved a frightened Collin toward them, as he held a wooden plank with a nail in it.

“Cause here at C.H.E.R.U.B.,

No, we never even ask a fee,”

The next clip showed a human handing dollar bills to the leader boy, who held out a dismissive hand.

“Because good people spread the love,”

The next clip showed the two sheep cherubs hugging each other as pink hearts spread out in all directions.

“And we’re here for all above,”

The next clip showed a spinning earth with more hearts in every direction.

“We do the paperwork for you,”

The exhausted Collin wrote down at his desk surrounded by piles of paper around him. A nearby sign was a message from God to use people to get to the top.

“And the heavy lifting, too,”

The yellow female cherub lifted a heavy boulder from a crushed woman. The woman gave a weak smile and thumbs up.

A man in a car crash with a torn up chest and battered skin weakly smiled as the sheep cherubs appeared around him.

“So sit right back and let us bless a soul for you,”

The leader cherub smiled and flew close to the screen. He joined his two companions who lifted their heads up and harmonized. The golden C.H.E.R.U.B. logo appeared above their heads.

“Oh we, are the C.H.E.R.U.B.!”

(“Cherishing Human Existence, Releasing Unlimited Blessings.”)

Docile switched the TV off.

“You’re not gonna angrily blow up the TV with a gun are you?” Timmid asked in surprise.

“Of course not!” Docile called. “Who would do something crazy like that?!”

Timmid shrugged.

“Wow,” Docile breathed, sitting still. “That was…”

He turned around, beaming. “…the greatest commercial I’ve ever seen!”

Timmid blinked in surprise. “The jingle wasn’t great and those sheep look suspicious…”

Docile put an arm around his employee. “Come on, Timmid, the jingle was like a musical. And the amazing things the cherubs can do. Protecting humans and spreading love! And who knows what else!"

“We literally do the same thing,” she said.

Docile let go.  “True but we mostly heal people, comfort the grief-stricken and restore things to normal. We’re far less…cheery and sheep-y…”

“Baa!” Sunna belted out loud, followed by high giggles. Tirred rolled his eyes.

Timmid sat up. “I have an idea. What if we all traveled to the other Heaven and asked C.H.E.R.U.B. to help us? We could join forces against Kiva’s new company and E.L.F. will continue on. Kiva may even leave us alone.”

Tirred scratched his head. “Are you sure? You know how hard it is for OCs and denizens of this realm to travel to the other realm.”

“It’s a piece of cake for the canon characters to travel here,” Docile mentioned. “It shouldn’t be that hard for us.”

“Well…” Sunna said, trying to be encouraging. “I only heard it takes several days to travel from Heaven to Hell and vice versa.”

Docile smiled and held up a finger. “Not if portals are used along with light speed. That’s how it’s always done every year.”

“We can’t just travel to and fro on a whim,” Tirred reminded them. “The bodyguard is still there.”

“Well, if you see him, just try and reason with him. Tell him that we’d like to combine our skills and hopefully E.L.F. can be heard about in the other Heaven, too. That’ll prove to Kiva just how capable I…I mean we, can be.”

“Whatever you say, sir.”

There was a knock at the door.

Docile got up to answer it. He flinched back when he saw Portal.

“Kiva’s ready to see you,” he said. “No crazy bets.”

“So much for that plan,” Docile mumbled to himself as he followed Portal. Portal opened the door to the recording studio. The four women had left, and Kiva was surrounded by a gang of slender singer cherubs. These cherubs appeared as whitish bi-pedal sheep, bees, and deer, wearing modern-day light-colored clothing. A woman sheep had light pink fur, a light pink face and wore a matching dress with flowers on it. Another male sheep wore purple overalls, a dark face and shining golden eyes. All the cherubs had white halos and wings. The cherubs were smaller than Kiva and hovered beside her, staring at Docile.

“How can I help you, Docile?” she asked, adding the “e.” “Come here to admit defeat and try again?”

“Quite the opposite, actually,” he said. “I’m traveling to meet with another company, which will totally outshine whatever yours is. They have excellent singers and a fantastic commercial. So, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to expand the best and only company in Heaven, E.L.F.!”

“How interesting,” said the pink singer. “What is your companion company?”

“Like I’d tell you.”

Kiva smirked. “This company you seek…it wouldn’t happen to be C.H.E.R.U.B., would it?”

Docile froze in his tracks…which was enough of an answer for her.

“Oh, so it is,” she said as Docile turned around.

“So maybe it is,” he added. “I’m gonna collaborate with them and your company will be blown out of the water!”

Kiva and the cherubs laughed. “Hahahaha!” Kiva grinned in superiority. “I work for C.H.E.R.U.B., little elf!”

“W-what?!”

Kiva lifted up a pocket of her dress that revealed the tiny logo. “I’m one of their assistants who spreads the word of their activities. Actually, more fun than being a Cleanser coach. Guess my fame here was able to reach the other realm.”

“I…I don’t believe this…”

“Forget about trying to join forces with C.H.E.R.U.B. Collin, Keenie and Cletus are too busy to be concerned about a bunch of struggling…non-canon elves!”

Kiva and her crew laughed again. Docile’s face turned red and he seethed.

Docile then glared in determination, sharp teeth showing, pointing his finger.  “Listen here, snitch. My company was formed before yours! We were beginning to save lives while I.M.P. was just getting started! E.L.F. will continue to exist with or without your help. While your sheep sing Kumbaya on lyres, we’re out helping both humans and angels!”

Kiva leaned in toward Docile. “Big words from a little elf who formed a mediocre rip-off crew based on C.H.E.R.U.B! I’d like to see you get approved, or even noticed by the well-known figures in Heaven…or Hell! You’re utterly forgettable!”

“Oh yeah? Well, how about I propose something you will never forget! I challenge you to a…challenge! Gosh darn it, I said that twice.”

“Oh. What’s the game then, Docile?” She drew out the “e.” 

 “Every year, you airheaded muses go topside for easy entertainment when autumn break is a great date for positive fate and staying up late! So I bet…you cher-boobs can’t amore as many people as we can vivifica by the end of the day.” Docile briefly placed two hands over his heart to show love and then slowly raised his hands around his head to emphasis reviving. He grinned and held up a determined finger.

Kiva and her gang laughed yet again. Docile gave a determined glare.

They stopped. “Oh, you’re serious?” Kiva asked, leaning in close. “Game on, snitch.”

Docile walked out of the room to find Tirred and Portal talking. Tirred handed Portal a large handful of dollar bills.

“Forget about bribing, Tirred,” Docile said. “Kiva’s not gonna let us collaborate with C.H.E.R.U.B. on our terms like I’d hoped.”

Tirred just stayed silent.

 “Let’s go, gang,” said Docile, “We’re going up.”

“To the next floor?” asked Timmid.

“No. Up to Earth.”

“Don’t you mean going down to Earth?” Tirred asked. “Because Heaven is higher and superior to…”

“Shut up Tirred!” Docile and Sunna barked.

0 0 0

E.L.F. went outside as Sunna carried the Bible in her arms. Docile posted several flyers that read “Autumn Break Rescues: 50% Off!”

“Now we wait,” Docile said.

“But sir,” mentioned a worried Timmid. “There is no way that enough clients will arrive to read a few ordinary, black and white flyers!”

Docile grinned as a line of cherubs, native angels and saints alike grew outside.

“Now, who’s first?” Docile asked as he walked over toward the clients.

Part Two: At The Beach

The beach in the human world was alive with humans from everywhere. Men, women, and children happily walked around, relaxed under umbrellas, or had snacks. Several surf boards stood up in the sand by a decorated teal wall with a wavy orange design taking up the center. The crowd was positioned between a wooden dock and a makeshift stage. Two women wearing sunglasses got comfortably close and kissed each other in the shade. A muscular dark-skinned man talked with a red-haired woman while a blonde guy wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap shook a bottle of pills into his mouth. Above the beach lay a small row of shops. One sign read “Pawn Paradise.” One sign read “Hotel” in red letters while another sign read “Sea Cream” with a teal ice cream cone structure next to it. Another sign read “Piccolo Pizza” and another read “Dagon Juice” and had a green fish with a sailor’s cap on it.

In the shadows under the dock, the E.L.F. crew emerged from algae covered rocks.

“Alright, you ready, guys?” Docile asked. The others nodded.

“Then let’s go…”

“Wait,” Sunna held up a paw. “Shouldn’t we all be in human disguises?”

“What now?” Tirred asked.

“You know, to blend in so we don’t get caught?”

“You’re just bringing it up now, Sunny?” Docile asked.

“I got distracted by…” Sunna’s cat eyes landed on a large white cat-like man pacing by the stage. Portal. “…stuff.”

Docile gave her a brief wink. “Right. But be sure to get some work done first. We’re all gonna have to work together if we stand a fighting chance. Got the list, Sunny?”

“Got it,” she said, sniffing a scroll of paper and examining the names on it.

“Look around for anyone who might need saving or love or comfort,” Docile said.

“Do you think C.H.E.R.U.B. needs to take on human forms every time they go to Earth? Or do they have the privilege of being adored by everyone they meet?”

Docile faced Tirred with wide eyes and a strained grin. “Not helping, Tirred.”

Sunna held up a picture of a group of four humans. It was I.M.P. in their human forms. Blitzo had light brown skin, red eyes, a slender tall body, and short wavy black hair. He also had his black birthmark on his forehead. His look radiated a child-like smugness. Moxxie was a short, red-eyed man with white skin, a lanky body, and his signature white hair. A grumpy look was present on his face. The beaming Millie was African American, with wild black hair, dark brown skin, red eyes, makeup, and thick eyelashes. Finally, the aloof Loona had pale skin, red eyes, a partially shaved head, bars in her ears and a mane of long gray hair. They all wore the same work outfits.

“This should work,” Sunna said. “If it did for them, it can do for us.”

The four members stepped forward, their bodies enveloped by swirling magical blue light. The light faded away and there they stood in their human disguises. Docile was slender and white with gray eyes and short black hair…he even had a birthmark on his forehead. Tirred was short with white skin, black hair, a thicker body, and serious black eyes. Timmid was little and blonde, with pale skin and green eyes. Last of all was Sunna, a well-formed African American woman with brown eyes and brown braided strands of thick hair. All of them wore their same outfits. They stared at themselves and their hands in amazement.

“Meow,” catcalled a nearby human man who crept up to Sunna. With a roll of her eyes, she landed an uppercut to his chin, and he collapsed.

“Alright kitty, kitty,” called Docile to Sunna, “Lead the way!”

Sunna spotted a muscular man with a bare chest sweating in the sun. After he collapsed from heat exhaustion, Sunna raced over and carried him toward a shady spot. Timmid summoned a bottle of water from thin air and lifted it to his lips. The man groaned and stared at them with relief in his eyes. Once he was back to normal, he thanked them and went off to get some ice cream.

The other blonde man with sunglasses was staggering in the sand, unaware of anything going on. Docile rushed over while Sunna held him steady. Using his golden rod-shaped angelic staff, Docile pressed the sphere against the man’s back. The drugs vanished from his system and the man stood up. Sunna grinned and handed him a magazine titled, “How to Cure Your Depression and Be Closer to God.” After they left, the man rolled his eyes and tore the magazine in half. “Religious salespeople,” he muttered.

Several lifeguards pulled an African American to shore, her leg was bleeding heavily from a shark bite. Tirred waved his hand over the wound, and it closed on its own. As the others around them gasped in shock at what he did, Docile waved his staff and their eyes went blank. The humans all went back to their activities, not even noticing the disguised elves anymore.

Timmid gave a white woman CPR and then pulled her child from the riptides. Sunna helped rescue a man from a mugger in an alleyway. Docile showed a crying child a picture of three fluffy cats. Tirred helped an elderly man up the stairs. Finally, Docile confronted a drug addict and told him about how dangerous it was for him to keep doing drugs. The man didn’t listen, but when Docile told him what could happen to his family, the man pondered his words, begged for forgiveness, and suddenly collapsed from a heart attack. Thankfully with Docile’s healing magic, the man recovered before death could claim him.

“I hereby bless you with determination and a chance to go to Heaven if you are willing to redeem yourself.”

The man gazed at Docile, rubbed his eyes and carelessly walked away.

Although many people wouldn’t listen to the elves, a majority of the time, the elves were very persuasive in steering people away from sin.

Docile smiled in approval as the gang reunited. “Nine rescues in the bag, guys! Well done! I’d like to see that pompous princess score that many…”

“All right fall breakers!” called a familiar voice. A large crowd had gathered around the stage. It was Kiva in her human form. She had long blonde hair, white skin, and ocean green eyes. She wore a short emerald, green wavy dress that exposed her right shoulder and wore matching heels.

“Are you all ready to have some fun and make some divinely good choices?!”

The crowd cheered and a fanboy yelled “Kiva!” Her name was written in blue on his bare chest.

Several teal spotlights shone on her and hearts flashed on the two screens on either side of the stage. “Confess, Docile,” was shown in white letters on the screens…Docile seethed in anger.

Kiva began her love song, the crowd hooked onto every word. She sung like a siren on land, luring the humans to promises of enlightenment and bliss.

“All aboard

Pack your bags

Sun’s out

Take a vacay, babe

Take it straight to Bonetown

V-time, free time, love to share

Romance, fun dance, global care

 Massages and che-rubs on your back

You are more than what you may lack

Pack your bags

Sun’s out

Take a vacay, babe

Take it straight to Bonetown

Ice cream, sunscreen, volleyball to play

Kindness, pure bliss, seizing the day

Back to my place, it’s Cloud Nine

No need to stress when everything is fine

Pack your bags

Sun’s out

Take a vacay, babe

Take it straight to Bonetown.”

Before long, the humans were laughing and hugging each other. Some gave each other kisses and said nice things. Many of them made out as well. Kiva’s cherub angels were in human form as well, with varied skin tones and genders. Most of them wore high-quality clothing, shirts with pockets for the men and silky sun dresses for the women. A lion cherub was disguised as a white man with long blonde hair. He walked up to another man and smiled warmly. The human cried with joy and rushed into his arms for a hug. Another cherub appeared as a black man, soon surrounded by adoring human women. The cherubs’ eyes were a mixture of teal and gold.

“God dammit!” cried Docile. “Kiva has started her godish mating call! Now she’s gonna win all those love lunatics! We gotta pick things up, guys! He on the list, Sunny?”

He mentioned to a blonde man wearing boxer shorts, smoking a cigarette.

“Huh? Oh yeah, I guess.” Sunna stared at Portal who was guarding the stage. He appeared as a muscular blonde, white man wearing his suit. He had a necklace with a pendant in the shape of a cat.

“Good!”

The man looked at Docile. “Whoa, what are you…a leprechaun?” asked the blonde man with a strained laugh as he pushed down his sunglasses.

“Oh yeah, pretty lame, huh?” Docile asked in annoyance. He waved his staff and the man’s mind went blank. He fell on his knees. The smoke cleared from his lungs. Docile tossed the man’s cigarette away.

“And you sure as spit won’t tell anyone.” Docile turned back. “All right, next one, Sunny, come on.”

He looked around and saw Sunny slowly making her way toward Portal.

“Oh. Be careful and good luck!” he called with a wave.

Sunna made her way through the crowd, avoiding a French-kissing couple and a herd of dancers. A male white cherub appeared by her and gave her a wink. Sunna rolled her eyes and shoved him away.

One of the fanboys squealed and ran toward Kiva with his arms out. Portal grabbed hold of him and dragged him away.

Kiva turned to one of the cherubs on stage. “Invite them in.”

The cherub walked off the stage with a Bible in his hand. He drew a Christian Cross and a pink sigil of the name Vivienne in front of him. He chanted in the angelic language.

When Portal dismissed the boy, he looked at Sunna and smiled.

“Hello.”

“H-Hi,” Sunna said nervously.

“Say, you’re that cat working for my boss’s troublesome previous intern.”

“Yeah,” said Sunna, “Sorry if that’s weird.”

“It’s cool,” he said. “The past is the past. I’m paid and I do my job…all that matters.”

“Yeah,” Sunna laughed nervously. A high squeak escaped her lips. “I’m Sunna!”

Portal rolled his eyes and gave her a small smile. “I’m Portal.”

“That’s hot,” Sunna said with a grin. Then her face turned red and flustered. “I mean like literally you know because portals, you know, they give off heat. Probably.” She pointed both fingers in a snap, trying to act cool.

Portal chuckled. “My friends call me Tal.”

“Nice, very nice.”

Docile appeared not too far away. “Are you gonna ask him on a date?” Docile whispered to her. Sunna waved her hand in annoyance at him. “Shush!” she hissed under her breath.

“I think I know a great place you two could meet,” Docile said. He glanced over at two people randomly carrying a third person on a mattress across the sand.

“No, no, no!” Sunna said as Docile held in laughter. Portal just looked on.

Sunna turned to Docile and whispered. “Why are you embarrassing me?”

“I just want what’s best for you,” he said.

“I can do things on my own,” she replied.

“Sure, like your job, but this is a new area for you, and I thought…”

Sunna moved a hand over her face in frustration. “Just please, let me do this on my own.”

Docile turned to Portal. “I adopted my little pussycat when she was eighteen!”

Sunna growled in annoyance.

“If you want, I have pictures of her even younger!”

Sunna’s face turned red. “Please, just leave me alone for five minutes, at least! Why are you behaving like this?”

“Because I adopted you and I want to help keep you safe. My protectiveness should mean something.”

Sunna hissed, “Well right now it doesn’t!”

“Well, if you want to go back working for the rest of your life, have at it. Don’t forget your earlier years when you needed me most.”

“It doesn’t matter anymore! I didn’t need you then, Docile! And I don’t need you now. You’re not my real dad!”

Docile turned his back toward her, hiding a hurt look on his face. Sunna also had a hurt expression as well, seconds after she had said her words.

“Uh…” Portal began, scratching his head at the awkward situation. He turned to Sunna. “You were…asking me out?”

“No, no I wasn’t!” Sunna nervously stuttered out loud. “It was just my dad’s…um adoptive dad’s crazy idea. I’m not interested in you in that way, but I love you…as a person…ya know…uh…”

“Okay?” he asked. “If you ever want to give me a call, go for it. My friend throws the best feline parties back in Heaven…”

Tears of embarrassment spilled from Sunna’s brown eyes. “Party, new friends, lots of fun! Gotta go back to work, nice mating you…uh meeting you! Bye!”

“Sunny, wait!” called a concerned Docile. But the disguised cat had dashed off into the twilight.

0 0 0

The sky had turned from a brilliant blue to a sunset orange. Purple and indigo colors appeared in the sky with each passing minute. Timmid was finishing healing another person when she spotted a figure in the distance near the stage. It looked like one of Kiva’s minions, looking from side to side.

“What are those sneaky cherubs up to now?” she asked herself.

“Hey, Timmid,” called Tirred who arrived beside her.

“Hey Tirred, haven’t seen you in a while. You see that cherub over there?”

Timmid mentioned to the white human woman in a teal dress moving sideways by the stage.

“Yes. I think we should go get some information out of her,” Tirred said. “I don’t know about you, but Kiva seems pretty suspicious.”

“Agreed. Let’s go.”

Just before the two elves reached her, the frightened cherub dashed up some steps and vanished. Kiva’s show had ended for the moment. The two elves reached backstage and hid among the red curtains on either side. Timmid peered through and saw the cherubs strolling around and putting away instruments. The front of the stage was curtained off, obscuring the stage from the beachgoers.

Just then, Tirred stepped forward into Kiva’s line of sight. Her gang of cherubs all turned their heads.

“Tirred, wait!” called Timmid, following him before she could stop herself.

Tirred summoned an angelic spear into his hand and pointed it at Kiva with a glare. His eyes darted from side to side, his body shaking. The spear was the one he often practiced with in his spare time.

“This ends now, Kiva!” he said. “You can admit that you’ve won the contest…but leave E.L.F. alone…or else.”

Kiva looked at both of them, moving a slender finger toward her chin.

“You’re outnumbered dear,” Kiva smiled. “Best if you surrender now.”

“No, don’t surrender, Tirred!” Timmid urged, getting into a fighting stance. “We can work something out once Docile gets back.”

Several pairs of eyes glowed eerily on Kiva’s white wings in the dim light. Kiva smirked. “Oh, I wasn’t talking to him.”

Timmid stepped back as Tirred gave her a strange apologetic smile. Suddenly it seemed like getting to Kiva was too easy.

She had to warn Docile and Sunna.

She sprinted back toward the curtains and opened them. The blonde-haired beefy Portal suddenly towered in front of her, mouth partially open. He extended his meaty white hands. Timmid leaped out of the way and slid under him, but he yanked her back by grabbing one of her arms. Timmid yelped in shock and fear. He soon had her in his grip, one of his hands over her mouth. Timmid felt a sharp pinch to her neck and was overcome by black.

Timmid groggily woke up, the world coming back into focus. She looked around, then down…and found herself tied to a pole. Rope was wrapped around her waist and her hands were tied behind her. She struggled against the bonds.

“Excellent work, Tirred,” Kiva praised nearby. “They should arrive any minute now.”

They?

The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Timmid watched as Tirred handed his spear to one of Kiva’s cherubs. The cherub placed the spear on a small black stand in the center of the space. After a flash of magic, the spear hovered in the air on its own. Energy reflected from the spear’s sharp tip, opening a swirling hole in the glowing pink symbol in the air.

Timmid gasped as she stared down at her now clawed green fingers. Tirred had changed back to an elf as well. Back at the beach, Docile stared at his elf reflection in the water.

Sunna walked past him, still in human form.

“That’s what happens when you don’t practice using your disguise for a while. It wears off after several hours.”

Docile face-palmed and scowled before lowering his hand. He sat on a rock, tired from saving so many people…and upset at the current events.

Sunna froze. The dark woman took a deep breath and forced herself to turn around. Something urged her to help set things right.

Several minutes of silence ticked by. The only sounds heard were the motions of the waves, the cawing of gulls and distant chatter.

If Sunna had been in her cat form, her ears would’ve twitched.

“Docile,” she said tentatively as she crept toward him. “I…I’m sorry about before, you know…”

Docile didn’t move.

Sunna moved closer and wiped a few sad tears away. “About what I said…I really didn’t mean it…”

“Didn’t you?” he solemnly asked.

Sunna sighed. “Look, we all have our bad moments. I know you were trying to help me make a good impression. But you were just embarrassing me in front of him! I’m not a little kitty anymore.”

“But you are still my daughter…or adoptive daughter. You have your duties to fulfill, and I have mine.”

“Life isn’t just about work and serving a higher power,” Sunna mentioned, inching closer to him on the large rock. “I’ll admit, I do it almost every day but other times I love lazing around. Life’s a chance to explore and try new things. To really live and do things you enjoy.”

“Not to the point of selfishness,” Docile said. “Pride is the root of all the sins, you know.”

“Is it really selfish to want to fall in love? To seek pleasure for its own sake and to follow your dreams because you want to?”

Docile turned to look at her. “Not everyone gets a chance to live their dreams, Sunna. Not even in Heaven. I’ve worked hard, served many people, yet I’m still just cloud fluff in society’s eyes. Elves and imps, the lowest of the low. Eventually you learn to be grateful with what you have and be…docile in life.”

Sunna raised a thick eyebrow. “Where’s that hidden adventurous Docile I know and love? The Docile who isn’t always docile? The one quick as lightning, who’s willing to take risks to protect those he loves and his wondrous goals?”

“I’m not a reckless imp,” he replied.

“You don’t have to be. You just have to be yourself and find that perfect balance.”

“Easier said than done.”

Sunna put a comforting hand on his back, sniffing. “I’m so sorry.”

After a moment, he said, “I’m sorry, too. You really have grown up a lot and…I’m very proud of you.” Docile wrapped her in a tight hug, gently rocking her. “Hey. Where’s that sunny Sunna I know and love?”

Sunna let out a few hysterical sobs. “She’s right here, dad.”

They embraced for a while and then let go.

Sunna stood up and sniffed the air. “There’s something wrong.”

“Want another hug?”

“No, I can feel something in the air. I haven’t seen Tirred or Timmid around for a while. We’re supposed to meet back up here.”

“Could they be lost?” Docile asked.

“Or worse…”

Both of them glanced over at the stage in the distance. Several cherubs stood guard around it, including Portal.

“Kiva,” Docile breathed in anger.

Without hesitation, the elf sprinted off across the sand. “Wait!” Sunna called, racing after him. “It could very well be a trap!”

“I know. Go call the human police,” Docile said. “I’m not leaving my employees behind no matter what!”

Sunna smiled, though concern was present in her eyes. “You got this, dad!”

“Hey woodland pets!” Docile called in a mocking tone.

Docile summoned an angelic spear and knocked aside a few disguised cherubs with a wide swipe. One of them landed a punch, but he dodged out of the way. A few more rushed at him, but he leapt into the air, using his wings to steady himself. Docile spun around and landed several kicks to the cherub’s faces. They were knocked to the ground, but easily got up. Docile landed onto the wooden stage floor and burst through the curtains. There he spotted Timmid tied up. With another skilled swipe, the ropes fell off her. Timmid managed to get her hands free. All too quickly, the other cherubs closed in, one of them knocking away Docile’s spear. That spear was picked up by Kiva and added next to Tirred’s hovering weapon. The portal grew wider.

Docile and Timmid were quickly pinned down by more disguised cherubs from behind. They struggled as they faced Kiva.

“Not so noble now are we, Docile?” She pronounced the “e.”

“Smooth coming from you. Why go so low and capture my employees?”

Kiva glanced over. “Care to explain, Tirred?”

Docile gasped as Tirred stepped forward, a darkened look on his face.

“Explain what?”

Kiva grinned. “Tirred helped lure you elves over here so we could further our plan.”

“What plan?”

“To make C.H.E.R.U.B. the one and only reviving company in both Heavens. If you were to win, that would make us look bad. But if we win, which we will…we don’t want guys like you to cause any trouble.”

Docile smirked. “You sound as though you’re scared of us. What, we’re too ‘low class’ for you?”

“It’s just a way to keep you in line, to not have too many humans flocking to you and losing their way.”

“Why would they lose their way when we do exactly the same things as C.H.E.R.U.B.?”

“C.H.E.R.U.B. does what you do, only better. And as far as we know, you haven’t made an effort to keep demons in line.”

Docile scowled. “My Exorcist…erm Cleanser days are over. Killing or judging demons and Sinners is not my concern. If you had just let us collaborate with C.H.E.R.U.B. as friends, we wouldn’t be in the mess you so dearly made!”

“And if you hadn’t made your silly bet against us, you wouldn’t be here, humiliated, in the first place.”

Docile turned toward Tirred. “Don’t expect your paycheck for months, traitor,” he growled.

Tirred grit his teeth and turned toward Kiva. He clutched his head several times and strained. “We…we had an agreement. I brought you my employees, they surrendered, you win. I gave Portal my money and resumes. Now let us free so we can do our…new jobs.”

“New jobs?” Docile asked, eyebrow raised.

Tirred’s eyes glazed over, and he went slack again. “Not for you,” Tirred said. “I meant for Timmid and I.”

Timmid stared at Tirred in disbelief and curiosity as he walked over to her. “You know how E.L.F. struggles in comparison to so many in Heaven. Sure, saving lives is important, but what if we could make a difference in an alternative way? To cleanse the evil scum that threatens the lives of humans and the Heavenly Order?”

“By mercilessly killing demons every year?”

Tirred grinned. “Yeah. Kiva offered me money and protection to become an Exorcist in the other Heaven!”

Docile gasped. “Are you bucking nuts?! How can that be legal?! Tirred, the demons in Hazbin Hell may be evil but it’s up to them to reflect on their sins…in the hopes that they may end up better than before. You say that angels are greater than humans, but demons…they were innocent humans once, too.”

“Oh, so now you go for the side of evil?!” Tirred and Kiva both yelled at the same time.

Tirred added, “It’s just tradition, Timmid. What difference would it make for us to change things up a bit…together? We could train and be our own bosses. And C.H.E.R.U.B. could pick up where we left off.”

Timmid stared back in thought. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes. “She’s using you, Tirred. All of them are. I heard you guys talking when I was waking up. She spied on us and knew that you would be tempted to take up the offer. You help hold E.L.F. together…”

A faraway look came into his eyes, then vanished. Timmid noticed a faint teal glow in his orbs she hadn’t noticed before.

“I know you’re in there, Tirred. Think of all the fond memories we had. Do you realize how important you are to us?” she asked.

“Or were?” Docile asked. Tirred had been tricked and now he appeared to be in some kind of daze. Although part of it was his own fault. Docile knew of the elaborate mind control spell: the Adina curse. A spell created by a ruthless angel, capable of hypnotizing an entire God-serving army at the extreme. It was barely noticeable to anyone, save for those with trained eyes.

Thankfully, Tirred was under a weaker temporary version of it, but it was still bad news.

Timmid ignored Docile.

“Well, our old life is behind us, Timmid. For our sakes and for Kiva’s, let’s surrender to C.H.E.R.U.B. and do what she says.”

He held out a hand to her…and she promptly spit into his face. He flinched and shook his head.

“I’ll never join you, Tirred. Especially when you’re not yourself.”

“Well then,” he turned on his heel. “Enjoy your time in the streets begging for clients and money.”

She scoffed and gathered her courage. “Enjoy your time being single.”

“Oooooooh,” remarked a chubby male cherub before Tirred shoved him aside.

Kiva glanced over at the portal, which hummed with energy. She clapped her hands. “Excellent, they’re here!”

Docile gasped softly as the three C.H.E.R.U.B. members flew through the portal. Music box tunes mixed with angelic choirs played in the background as they arrived. The three members briefly flew into the air out from the stage and did aerial tricks.

“Look, it’s C.H.E.R.U.B.!” one of the humans called, pointing upwards. The humans at the beach cheered in the sunset as the C.H.E.R.U.B. members happily waved and blew kisses. One of them, Collin, gave a nearby child a brief hug.

The three of them flew back toward Kiva.

“Welcome good sirs and ma’am!” she said to them, arms out.

Cletus, the leader in overalls, stared in surprise at the restrained Docile and Timmid.

“What is the meaning of this? Release those leprechauns immediately!”

“Oh, for buck’s sake!” Docile cried.

“Trust me,” said Kiva. “It’s better to have them restrained here until they can fully commit to us. I don’t want their rival company to slow us from our progress.”

“Why can’t they be friends with us? I’m sure they have a lot to offer.”

“Precisely my point!” Docile called before getting hit in the back by his captor.

“With all due respect,” said Kiva. “You three do your job very well. You’ve saved so many people on Earth and your message of love and peace knows no bounds. But I suggest you wait until they become new C.H.E.R.U.B.…interns.”

“No way,” Docile breathed, knowing that the one thing worse than losing his company was being mind-controlled by another.

“We don’t want those elves lonely and forgotten. They saw your commercial and were dying to meet you three.”

“Dying’s never good,” Cletus remarked. “’Survive, revive, thrive,’ that’s our motto.”

“Wait,” said Collin, “I thought it was ‘Good people spread the love.’”

“I’m pretty sure it was ‘You live, we give!’” added Keenie with a twirl of her yellow dress.

“Did any of you listen in the last meeting?” Cletus said. “We gotta stick to one motto. Changing too much doesn’t help with the branding…”

Kiva cleared her throat. “Time is of the essence, dear friends. It is time to show E.L.F. just how much we’re capable of. Starting with the humans and I.M.P.”

“The humans are all fine,” Keenie said. “Though way too many of them die…and many of them are so mean and so unsophisticated.”

Yes,” said Collin, “Those freaks who write and draw and drool over all of us in the most obscene ways.”

All three C.H.E.R.U.B. members turned and glared at the camera before looking back and smiling again.

“Reviving all of the humans we can…and eliminating the unfaithful…” Kiva added. “And keeping all eyes on those devilish imps in Hell.”

“We’ve tried once before,” said Collin sadly, munching on a sugared doughnut he brought with him. “Making friends with them, singing them songs about new hope. They’ve grown up in such dire conditions with not a lot of opportunities. All they know how to do is kill.”

“Perhaps all they need is some love, some music, and a chance to ‘relive the afterlife again!’” declared Keenie.

Cletus elbowed her. “I like singing too, but this ain’t Disney. You know how angry and jealous those imps are of us. And I’m pretty sure that elf over there is giving us the stink eye.”

He pointed down at Timmid.

“Besides, that motto sucks. Too repetitive.”

“It is not!”

“It most certainly is.”

“No way!”

“Shut the front door!” Collin called abruptly. One of the cherubs shut a lone door that was part of a set of props. “Thank you,” said Collin in relief. “I couldn’t stand to look at that robotic clown poster.”

“Enough!” called an impatient Kiva. She took a breath. “Please, please, my friends…we have work to do. You don’t want those demonic creatures to spoil your hard work by killing off more mortals, do you?”

The sheep mumbled in agreement.

Kiva straightened up. “Then let your transformation begin.”

The three sheep looked at each other in concern but complied with their advisor’s words. The curtains opened up on both sides, leaving a clear path to the outside. They flew into the air, held hands and then spun in a circle. Kiva held an open Bible in her hands and chanted a spell in the angelic language. The spell had the word YHWH and VVNN-MDRN in it. The sheep spun faster until they became a speeding white circular blur. A glowing white circle appeared against what was left of the setting sun over the ocean.

The gang led the elves on the beach. The sky had a blinding brightness to it…many of the humans gasped and covered their eyes. Some of the people were pointing at the scene and screaming. Everyone except Kiva was surprised, even Tirred almost broke out of his trance with a worried look. Portal and the cherubs stared with worried looks.

One long white angel wing looped in a downward arc against the now golden sky. Then another wing did the same thing. Soon there were six large wings, two pointing down, two wings extended to the sides and two more crossed over slightly above the first two. The wings burst into white flames and glowing yellow eyes slowly appeared on each of them. Golden moving bands slowly materialized around the wings, forming large rings with more eyes on them. Appearing in the white sphere of energy inside everything was a much larger golden eye that almost seemed transparent.

The divine creature pulsed with powerful energy as rays of light shone from the large eye in every direction. Some of the humans ran for their lives while others prostrated onto their knees on the spot.

Docile nodded to Timmid and the two of them whirled around, freeing themselves while the cherubs were distracted. They landed several nimble kicks and punches, knocking them out. The elves took to the sky on their wings. Timmid gasped as an entranced Tirred was lifted into the air by vine-like light from the hybrid monstrosity. As he hovered in the air, the left side of his face slowly morphed into the black skin of an Exorcist.

The effects of the other world were already beginning to kill him.

For one of the first times in her life, Timmid brushed aside her fear. She knocked out another cherub and snatched up a long holy dagger and a bottle of holy water from his belt. Her white hair fluttered in the breeze as she flew toward Tirred over the dark ocean with objects in hand. Tirred was pulled closer to the scrutinizing eye, which began to invade his very soul. Timmid’s feet landed on one of the spinning wheels and she raced on, her stretched wings supporting her.

Squelch, squelch, went her feet as she stepped onto the eyes with a look of disgust on her face. She dragged her dagger along behind her, creating a screeching noise and sending off a shower of blood and sparks. The force of the larger wings tried to send her back, but Timmid held on with all her might.

She finally reached Tirred, who tried to shove her away. She reached for his hand and forcefully grabbed his wrist. She tried to pull him out of the golden light bonds, but he wouldn’t budge. The golden wheel was tipping dangerously. She slashed her knife forward, cutting the bands loose and freeing her companion. When Tirred almost knocked her down, she slashed lightly at his neck and muttered an apology. He growled out in pain but didn’t protest further.

Timmid hoped the holy water would reverse his curse soon.

Just when she was about to open the small bottle, the wheel tilted again, causing her to lose her items and almost fall. Tirred was pushed away by the wind, and he sailed back to the beach. He landed haphazardly in Docile’s arms.

“Urgh, I hate that woman,” he growled. “Judgement will come to the unfaithful.”

“Tirred,” Docile said in a rare show of passive-aggressiveness, “Please screw yourself on a sword.”

And with that, Docile promptly knocked him out.

Back at the battle, Timmid held onto the spinning ring with both hands. The circular fire of the eye below her flared like a miniature sun, her feet dangling. The more she spun around, the more she almost fell. She screamed for her life, calling on God to rescue her.

More rays of light shot from the large eye toward the beach. In a cemetery, a bunch of recently dead criminals suddenly rose back to life. They stood confused at first, but the gang of men grinned and began to chase after frightened women nearby. More people rose from the dead, some of them spreading their racism toward others. A loving child with a deadly disease raced back toward his parents.

Kiva recited from the Genesis: “…And God said unto them: 'Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that creepeth upon the earth.’”

“Why are you doing this?!” Docile cried. “You’re allowing the Earth to be overpopulated!”

“Three dark ram freaks gave me the idea!” Kiva grinned. “You save lives too. Don’t we not have the same goals?”

“Not to defy the cycles of life! Both C.H.E.R.U.B. and E.L.F. cannot raise the dead!”

It was then that Docile realized: macabre as they were, I.M.P. must exist for a reason…a manifestation of destruction to clash with creation.

“This is chaos! Without death there is no life!”

“And life is never complete when there are demons and sin to lead one astray,” Kiva replied.

Kiva smiled. “C.H.E.R.U.B. will soon give people a second chance at human life…to prove that they are worthy in His eyes. All the rest will go to Hell upon death, as is tradition.”

“But why have second chances when the majority of people go to Hell anyway? There’s no justice, even of the vengeful kind. It creates an unfair system!”

“Exactly. A system that may be unfair to some, but it works. It has worked for thousands of years. The worthy get in, the dammed eventually die again. There is nothing in this world that can change that.”

“You’re wrong,” Docile glowered. “Just you wait. Even some demons have good inside them.”

Kiva brushed off his comment. She muttered in a low voice, “Search for I.M.P.”

Before the remaining disguised cherubs could take off, Docile tripped them and promptly knocked them out.

“I don’t need to be an Exorcist Cleanser to eliminate threats like you,” Docile spat. “Especially when you play God and decide who’s worthy or not for yourself! You know only the Lord can do that!”

“Is that so? See for yourself,” said Kiva, mentioning to the angel monster. “That divine cherub hybrid sees everything…no one can defeat it head on. And it appears that your employee won’t last much longer.”

Docile’s face fell. He knew there was no way he could reach Timmid in time. With the potential loss of two members, he would be reduced to a lost cause. The cherubs slowly got up, preparing to surround him again.

He held up his hands in defeat, eyes closed. “Just…let us live, we’ll do what you want, Kiva I give…”

Docile almost surrendered right then and there.

But upon opening his eyes, he spotted something long and glinting not too far away. The two hovering spears stood inches over the stand, light from the tips supporting the portal.

A last determined look crossed his face. He picked up Tirred in his arms and flapped his wings.

“…you my regards!”

Portal blocked the path to the spears but Docile raised his arms, tossing the unconscious Tirred into the air. Tirred landed against Portal’s white face, briefly making him stumble. In the split second that Portal was distracted, Docile charged and rammed his head against him as hard as he could. Portal stumbled backward, bumping into the podium. He, Tirred and the stand crashed to the floor, taking the spears with them.

“Docile…” thought Timmid.

Timmid closed her eyes and her spear magically appeared by Docile’s feet. He pushed himself up and grabbed the weapon.

The other two spears slowly made their way back into position…

Whack!

With a well-aimed swipe, Docile’s spear cut through the other ones like sticks. The broken spears clattered to the ground, the light fading from their tips.

Timmid cried a river of tears, unable to hold any longer. Her hands slipped from the ring and she began to fall with a yell.

The creature suddenly vanished in a shower of white light, and Timmid plummeted into the ocean. She bobbled her head and reached the surface with several gasping breaths of relief. She looked up and saw the three C.H.E.R.U.B. members defusing. The sheep shook their heads before hugging each other.

“Man, that was horrible!” exclaimed Keenie.

“It felt like my wool was on fire,” Collin added.

“Kiva always was a female dog,” Cletus added. “We gotta make sure this event doesn’t get out!”

They all glanced down at Timmid with wide cute eyes. “We’re sorry!” they all sang.

Timmid just glared suspiciously.

The three members flew back through a portal.

“This isn’t over!” Kiva called, summoning another portal. But for some reason, she and her gang couldn’t get through.

 Deerie, a deer cherub floated toward Kiva from the colorful opening. She summoned glasses and a clipboard.

“Yeah, no, sorry dear, but you cannot re-enter Heaven now. Nor see C.H.E.R.U.B. ever again.”

“What?!” she screeched.

“Since you’ve been messing with the affairs of humans and seeing as how you failed in your mission to bring down I.M.P…yeah, no, sorry. And reviving humans is a big no no.”

She happily waved with a “Bye!” and went through the portal.

“No!” Kiva cried, extending a hand as the portals closed and the sigil disappeared. “That wasn’t my idea!”

Kiva seethed as her human disguised cherubs surrounded her. The gang walked to the beach. Docile grabbed another bottle of holy water and poured it down the still Tirred’s throat. He muttered a prayer and felt the last of the mind numbing magic dissipate away. Tirred’s wounds healed up and the Exorcist features faded to reveal his normal face. He was free of the spell.

Tirred’s eyes fluttered open and he groaned. “D-Docile?”

Timmid raced over, dripping wet and hugged him.

“What happened?” Tirred asked.

“You were being conned into working for Kiva and being a total ass,” Docile deadpanned.

“I’m truly sorry. I let my desires led me astray…”

“It’s okay,” Docile said. “I gotta have a talk with my former boss. And get us some new spears.”

The elves walked onto the beach and met Kiva and her cherubs. Sunna came skipping back.

Kiva smirked when she saw Docile. “That was handled rather…obvious, don’t you think?”

“I’ll say,” said Timmid. She and Docile raised their summoned golden staffs into the air, mind-wiping the surrounding humans. The formerly frightened and concerned people went about their day without a care in the world. With a gut-wrenching feeling and tears, Docile sent the revived maniacs back to their graves, restoring the balance of life.

Timmid continued. “Would be a shame if anyone found out you guys unlocked a secret evil form of C.H.E.R.U.B., along with helping to push a sinister agenda that could ignite a rebellion in Hell and a soon to be World War Three. Oh right, you just got banished!”

“Oh Jesus! You and your crazy conspiracy theories,” Tirred sputtered to her. He turned to the cherubs. “You guys will be screwed, screwed, screwed!”

“Yeah,” Kiva began. “Well you three will at least be in trouble for going against a canon organization and not wearing your disguises the whole time!”

“Snitch, a human called me a leprechaun. I am not a bucking leprechaun,” Docile added. He stepped closer. “You know, we could keep your little Viv cartoon agenda on the down low if you allow us to keep our company…and my parking spot!”

Kiva scoffed. “Fine.”

“Yes!” Docile cheered. “We won! In your face, psychotic b-witch!”

“Come on gang, let’s get out of here,” Kiva said with a sneer. “Tal!”

“Guess I gotta bounce,” said Portal to Sunna. “Feel free to give me a call sometime."

Sunna blushed and said, “Will do.”

“Stop on by for my friend’s feline parties. Let’s get you living the life!”

Portal walked away and followed Kiva up the stairs and onto the street. Kiva and her gang were quickly surrounded by police on horseback and drawn guns.

“Alright disciples,” said Kiva, “Get ready to atone for a lot of your sins.”

Her gang groaned in defeat as they raised their hands in surrender.

A portal was created in the air. Timmid carried Tirred through, while Sunna followed Docile. The portal closed and they were back in Heaven.

“Hallelujah!” Docile cheered as they parked their silver van in their rightful spot in front of E.L.F. headquarters. Off in the distance, the four women drove the chariot through another portal to the parallel Heaven.

“That was an unpleasant curse,” Tirred said. “I didn’t even realize I said those mean things to you.”

“It’s still partially your fault,” Timmid reminded him. “You still secretly wanted to be an Exorcist and get a taste of power. Sin can get anyone, even angels it seems.” Tirred hung his head.

“Yep,” Docile agreed. They got out of the van and headed back to the office. They met in the hallway. Docile smirked. “In fact, you can prove your loyalty to our company by scrubbing down the rooms from top to bottom.”

Sunna came back from a closet and handed Tirred a mop and a bucket.

“Seriously?”

“What goes around comes around,” Sunna mentioned with a grin.

“We cannot afford a lot of things right now…including losing someone so hardworking,” said Docile. “I know things can be a bit rough between us, but Timmid still has faith in you. We always have.”

Tirred gave them a small genuine smile.

“Don’t focus on what could be,” Timmid said, giving him a hug. “Focus on what is…right now.”

Tirred hugged her back, breaking into silent sobs.

“Are you…crying?” Docile asked.

“No sir!” he growled, letting go of Timmid. “You guys are still a bunch of airheaded wimps.”

“Now that’s the old Tirred we love!” Sunna said, back to her sunny personality.

“Alright Tirred, get to work,” Docile ordered. “Timmid, Sunna, let’s have some angel food cake to celebrate. You know devil’s food cake is forbidden.”

Sunna licked her lips. “Sounds yummy!”

Tirred grumbled as he cleaned.

#2phazbinhotel #heavenlyboss #2phelluvaboss

[mai-sau]

Prompt "give me attention" for kidnap family?

"haha, im gonna take it easy with prompts this time around, only a few hundred words -" cue spongebob title card "2.3k words later"

seriously tho thank you for the prompt!! (and sorry about the wait!) i had fun working on this one bc well i love any chance to write about this lil family of murderers and tiny bois :') hope u enjoy!!

Prompt: "Give me attention."

“Nelyo.”

“Nelyo.”

“Ne-”

Thump. Maedhros slammed his book shut. A puff of dust wheezed out from the crusty pages; Maglor could make out the swirl of particles flying about in the dim shafts of sunlight peeking into his brother’s study from windows that he was sure were clean at some point in their existence.

Said brother tossed a glare over to Maglor from the other side of his desk.

“You’re allowed to be here. Quietly.” Maedhros threw a pointed look towards the abandoned scroll in Maglor’s hands.

“But I’m so very lonely, Nelyo,” Maglor pouted, and dropped the scroll on the desk. The parchment rolled out towards Maedhros, whose face was fast approaching the same shade as his hair. “Besides, I’ve already taken care of all my correspondence for the day. Nothing much else to do, really, but seek out the company of my darling brother.”

“I’m older than you,” Maedhros grit out, rubbing his temple in terse little circles. Which one of them he was reminding Maglor couldn’t say.

“Only by a few years,” Maglor teased. He let the corners of his lip curl up - he was well aware this made him look like “a cat about to feast on the fattest saucer of milk it’s ever conned” according to his brother, and that was why he did it.

On top of that dusty old book, Maedhros’ fingers twitched. Got you.

“Come on, Nelyo,” he whined. “Give me attentiooon.”

Maedhros threw him a positively hateful look, but Maglor knew he wouldn’t throw him out just yet. By this point, Maglor liked to think he knew his brother well enough.

There were some things he didn’t, of course, and this was fine. When his brother would wake and traipse out to the courtyard in the dead of night, staring at the moon hungrily for hours and hours as if he would never glimpse its light amidst the pitch dark again; when one of the many elves around Amon Ereb would do something wrong - not when one of their craftsmen made the same excited little exclamation as Curvo used to, or hunters fletched their arrows just how Tyelko did, Maglor understood these, at least - but a request phrased too sweetly, an abrupt movement, a smile too wide, and Maedhros’ throat would tighten, his words clipped, before excusing himself to go lock himself in his room for an hour, or two, or three: these parts of his brother Maglor may never know.

But he knew much, or at least enough. A few months after they’d taken in the twins, Maglor had just finished mopping an explosion of jam on the dining floor and sweeping up the shards of what was once the hefty jar that contained it. He’d first gently let Elros know that if they wanted food, they need only ask; he’d then let him know that no, of course they wouldn’t cast him out for breaking the jam jar, with no small amount of tears or internal panic on either end of that conversation.

By the time Maglor slunk into Maedhros’ study that evening to go over reports from around the fortress, he was maybe a bit tired. When Maedhros told him to wait for just a few minutes while he wrapped something or other up, Maglor might’ve let slip a touch of petulance and no small amount of theatrics into his voice when he asked when his dear Nelyo could spare just a moment for his poor baby brother, simply wilting away from the neglect.

Maglor had frozen, fearful of what his second-most severe brother would have to say in response to - well, whining. He couldn’t even remember the last time he’d let himself do so. Oh, he’d been quite the brat in Valinor, and used to be quite proud of that fact, thank you. Each and every one of his brothers’ last nerves practically had his name on it. But it seemed ever since they arrived here, it was as if they simply couldn’t afford the waste of time. Ribbing was a favored pastime of his in Aman, but Beleriand offered no such frivolities.

But living with the twins, putting on playful words and coaxing laughter from two young faces that Maglor couldn’t bear to see two seconds from breaking anymore, had apparently loosened his discipline.

He’d thought Maedhros would treat him to one of his signature frowns, barking at him that neither of them had time to make things any harder for each other, but instead he’d… laughed. Just the slightest huff of air, yes, but a laugh nonetheless. Maglor hadn’t heard his brother laugh since…

Well, if anything, he was honoring his cousin’s memory.

So Maglor experimented over the years, let a few more teases and whines slip into his day-to-day interactions with Maedhros. His brother had since mustered a valiant effort to act annoyed, but Maglor could still catch a muffled chuckle or smothered grin here and there.

So. All in all, he’s sure he knows his brother pretty well at this point, and Maedhros was not troubled (bad), just bothered (good).

Which, of course, meant they could continue to play; Maglor would show no mercy.

“Please? Please, please? Just a smidgen of tender love and care from my dearly beloved big brother?” Maglor asked, eyes wide and pleading, hands clasped in front of him as he leaned over the desk. His hair, inky black, spilled all over his scroll.

Maedhros’ nose twitched. His right ear flicked. Oh yes. He was close to a chuckle now, he could tell. His dearly beloved big brother stood no fucking chance.

“Oh dear Eru, let my brother pay attention to - MANWË’S TITS!” Maglor shrieked, springing up from his seat after spotting a dark shadow peeking through the window.

His brother whirled around. Quick as a viper, his hand darted out to grasp the hilt of his sword. Despite this, Maglor could hear a choked noise he was more than halfway certain was the chuckle he had so desperately hunted. Oh well.

A chubby face stared right back at them, eyes round as saucers. Wait, make that two faces.

Both Maglor and Maedhros sagged with relief.

“Elros, can you please come in?” Maglor croaked, feeling five feet to the left of his physical body. “You too, Elrond.”

The two of them nodded bashfully, heads bobbing as they fumbled over to the glass. And they were… flapping. Each twin sported small brown wings on their back, looking much like the falcons Tyelko used to play with as a child. Maglor supposed, thinking of a great bird soaring away over the sea with light itself clutched tight in its talons, maybe they should have expected this one in particular.

Elros pushed once, twice at the windows, tiny arms straining against the pane and looking more panicked by the second. Behind him, Elrond simply pointed to the - oh, the window latch. Yes.

Maedhros stood up and flicked it open. Elros came tumbling through, nearly bashing his skull on the desk before Maedhros caught him midair.

Elrond flew in smoothly and landed on Maglor’s empty chair, wings neatly folding in. Maedhros dumped Elros on his own chair. His wing smacked Maedhros’ arm by mistake.

“We talked about this. No new shapeshifting without me or Maglor there,” Maedhros said, fixing each of them with a stern look.

Both the twins looked down at this. Elrond wrung his little wrists.

“We’re sorry!” Elros burst out, tears welling up in his eyes. “We won’t do it again, promise!”

“That’s what you said last time, sweetheart,” Maglor told him.

“And the time before that,” Maedhros grumbled.

“What we’re saying, dear, is that we understand that you’re sorry. But keeping your word has to take first priority,” Maglor explained softly.

Maedhros coughed.

“Or, er, not doing it again,” Maglor corrected. “That’s what counts.”

“We understand,” Elros sniffled. “It’s just, we wanted to hear, but you weren’t there to check with, because well, you were here, and, well, um, yes -”

“Bringing us to the next point of order,” Maedhros rumbled. He raised a brow at both of them. “Eavesdropping. We have also been over this.”

Oh dear. Elros looked like he was about to drown in a puddle of tears. Maglor rubbed a hand between his shoulder blades soothingly, careful of the new feathery appendages.

Thankfully, Elrond stepped in. “We remember, it’s not nice because we like to be in private sometimes and it’s not fair for us to not let other people be too,” he recited shyly. “Um, we just… we know you both meet up a lot like this, and we know it's important… but… um…” His lip trembled; his voice cracked. “Do you... talk about us? Do you not want us to hear because it’s bad? Because we can do better!” He promised quickly, eyes wide and wet. “Elros is getting really good at his music lessons, he’s practicing a lot! And I’m working on my writing lessons every day!”

Something in Maglor’s chest twisted. “Oh, honey, no -”

But his brother beat him to the punch. Striding out from behind the desk, he knelt down in front of Elrond. “Can I hug you?” he asked very quietly.

Elrond bit his lip and nodded. Without another word, Maedhros wrapped him up in his arms.

They stayed like that for a moment, Maedhros’ hulking frame wrapped around Elrond’s body, like a drape of russet locks, leather and rich furs. When his brother finally pulled away, he gave a heavy look to both children.

“We will never give you away because you’re not good enough. Alright? You will always be good enough. Both of you,” he told them. He reached out and covered Elrond’s tiny hand with his own, fingers curling around and intertwining. “And not because you’re caught up on your lessons, or do what we say.”

“Though those are certainly nice,” Maglor added. He flashed them a teasing grin before taking care to soften his expression once more, and laid a gentle hand on Elros’ shoulder. “You will always have our love. And nothing, not even the worst jam spill, or missed harp lesson - don’t think I didn’t notice that last week, dearest - can ever reach in and steal it. It is your’s by blood and birthright.”

“Love you,” Elros sniffled. Elrond echoed him, voice no less wobbly.

Maedhros gifted them with a small smile. “Love you both, starlights.”

“And -” Elros started, hiccuped, and continued. “And same for me too. Nothing can change that! I’ll always love you two.”

Maglor felt a pang of sickly guilt invade his chest and looked away. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Maedhros stiffen.

“Me too,” Elrond said, voice suddenly clear. Maglor glanced at him and met a gaze that seemed years ahead of its time; he froze, rooted to the spot. “We’ll always love you no matter what you do.”

“Well -” Maglor started. “That’s…”

“No need to worry about us,” Maedhros recovered quickly, waving his hand. “Now then, it’s nearing bedtime, hm?”

“But wait!” Elros cried. “What were you two talking about then?”

“Yes! We saw Atya going like this,” Elrond clasped his pudgy hands together and shook them. “And his voice sounded all funny, and then he prayed to Eru about Atar paying more attention to Manwe’s t-”

“ALRIGHT!” Maglor yelped, clapping his hands. His face must’ve been steaming, his cheeks were burning, oh stars - “Bedtime!”

“But we want to know why you were saying all those funny things,” Elros complained loudly. His voice slipped into a high pitched whine, dripping with petulance. “Nelyo, Nelyo, give me attentioooon -”

“I do not sound like that!” Maglor gasped, scooping up a giggling Elrond to be carried to bed.

“I do not sound like that!”

Maglor turned around, gaping. That was not Elros’ voice.

Maedhros stared back. His eyes glinted with mirth and the most shit-eating grin curled his lips. In his arms was a starstruck Elros, who looked no less shocked than if the clouds themselves had just burst into song and danced a lively jig. And quite frankly, Maglor would be less surprised.

Maedhros dealt him one last smirk before twirling on his heel and walking out of the room to go deposit one elfling in his bed. Maglor still had the other, who poked his cheek.

“Atya? Are you okay?”

Slowly, ever so slowly, Maglor felt a smile grow across his face. His eyes stung with tears. He quickly wiped them with his sleeve before they could fatten and spill over his cheeks and probably make Elrond worry even more.

“Wonderful, dear.” He frowned for a second, considering. “Although I think there is a dreadful amount of mockery in my future.”

He looked down at Elrond. His son merely tilted his round head, offering a blank look. Maglor sighed happily. “But that’s okay.”

XXX

In time, it became clear that there was no need to worry about the looming threat of brotherly teasing paid back in full; Maedhros may have been looser with his laughter, but even this was a rare occasion still. Maglor did not mind, for any time he saw his brother’s eyes alight with anything other than fatal passion was a gift.

The true threat that lurked within Amon Ereb made itself known eventually.

Two weeks later, Maglor was scurrying to meet up with one of the smiths to discuss pending repairs but stopped short in front of a small figure in the courtyard blocking his path.

“Not now, sweetheart, Atya’s very busy,” Maglor told Elrond, harried, ready to flag down someone on the way to attend to whatever his son needed.

And then it happened. Elrond’s face crumpled just so. His eyes widened: big, round, and wet. His lip wobbled. When he opened his mouth, his voice took on a tone so absolutely, horribly pitiful that Maglor half-suspected the echo of Lúthien herself lived in his words.

“Please, Atya,” he begged, every word a death sentence. “Give me attentiooon.”

Oh Eru, Maglor despaired, even as he opened his arms for an evil little elfling to leap into, repairs forgotten. I’ve made a monster.

#this was also my first go at writing more humor #but the hurt/comfort managed to sneak in #kidnap dads #kidnap fam #maedhros #maglor #elrond #elros #my writing #writing prompts #fic #jaz-the-bard

[forgotten-golden-curl-goddess]

A Fowl Masquerade

"For the last time, you WILL be attending my charity event, even if it means I have to part from my guest in two to five minute introverts to see the whites of your eyes Artemis!" A frustrated Angeline told her son as she threw the suit on his bed. He picked up the blue and black incrested raven's mask hanging off the hanger, examining it.

"Mother, I cant even danc-" his words cut off by the slam of the large bedroom doors. Even as an adult, I am treated as a child. He thought. Of course, not attending would disappoint his mother and so the idea of skipping out was not an option. She had only been talking about her Winter Masquerade Ball for months now, tediously planning everyone's outfits down to the Butler's. If it makes her happy he continued to think as he put on the suit. It was a dashing suit of black and dark blue feathers and silk embellishments. He looked in the mirror and couldn't help but like the daring suit. He couldn't help but appreciate the concept on the masquerade party. At least the mask will hide his true expressions, as if he showed any. He straighten the feathers and headed to the ballroom, meeting Butler, whom had a plan black eye mask and a grey and black suit.

"A presume you to be a raccoon." Artemis began small talk with the bodyguard, eyeing his mother, the elegant dove, from the other side of the ballroom. Her and Artemis Sr. where greeting guest, Sr. Being an Heron.

"Do you like it?" asked Butler, pushing away the hands of a red squirrel's from the champagne table. Juliet, the peacock, came over and escorted Beckett away from the table followed by Myles whom was dressed as a grey squirrel. Even with his furry grey mask Artemis could tell his younger brother wanted no part of this event as well. He gave his brother a sympathetic smile as he watched the group disperse into the crowd of people.

"You look nice." Artemis stated to Butler. "You may be able to rummage threw the trash without being detected."

"Dont be so sour Artemis, you look nice as well. There might be a pretty bird for you to dance with." The bodyguard joked.

"Of all people, you know I do not dance." Artemis scowled, continuing to be sour.

"Have some champagne then. It's believed have properties of liquid confidence." Bulter chimed, handing his young charge a glass. "The least it will do is loosen you up." reluctantly, Artemis took the champagne, downing it like a frat boy at his first house party. He needed something to allow him to be social, as if he intended to socialize.

"That will be all, thank you old friend." Artemis stated to his bodyguard, still eyeing the ballroom. The people where dancing to the band of violins, harps and the grand piano. Of all the costumes, one in particular caught his eye. She was a cardinal. Her dress went to her knees in the front, in the back there was a train of red feathers with black tips that barely touched the floor. The cardinal had a sweetheart neckline and black stilettos, and to top it all a feathery black eye mask, her hair pinned up with red feathers. The remaining blonde curls framed her face, swaying as she walked to the champagne table.

"You should dance with the cardinal before the toad does." Butler whispered to Artemis, handing him another glass. Both men where watching a green dressed redhead whom had just been slapped by an swan, making his way to the majestic cardinal, whom was sipping her champagne. The raven downed another glass of liquid confidence and hurried to the cardinals side almost tempted to take another before bumping into the table, the two glasses he already had beginning to make his body warm. Before the toad could make a bigger fool of himself, the raven took the cardinal by her hand and brought her to the ballroom floor, awkwardly hovering one hand on her hip, the other clammy in her hand. He was appearing to look like the fool now as the toad laughed at his technique from the champagne table, only silencing himself after hearing the loud nuckle crack from the rather large raccoon. The cardinal herself giggled at the raven as she adjusted his stance and secretly guided him to the music. The raven picked up quickly her footwork of a simple 1, 2, 3 pattern and began to move with the cardinal to the rhythm of the band. It seemed as if no one was watching the two birds as they danced fiercely, the raven began go spin the cardinal around, bringing her close, dipping her to the floor and back up. His hand now firm on her back had the cardinal so close he could smell her perfume.

"Thank you for the help." He whispered into the cardinals ear, swaying her back and forth, the music dieing down for the next song. Suddenly, the raven felt a light tap on his shoulder. Frustrated about the interruption he turned quickly to comment only to be looking at the heron, smiling with glee.

"The dove has requested a dance, if I may take the cardinal from you." His father said, opening his hand for the cardinal to take. Artemis smiled as he allowed his father to steal away his partner and went looking for the dove. Turning back he caught the cardinal mouth to him. "Sauve-moi la dernière danse." which actually made him smile. After grabbing another glass of champagne, the raven met up with the dove, whom was in mid conversation with the toad. Catching the raven's eye she hurried to him in an embrace.

"Oh Arty, thank you for coming when you did. Come now, dance with your mum." She led Artemis to the center if the ballroom with delight as they began to dance.

"I am so proud of you Arty, you can dance! Considering you have been dancing with that cardinal all night. I'm beginning to believe you have been lying to me this whole time." Angeline said to her son as he spun her around.

"I'm simply pick up on the activity tonight mother. Dont worry, by morning I will have forgotten my dancing shoes and be back with my left feet." Artemis stated, keeping an eye on the cardinal as she moved from left to right with the heron.

"Ashame, I was hoping to host another event on the lines of a Mother and Son formal. She's a pretty bird isn't she?" Artemis smiled nervously, embarrassed he was caught admiring the cardinal dressed lady.

"Yes mother, she is." He replied simply

"The song is almost over anyways. I'm going to steal my husband away and since you stayed for the whole event, I'll take off my birds eye view so you can spend time with your cardinal again." The raven smiled, releasing the dove.

"Thank you mother." He murmured, giving her a hug before heading to the doorway that lead to the gardens. While waiting for the cardinal, he noticed the toad, sleeping in one of the chairs that lined the wall. Across the ballroom the cardinal was walking to him, overcoat in her arms with a shy smile on her face. She slipped on the red and black coat and took his arm as he lead her to the empty garden. Under the stars, he took is position, holding her similar to the way she showed him before, the cold air a welcoming excuse to hold her tighter.

"To continue with our conversation, you didn't need much help. You are a natural." She whispered in his ear sending chills down his spin.

"You are too modest." He whispered back, spinning her around and pressing her back to his front, holding and swaying with her. "You are indeed an excellent teacher." His fingers tracing up her body, grazing her neck and removing the mask from her face. He spun her around again to look into her eyes.

"Is that so, Artemis." Minerva replied back, gently taking off his mask, her fingers lingering on the side of his face.

"Absolutely." He said quietly, taking her hand and kissing it lightly. "I knew it was you the whole time. I'm just glad the toad didn't get to you first." She laughed

"I'm sure I would of reacted like the swan. How touching of you to think of his dignity by sweeping me away without even asking for a dance." She stared at him daring him to say something smart back. He brought her face to his and grinned.

"A raven doesn't ask, they protect what belongs to them." And before she could say another word his lips pressed her, the heat rushing to her face as she melted into him. Her kisses where long and sweet as he danced along the tip of her tongue, moving his mouth down her neck and back up behind her ear, meeting back at her soft lips and he moved both hands down her body. The fireworks sparked high in the air to end the party, not distracting the two love birds in there hot make-out under the stars. He finally pull from her lips, not ready for there sensation to end. She breathed deeply, inhaling and exhaling rapidly as he played with a stray curl.

"You could stay for an after party?" Artemis suggested to a speechless Minerva, whom had already untied his tie and was toying with the buttons by his neck. She nodded with a huge grin, allowing him to guide her to his quarters, there event, just now beginning.

@arrowsanonymous @fowlbyname45 A masquerade story, just as I promised. Thank you for your endless support.

#artemis fowl #minerva paradizo #masqueradeball #angeline fowl #juliet butler #domovoi butler #fowl twins #mintemis

[cancerousjojian]

tired | joe mazzello!john deacon

summary: john comes home to you after a tiring day at the studio. it’s sickeningly domestic and fluffy.

a/n: two fics in two days?! we love being active. anyway writing this hurt my heart i love deaky so much i might just have to cry over it.

He smiles as soon as he steps through the doorway. The sight is too pure not to. You, his fiance, are laying on the couch in one of his old shirts, eyes closed in sleep and hair a mess. He likes seeing you in such a comfortable state, and he wishes the same for himself. It’d been quite the demanding day for him and the rest of the band as their record label harped on them, criticising their new record to no end. He was not only physically exhausted, but creatively as well.

John curses to himself in his thoughts when he wakes you with the noise of him entering your house. You slowly sit up and peel your eyes open. You can see his silhouette in your dimly lit living room, kicking his shoes off and running a hand through his hair.

“Hey,” you say, rubbing your eyes to look at the clock on the wall. Nearly midnight, you’d only been asleep for a few hours. “How’d the recording go today?”

John sighs and flicks the switch on the lamp to turn it on. He meets your eyes and the new light in the room shows bags under his soft eyes and exhaustion on his expression. He sits—collapses, rather—down on the couch next to you. “Awful. Record label won’t let us breathe.” He says. He continues to tell you every detail about his day, he likes talking to you about it and venting. He always feels a hundred times better after.

“They’ll come to their senses soon, I’m sure. If it’s any consolation, I love the new record.” You say to him. Your hand is absentmindedly fiddling with a piece of his hair, fingers massaging his scalp. He almost melts into your touch and his flutter shut in bliss.

A laugh escapes his lips. “That’s because you helped us write a lot of it.” He recalls you and the band sitting in a circle in the studio. You would offer suggestions whenever prompted. John, Freddie, Roger, and Brian always appreciated having another opinion, especially one they trust so well.

He’s only been home for twenty minutes and you can tell he really has had an exhausting day. You look over at him and he’s nodding off; hazel eyes shut and deep breaths making his chest rise and fall slowly. Surely a sight for sore eyes. You’re almost sorry when you lean over to plant a feathery kiss on his cheek and he opens his eyes, turning to face you. His hands find your jaw, pulling you in for a proper kiss. His lips curl into a smile, he can’t help it. You’re real, you’re here and you’re his.

The innocent kiss turns into a sloppy and lazy makeout, but neither of you mind. It’s warm and he’s been looking forward to it all day.

In minutes, John grips your leg with a calloused hand and hooks it around his his torso so you’re sitting on his lap. You just look at each other for a moment, each of you admiring the other. You both can barely keep your eyes open because you’re so tired, but John still somehow manages to look as handsome as ever. But he’s thinking the same of you. He’s thinking about kissing you again as his hands rest on your hips, playing with the fabric of the shirt you’re wearing. Not to mention the way you’re looking at him, with a subtle twinge of admiration in your eyes. He loves you so much. He wants to tell you, so he does.

You blush slightly at his words, which only makes his heart swell more. “I love you, too. Let’s go to bed, yeah?” You’re whispering now, your mouth right next to his ear as you place a firm kiss below it on his neck. He nods, still watching you admirably as you climb off him. You take his hand in yours, leading him down the hall to your room.

Your fiancé discards his shirt and pants, climbing under the covers to join you. You’re inches from his face and you can’t help but sweetly kiss the tip of his nose. John lets out a breathy laugh and slings his arm over your torso. It’s the most comfortable you’ve ever been.

You want to stay like this forever.

#i just wanna hug him #joe mazzello x reader #joe mazzello #john deacon imagine #john deacon #deaky x reader #john deacon x reader #queen #queen imagine #bohemian rhapsody cast #roger taylor imagine #ben hardy #gwilym lee imagine #brian may imagine

[thelittleloverofbooks]

Certain as the Sun~ VI

My writer’s block suddenly left and I was finally able to get some work done. Hope you enjoy! Please let me know what you think: likes are appreciated but reblogs, comments, and messages make my day and encourage me want to want to update faster!

P.S. After this, things in Prythian get VERY interesting. 

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“I’m not sure when Lucien’s family are planning on making their move, so I need you to keep an especially watchful eye on them, Azriel.” The quiet Illyrian warrior nodded, I could have sworn I saw the shadows around him darken in response as if they were eager for the new challenge I had posed. “As I’d predicted, they’ve decided to affiliate themselves with Tamlin and the King of Hybern, which means that we now have another person aiming for the targets on our backs.”

“And,” Mor added, “it means that you’ll also have to take necessary precautions, Feyre. The Autumn Court are a sneaky group of bastards. And although they’ve denounced Lucien I wouldn’t put it past him to report any suspicions he has to his family.”

A devilish smirk spread across my lips. “Oh, I don’t think we’ll have Lucien to worry about, Mor, Rhys assured, “She’s already taken care of him.” Four pairs of eyes stared back at me, drowning in confusion.

“Ah,” Cassian finally grinned, understanding and more than a hint of amusement causing his eyes to glow like liquid amber. “You threatened him with Elain, didn’t you?” The look in my eyes was the only needed confirmation. “Well played, Feyre,” he appraised.

The mention of my sisters caused sudden fear and worry to strike my chest. I hadn’t seen Nesta or Elain since they had been forcibly dunked into that damned Cauldron and turned into Fae. The last image I had of them both was in the King of Hybern’s courtroom—Nesta, eyes burning with hatred and rebellion. And Elain, sweet, innocent Elain too had burned with a fiery inferno I hadn’t seen before.

Cassian, whom Rhysand had informed me had been in charge of training and helping my sisters adjust to their new bodies, seemed to become flustered and unsure of how to answer the question.

“They’re fine,” he finally answered. “Or rather...they’re adjusting. It hasn’t been an easy process, as you’re well aware of.” Just as I had expected. I thought back to my own experiences of the long process of which I had to go through to finally become adjusted to my Fae body.

Rhysand placed a gentle hand at the small of my back, the signal for my time of departure. Fear and longing held my heart in its icy grip. It suddenly dawned on me that this may be the last time in a very long time that I would see them. My family.

I met each of their gazes in turn. As if they, too, had sensed that it was now time for me to leave, all four members of my Court, my Family placed a fist to their hearts, heads bowed in reverence. This was not a time for goodbyes, there was no need. No matter what events would take place in the future I knew I had to hold on to the tiny glimmer of faith I had that I would see them all again.

Rhysand led me outside and before we even reached it I spotted the massive night wings and glistening beak that could only belong to the Eranaten. I held my hand out to the graceful creature, allowing her to become familiar with my scent before stroking an idle hand down her beak. She purred, leaning into my touch.

“Rajani will take you as far as the outskirts of the Summer Court. Tarquin has assured that no harm will come to you as you travel through,” Rhysand informed me. “The Day, Dawn, and Winter Courts, however, have still not outwardly pledged their allegiance to either side, so please be cautious.” I nodded, secretly amused with his doting.

“Has there been any progress on finding a way for us to communicate without Tamlin or anyone discovering it?” I asked, fingers lightly scratching behind Rajani’s ears.

Frustration, not directed towards me, but at our situation flickered in his eyes. “Azriel’s been searching for loopholes, but still hasn’t found a way for an undetectable correspondence.” I had known better than to get my hopes up, but still hearing those words caused my heart to unexpectedly plummet.

“We’ll find a way,” I said, more to reassure myself than anything. “The King of Hybern isn’t all-knowing. There must be somewhere his eyes are looking, his ears aren’t listening. We’ll find a way,” I repeated.

The violet in Rhysand’s eyes turned midnight black as he murmured, “Until then, Feyre, you cannot completely close yourself off to me. Although I cannot physically be there for you, I can be there for you mentally. I just have to have some...reassurance that you’re alright.”

“Are you worrying about me, Rhys?”

He offered a small, sad smile, stepping closer. A hand reached up and brushed back a strand of hair that had come loose at some point, a thumb gently caressing my cheek. “It would seem that worrying is a side effect of the Mating Bond. In fact, I’m almost positive I’ve seen more than a few grey hairs since you’ve left.” I reached a hand up, running my fingers running through his hair as I’d done so many times before. “I’ve waited hundreds of years for you, Feyre. I’ve been through what I’d thought was hell and back, but...you. Having them take you away from me...now that is one thing I’d never be able to recover from.” I was taken aback by the pain and fear in his eyes. Of the memories that still haunted him after all these years.

“Everything I love has always had a tendency to be taken away from me.”

“I won’t shut you out this time, I promise,” I whispered, “Nothing will happen to me, Rhys.”

He said nothing for a while, his eyes slowly scanning over my face as if to memorize each and every small detail. Still holding my gaze he offered me his hand. “Dance with me.”

As if he had summoned it, the sweet melody of a violin, the feathery whispers piano, the steady beat of drums and angelic song of a harp circled around us. I smiled at him, gave him my hand, dared a step closer. I leaned in to the warmth of his hand at the small of my back, of his lips grazing the shell of my ear, the curve of my neck, pressing tender kisses to my shoulderblades.

Suddenly he spun me away from him before pulling me back, his lips a hairsbreadth away. A wicked smile was spread across them, and I couldn’t help laughing. Rhysand joined, and I rested my head on his chest.

Warm breath tickled my ear, sending delicious shivers dancing down my spine. “I love you,” he whispered. This may be the last time in a long time I would be held in his arms, lean into his touches, hear my name come off his tongue. I wanted to memorize all of it, to store it in my memories to relive in my dreams over and over again.

I was certain that no matter how many times he would whisper those words to me, they’d still cause my heart to sputter, fill my chest with an impossible need to be closer to him.

“I love you,” he said again. And when he said it this time he whispered the words as if I was his entire world.

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I couldn’t count the number of kisses Rhys and I exchanged before he, begrudgingly, let me go. As I sailed above the bright lights of Velaris I could have sworn I spotted a dark shadow darting in between the mountains around me, a certain pair of violet eyes watching from afar. The feeling stopped only once I’d crossed over into the Day Court.

Rajani flew swiftly and silently over the rolling green hills of the Day Court, through the long stretches of meadows and rivers of the Dawn Court, above the snow-capped mountains and frost-laden trees of the Winter Court. When we finally made it to the familiar crystal blue seas of the Summer Court, the sun was slowly beginning to rise. Panic clutched my heart in its icy grip as I wondered if I’d be able to winnow through the Spring Court and make it back to my rooms before anyone discovered my absence.

As if sensing my unease, Rajani suddenly lurched forward as if she had not been flying to her full potential before. I grinned, memories of great Illyrian wings, hair whipping at my face and warm hands clutching me against his chest rushing back at me.

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“Thank you, Rajani,” I whispered, stroking her beak. She let out a quiet screech before launching back into the sky with one mighty sweep of her wings. I blinked, and she was gone as if she had only been a figment of my imagination.

I felt those feelings clawing at me and instead decided to stretch out my own wings before shooting into the air, the early morning wind and sun kissing my face but there was no time to enjoy it. I raced towards the castle of the Spring Court, death at my back, anxiety digging its ugly claws.

Then I was at the outskirts of the woods, winnowing in between shadows so as not to be seen, silent as death. I raced up the stairs and to my bedroom, finding the veil I’d put in place just as it had been before I left.

I was just able to slide back into bed and rest my head on a pillow before a soft knock sounded at my door.

“Feyre? Are you awake?”

I made sure to wait a few seconds, deepening my voice like that of someone who had just awoken from sleep. “Yes, Alis. Come in.”

The small faerie shuffled inside, smiling broadly. “Master Tamlin wishes to see you,” she says. “I’ll draw your bath and send someone to fetch you breakfast before you go to meet him.”

I forced a grateful grin. “Thank you, Alis.”

I bathed and dressed in another ridiculous dress, missing the breezy, comfortable style of my home. Biscuits, tea, and bacon sat on my dresser, and I managed to leave the plate clean and the cup empty before going to meet Tamlin.

Odd didn’t fully convey the feeling I felt while walking through the halls of Tamlin’s home. I truly felt like a stranger, an invader, a spy within these walls.

I didn’t bother to knock on the door before bursting into Tamlin’s study. The sight that greeted me caused me to stumble back a few steps.

“Hello, Feyre,” greeted a light, lilting voice.

Ianthe.

#feyrhys #feyre and rhys #feyre x rhysand #rhysand #rhys #feysand #feyre x tamlin #feyre and tamlin #feyre #feyre archeron #feysand fic #feysand fanfiction #feysand smut #feysand trash #sarah j maas #sjmaas #acotar fic #acowar #acomaf #acotar #acowar fanfiction #acomaf fanfic #fanfictions #fanfiction #fanfic #fantasy #a court of dreams #a court of mist and fury fanfiction #a court of mist and fury #a court of wings and ruin

[kathyprior4200]

Heavenly Boss Episode Three: Autumn Intact

“Happy 2021! Have episode three! When Docile's former supervisor steals his parking spot, things sure do happen.”

Part One: Kiva

A silver-colored van was held aloft by a pair of large white feathery wings attached to the sides. The surface was in pristine condition, shining in the sunlight. The license plates on the front and back read “E.L.F. – 333.” In the driver’s seat sat a thoughtful Docile, leader of E.L.F. The elf angel wore his usual work outfit: a long white coat with round teal buttons down the front and a pin attached to his undershirt. He had white pants and boots with blue trim around the ends. One half of his face was black, the other was a dark teal green. He had a white birthmark on his forehead and pointed teal green ears extending out on either side of his bald head. His pupils were white with teal irises and dark blue sclera. His wings were folded behind him and a white spiked halo hovered above his head. On the radio, a calming country song about God played as the elf hummed along.

 “I love this song!” he said.

 Sitting next to him in shotgun was the ever-smiling Sunna, the brown Heaven-cat. She had pointed ears and long hipster-style brown hair that framed her furry brown face. She wore her usual white sundress with a golden sun symbol on it. Decorating her brown furry body were several black stripes. Her sky blue eyes shined as she peered out at the passing clouds around her. The windows were down to let in the clean, crisp air.

 In the backseats wearing seatbelts were their two elf colleagues, Tirred and Timmid. Tirred, grumpy as ever, covered his ears and grimaced in disgust at the music. He had black hair that stuck out slightly on either sides of his teal green face. His young white-haired partner Timmid was curled into a ball, fearful of heights and almost everything else. Ironically, she was an angel with white wings and a halo like her colleagues. Both elves wore their white and teal work outfits.  

 Sunna waved out the window as they flew by a family of bi-pedal humanoid swans who played harps on a cloud. Even the three kids were playing miniature lyres and flapping their wings in excitement. Holy City was bustling with music, cars, and people with animal-like traits. Several signs read, “Saintz,” “Cloud Nine,” “Paradise,” “7th Heaven” and “Elysium Gymnasium!” Doves, swans and sheep danced together on a hovering golden platform while small curly-haired cupids played instruments in the clouds. Several angels took pictures and selfies with their cell phones. A large group of children chased each other in the air while they played the popular “Gabriel’s Truth-Telling Trumpet Toys ™.”

 “Those things don’t even work,” Tirred mentioned as Sunna played Docile’s trumpet he had gotten at Woo-Hoo Land.

 “Probably not,” she said, looking back behind her at him. “But I heard that people are still more likely to tell the truth, even if it’s unintentional.”

 “Herd mentality,” he said with a roll of his eyes. “People will believe anything, the mindless sheep they are.”

 A group of flying sheep angels “baa-ed” and gave him angry glares as E.L.F. drove by at a leisurely pace.  

 “What?” he spat at them. “I’m just being honest!”

 “Told ya,” Sunna grinned, blowing the trumpet closer to his face. Tirred pushed the trumpet away as Sunna giggled.

 A nearby marching band of uniformed bi-pedal lions and eagles played trumpets on a path as they strolled around a golden Greek temple. Inside the temple, Metatron was busy organizing records at a fancy desk in a closed off portion of the vast room. A few Seraphim with six fiery red wings circled a golden empty throne inside, chanting “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty! The whole Earth is full of His glory!” Their chants were amplified to the outside world via magic megaphones.

 “I always hated those annoying fiery things,” Tirred remarked with a roll of his eyes. “They never stop!”

 On the outskirts of Haven, a few dark exorcists were flying and sparing with angelic spears as part of their training. They had long black feathery necks, talon hands and feet, plus curved horns with small lines along them. They also had white spiked halos of their own above their heads, with a small crystal in the center surrounded by a cross. Timmid shivered as she spotted the Xs over their right eyes and their LED grins. The vulture-like demon exterminators had a smaller base and not as many numbers as the first Heaven next door, but that did not make them any less skilled or threatening.

 “Those things give me the creeps,” Timmid whimpered. “I don’t understand why we have to have them in the Heavens.”

 “Well, they do live on the outskirts for a reason,” Tirred explained. “They have their own military society and even families there. Children are trained from birth to cleanse demons and protect Heaven. The more elite fighters guard the Empyrean, God’s abode. Some angels can become Exorcists but only after many tests and trials.”

 “Thou shall not kill,” Timmid recited, forgetting her fear. “Thou shall love thy neighbor and not covert his goods. Why is it then, that Exorcists, mortals and demons to the extreme extent…aren’t seen as our neighbors?”

 There was a silence, save for the country music.

 “Did you even listen to your lectures in school?” Tirred asked. “Demons are destined to suffer and be separated from their purified family members. Without the Archangels, Overlords, Saints and royalty, Heaven and Hell societies would crumble. Whether we like it or not, we all have our roles to play.”

 “Sure, like you play your role so perfectly at E.L.F.” Sunna added to Tirred in sarcasm. She mimicked Tirred in a low voice: “‘I shall use my healing powers to discipline you mortals!’ ‘Kill all demons and imperfections!’ ‘I’m so tired, I hate this place. No one else but me deserves to fu…’”

 “Do you guys mind?!” Docile glared back at them. “I’m trying to listen here.”

 “Look out!” cried Timmid as a shocked Docile narrowly missed a white Pegasus flying to the side of the van. Docile swerved around it, and rapidly spun the wheel, dodging other flying vehicles. They dove under a large white flying truck that read “Fizzipop’s Soda,” on the sides in bold pink letters. The sky highway was flanked by streetlamps on clouds, the poles made of gold. As they plummeted down, Tirred put his hand on Timmid’s shoulder, trying to comfort her. She looked at him, taking deep breaths and forcing a small smile. The van narrowly dodged a flying horse’s hooves in the air.

 “Horses,” Docile snorted in disgust.

 Docile maneuvered the van over toward E.L.F. headquarters. It was a large white pristine office building in Elf City, decorated with large golden wings jutting off to the sides. The double doors were decorated with harps. A nearby sign read “Welcome to Elf City, established 1981.”

 “Whoa!” Docile called, lowering the van and pressing onto the brakes. The van landed and skidded to a stop on the street.

 “Holy spit!” Docile cried as they stilled.

 The parking spot usually reserved for E.L.F. in front of the building had been taken by a large chariot.

 But it was no ordinary chariot…it was a breathtaking vehicle of energy and moving symbols. The wheels were golden and glowing, with small eyes along the rims. Spheres of light seemed to glow between the spokes. A griffin with shimmering tan fur stood at the head of the chariot, squawking from his eagle head and resting from its flight. A small white sheep with wings served as the driver.

 Four women got out, two on each side of the chariot. One had the head of a lioness and was dressed in red. The second wore white and had the head of a white bull. The third wore a purple robe and had the head of an eagle. The last woman wore green and had silky blonde hair and a white face with red blushes on it. All four women had silk scarves with peacock eyes draped over their shoulders. The license plate below read “SERVE-4-LIFE.”

 “Oh you serve for life, do ya?” Docile asked in curiosity. He stepped out of the van. “Why don’t you do me a huge favor and let me have my parking spot back!”

 Docile was silenced when another figure stepped out of the chariot. The four women made way for the last female.

 “Is that…Beatrice?” Sunna asked, referring to the poet Dante’s lover and symbol of his ascension to Heaven and God.

 But it wasn’t her. Instead, the woman who got out looked like a regular angel. She wore a black and white dress and white high heels. Her hair was long and pinkish blonde, her face white with blushes. She wore a pair of blue heart-shaped sunglasses.

 “Holy Heavens! Kiva?!” Docile gasped.

 “Docile,” she greeted, stretching her pink-white feathery wings. She had pronounced the silent ”e” in his name, much to his annoyance.

 Kiva Perdera was a famous popstar in Heaven. Her love songs could make mortals and angels alike swoon with feelings of universal love.

 “I should’ve known you’d be here,” he said. “Who wouldn’t be able to sense your divine presence in both paradises?”

 There was a mix of admiration and resentment in his tone.

 “And how have you been, Docile?” She flipped her hair back. “Still in choir practice and performances?”

 “Only on occasion.” He smoothed his shirt and coat in pride. “I’ve moved on to form my own blessing company, E.L.F. Which reminds me…please clear off from my spot.”

 Kiva grinned, her sharp white teeth matching her pale face. “This spot has my name on it, now,” she said, pointing to “Kiva” in blue paint on the ground. The blue “E.L.F.” was crossed out. “I’m doing some judging and assistant work for one of the more infinitely successful companies in Heaven…”

 “No way,” Sunna breathed from inside the van.

 “…I’ve come from the other Heaven to visit and they invited me to perform some duties for a week for autumn break.”

 “A week?!” Docile asked in shock. “You’re here for a week?”

 “Yes indeed.” She removed her sunglasses, revealing green irises, white pupils and dark blue sclera eyes.

 “What’s the matter, Docile?” she mocked. “Are you sacred that I’m gonna judge you again after what happened all those years ago?”

 “I…I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. “My former part-time job was decent enough. Bio Rizz had better jokes and songs…and I was fine with leaving the circus. Mia and Tia understood my new passion for saving lives. Oh I do miss them, though.”

 Kiva smirked and leaned slightly toward him. “Saving lives? How about reaping them?” She then spoke in a low angelic voice as eyes appeared on her wings. “Or your failure to properly do so?”

 Docile’s eyes went wide, his body went stiff. One eye twitched. A surge of memories flashed through his mind.

  “Docile,” scolded his elf father Deferent. “Are you forsaking your Biblical studies for your trivial theater thoughts again?”

 “Dad,” said Docile, holding up a flyer for a show at Woo-Hoo Land. “I’ve been wanting to star in my show for years. I could act and play music, too.”

 “If you had more talent, then yes. But you know that our status doesn’t allow us to pursue whatever we want.”

 “But it’s Heaven!”

 “Heaven with rules just like Earth and Hell,” he continued. “Your destiny is to serve God and this realm…put your personal interests aside for the greater good.”

 “Are you sure?”

 “Yes. After all, that imp Blitzo’s father wanted him to give up his musical theater dreams in order for him and his sisters to survive and kill other demons. Of course, I don’t want such a fate for you.”

 Docile stared in curiosity. “How did you…”

 “How do I know all that? Heaven has spies who risk their lives to ensure that we can keep a better eye on demons and their lives.”

 The young Docile’s face lit up. “Couldn’t I be a spy that gets to go to Hell? So I can get information like this to share with citizens?”

 “No son. Only a select few can do that duty.”

 “If that imp and his siblings want to pursue musical theater and circus performances, than I don’t see anything wrong with that. That means I can do it, too!”

 “It’s not a real career,” said his father. “You and your sisters need to make some decent money and do real work for the community. Serving the higher ups is what imps, hellhounds, elves and heavencats have done for centuries.”

 “You mean I can’t pursue my own hobbies on the side when I want to? That doesn’t make sense!” The young Docile had angry tears in his eyes.

 “You’ll understand when you’re older,” Deferent said.

 Over time, Docile went to school and took class after class. He became proficient in choir and sang in several performances. But singing the same hymns every time soon got boring. Cleaning palaces, constructing stained glass windows, assisting doctors… He went through one menial job after another. He couldn’t even use magic and work with the guardian angels. The saints and higher angels got to do whatever they wanted and there he was, stuck with mundane tasks. Even the lower class cherubs often bossed the elves around.

 “Goblin dork,” mocked a small flying brown deer wearing a business dress.

 “Which of the Seven Halos are you from?” asked a bee cherub.

 “The first Halo of Humility,” Docile replied. “Where Holy City is.”

 “Wrong! You’re from Halo Zero, where the losers are!”

 The cherubs laughed and flew off toward their cloudy town, leaving a sad Docile behind.

 Several of the stained glass windows depicted seven Archangels. The joyful Jophiel, Archangel of Beauty, had beautiful long red hair and wore a rainbow colored dress. She was surrounded by yellow flowers in the background. The lovely Chamuel, Archangel of Love, stood wearing white and held a red rose against a pink background of hearts. The mighty Michael, Archangel of Strength, stood out as a muscular blonde man holding a flaming sword and wearing gauntlets. His background was blue. Then there was the Archangel of Healing, Raphael, who wore a green robe and held a rod and herbs in his hands. His skin was brown and his hair was long and dark. The background was forest green. Uriel, the Archangel of Wisdom stood elegantly against a flaming red background, wearing white. There was Gabriel the Archangel Messenger, with his wings spread out and standing serene against white clouds. Finally there was Zadkiel, the Archangel of Mercy, who stood against a purple background.  

 After a while, Docile’s father suggested…or rather forcefully encouraged…that he try an alternative career. “You don’t want to be defenseless if you encounter an Anti-Exorcist, do you?” he asked. Docile gulped.

 One December 31st, a being with white bat wings, horns and a bare chest flew up to a dog angel. The being held a book about demons in its clawed hands and the dog listened in a trance. A glowing black pitchfork struck the dog angel and he cried out. At once, he plummeted out of the air, his wings burning off as he fell to Hell. His horrified family sobbed nearby.

 The young Docile gulped as he walked toward a dark stone building that read “Exorcist Fort 33 – Realm 2P.”

 By a stroke of luck, Docile was able to get in. He studied and trained day and night. There was Kiva, judging his every move. She wrote on a clipboard and stared with scrutinizing eyes as Docile practiced his flying. He grew used to using harpoon spears, holy daggers, swords and shields.

 “Cleanse as many demons as you can,” Kiva instructed, “but stray away from higher power demons.”

 “The population of both Hells are overpopulated,” she said. “Thus reducing their numbers annually is crucial.” She gave Docile a black feathery Exorcist suit and mask, enchanted to fit his form. His wings and halo turned black.

“These suits were invented to help us blend into the population…and also to inspire fear in demons.”

 “Do not talk to anyone. Do not enter into any buildings in Hell…or else you’ll be cornered. Stay with at least two other Exorcists on missions at all times…for Heaven’s sake, Docile, never drop your holy weapons!”

 “Sorry! I’ll get it,” he called, flying down to retrieve his spear. The older Exorcists shook their heads.

 “And most of all…” said Kiva, “Show no mercy to any demon…no matter how innocent they may look.”

 On Dec 31st, Docile and the Exorcists flew through a portal into 2P Hell. Docile did his job well, slaying demons with his harpoon with no mercy. He glided over the black grassy ground, the sky sanguine. His heart ached every time he dealt a blow, but he told himself it was for the greater good.

 Just then, he spotted a furry animal on a sidewalk. Tossing aside his weapon, he picked up the creature and carried it to safety. The animal was a fluffy white furred cat with a scrunched up brownish face like a cross between a Persian and a Siamese cat. He stared at Docile with light blue eyes.

 Docile’s eyes shined as he removed his mask. “Aww, how cute! What’s your name?”

 “I’m Nugget,” said the cat in a shaky child-like voice. “I fell from Earth and I got lost here in Hell.”

 Docile gasped. “It’s okay. I’ll take you back to Heaven.”

 “Do you think you could help me find my family, first?”

 “Of course.”

 “I think they went this way.”

 Nugget led him to an abandoned movie theater that read “Zoophobia: The Lost Characters” at the top. On a nearby wall, a deer head hung over a plaque that read “Hell Here” in bold letters.  

 Docile went inside as Nugget posed in front of him. “Here they are!”

 A black cat, Pixel arrived with a whitish mouth. Then a thinner tan cat with triangular ears stood close by: Muppet.

 The three cats cuddled and purred against Docile as he pet them. Docile closed his eyes in bliss before feeling a sharp bite on his shoulder. Then another one on his chest.

 “Hey, what’s going…”

 He opened his eyes and gasped out loud. The three furry faces now had red glowing eyes and large smiles of bloody sharp teeth. They had increased in size as well. The cat demons meowed gleefully as they tore at his clothing, wings and skin with their sharp claws. He struggled against them but they held him down.

 “We’re having angel soul tonight, gang!” Nugget cackled.

 Through his darkened haze, Docile could hear laughing, then hisses and yells. He heard the cats fleeing and felt himself being carried by someone with strong arms. By the time he woke up, he was in a military hospital in Heaven, staring at Kiva’s stern face.

 He smiled lovingly at her. “Kiva, you saved my life! How can I repay you?”

 “Getting distracted and fooled by other demons,” she tutted. “Putting other Exorcist’s lives at risk. Almost bringing a demon into Heaven. Here,” she said, handing him a pink slip. “You’re fired!”

 Three high ranking cherub angels hovered in front of Docile as he walked in shame along the street. “We can help you, little guy,” the leader said in a kind voice. They emerged from the light. Docile’s eyes went wide. It was the angelic versions of Nugget, Pixel and Muppet.

 Nugget held out a generous paw. “Can you tell us your name?”

 Docile took one look at their familiar feline faces and screamed as he scurried away.

 The cats looked at each other in confusion.

 Docile heard the taunts and jeers of other angels around him. “Does anyone love you, Docile?”

 “No!”

 Docile was back in the present, shaken. His crew looked at him in concern as Kiva awaited his response.

  He stuttered at Kiva. “Yeah well…uh I may have failed, but…at least I’m actually doing something with my life instead of singing love songs all the time!”

 “You’re jealous because I’m still famous,” she said, moving her slender fingers through her tresses of hair. “I’ve heard your company is struggling to make ends meet. The chain company I work for now…It’ll likely outshine yours in a few months.”

 “I don’t think so,” he argued, getting into her face. “As long as my employees and I are together, we’ll keep doing our job!” He stood, arms folded.

 Timmid had never seen the normally calm and carefree Docile so agitated. Even Sunna had a worried look on her face.

 “Now move your chariot or I’m gonna…”

 A low hissing sound made him freeze. Towering above him was a giant white bi-pedal cat wearing a dark white suit. The cat’s left eye had a scar over it and was milky white. One of his ears was torn.

 “You’ll what?” he asked, his eyes blue, his sharp teeth visible.

 “I’ll…uh…” Docile stuttered. “I’ll call GOP.”

 Kiva, Docile and the large cat burst into laughter.

 “Anyway,” said Kiva. “Meet my new bodyguard, Portal. Unlike you, he actually does his job well.”

 Portal and Kiva led the way as the four robed women followed. The chariot locked by itself and was surrounded by a barrier of white flames.

 “God bless and God speed, elf man,” she called.

 Docile stomped his foot. “That holier than thou, pompous little bit…”

 “You know Kiva Perdera?!” Sunna asked as she stepped out of the van.

 “Huh? Oh yeah, she was my supervisor and…former crush.”

 “Was that before or after your training?” Timmid asked, poking her head through an open window.

 “You were a former Exorcist?!” Tirred asked in envy and disbelief.

 “Okay, why are you all acting like that’s such a shock?” Docile asked in annoyance.

 “It’s Kiva Perdera?” Sunna replied. “An experienced traveler celebrity…with you?”

 “She must be sick in the head,” Tirred added. “Perhaps trying to show mercy to the little ones in her spare time.”

 Docile narrowed his eyes. “You guys are making this into a way bigger deal than it needs to be,” Docile said. “I don’t spy into your personal lives.”

 The three overlapped, “You do that all the time, sir!”

 “Drop it, guys,” Docile demanded. “Timmid, find a new parking spot for the van.”

 “I’m scared to drive,” she said in hesitation.

 “Then lift up the van and fly it! Sunna, Tirred, come with me.”

   Sunna led the way as the three E.L.F. members stepped out of an elevator. The walls were white and free of cracks. The brown cat was unusually nervous and she started licking her furry arm repeatedly.

 “Oh, my fur’s not clean enough,” she muttered between licks.

 “Oh you look perfect Sunny,” said Docile.

 Sunna kept licking her fur until she bumped into a strong arm. She looked up, stunned. Portal was standing tall and proud…and he gazed down at her.

 “Say something, Sunny,” Docile whispered in encouragement. But all that came out from Sunna was a high combination of a meow and a squeak: “meoweek!” Her face blushed.

 Docile walked up and cleared his throat. “Hello, sir. Where’s your employer?”

 “She’s in her office,” he said. “There wasn’t room on the second floor, so they made room here on this one.” He mentioned to a pair of double doors right across from the E.L.F. office. The room was converted into an organized recording studio with microphones, headsets, switches, and of course, a thick Bible on a center table. Painted on the door windows was a large orange “K” and a large orange “P” that stood for Kiva Perdera (and Kathy Prior). The room number above read “42”.

 “Oh come on!” Docile cried.

 “Sorry, man,” Portal said as he walked away. Docile muttered some fancy angelic words under his breath…his tone sounded high and echo-like, similar in structure to the lower sounding demonic language.

 “Are you casting a spell?” Tirred asked.

 “No, I’m cursing,” Docile said.

 “Sir,” added Tirred. “Maybe I should head on in and give her and her gang a piece of mind. I like “pop genre” music better than country but nothing’s better than the dark subtle portions of rock or metal or even ambient. Her status to me is…”

 “Tirred, shush it,” Docile said, tuning him out.

 “All righty then,” Tirred said, heading for the door.

 Portal then moved in front of the door.

 “Hey, I was going in there,” Tirred mentioned, holding up a finger.

 “Office is closed,” he said in a gruff voice. Docile and Tirred looked at each other. Portal sighed. “What did you expect? You think I was gonna let you imps…erm, elves waltz on in, allow those angels to mess with you and have one of you make a stupid bet with them? I don’t think so.”

 “Wow, he really does do his job well,” Sunna breathed.

 Docile was about to say something else, but Portal waved a large paw dismissively. “Scram.”

 Docile gave one last glare and opened the door to the E.L.F. office. Timmid ran down the hall to catch up with them. “I’m here!” she called. She glanced at the poker faced Portal and smiled nervously, holding up her hands. “Nice kitty,” she said as she followed Docile and the others into the room.

 The four of them crashed onto a nearby couch, with an old fashioned brown TV in front of them. Docile held his head in his hands. “I can’t believe this. Kiva and her cherubs could shut down our company if she found a reason to. We don’t even know what company she works for.”

 “What are we gonna do?” Sunna asked. “We can’t just sit here.”

 “Which is exactly what we’re doing,” Docile said. “Unless you all have any better ideas?”

 The others were silent.

 “Can we watch Spirit?” Sunna asked. “Or Cats the musical?”

 “That Spirit movie was boring,” Docile complained. “And that iced coffee my older colleague gave me this morning…unsatisfying. You know I always like my coffee hot.”

 Sunna picked up a TV remote. “Let’s see what’s on. Maybe it’ll cheer us up.”

 Sunna pressed a button and a series of commercials flashed onto the screen. One commercial stood out from the others. It featured three singing angelic cherubs from the parallel canon Heaven. The three of them posed in the clouds by a rising sun. The sky had white clouds below, making way to more orange clouds and rays of sunlight. In the center of the screen stood a bluish crystalline structure that looked like a rising sun. The structure had fifteen pointed triangle spokes on the top, each increasing in size toward the center.

 The leader cherub was a winged boy with a white halo, a white face, short orange hair in a bob at the top and large silvery eyes. He wore a pair of orange overalls, a yellow undershirt and small white boots. He was flanked by two flying smiling sheep on either side of him. The sheep to his left had a dark face, bushy eyebrows, light eyes and thick curly white wool hair on his head. He wore a white bow tie, a teal shirt and blueish overalls with four buttons on it. He also had white wings, cloven hooves and a white halo. Finally, the sheep to the right was a female, with a light yellow face and pink irises. Her hair was wooly and yellow, her eyes had thick eyelashes. She wore a matching yellow dress with a red bow with ribbons on it near her neck. The bottom trim of her dress was also red in a flowery shape. Her hooves and legs were light yellow as were her wings. Her white halo hovered above her head. The sheep used a Bible to travel to Earth via a created portal in the sky.

  Cherub Towne was shown as an orange, white and blue pastel city in the sky. Golden gates surrounded it and a crystalline sun shaped structure that appeared was actually a Throne angel.

 The leader boy appeared on the screen.

 “Well, howdy! I’m Cletus! Welcome to Heaven! Guess you did something good to get here, and good people deserve to give loved ones special blessings!”

 The jingle began.

 The clip showed a man falling to his death without a parachute. “Owie!” appeared in a bubble over the man.

 Collin sang, “Does it make you want to cry…”

 Keenie added, “When a loved one has to die?” as another human got run over by a speeding train. “Oh No!” appeared in a censoring through bubble.

 “Does it hurt you through and through…” sang Cletus as a man was shown accidentally shooting himself in the face. “Oopsie!” was in another bubble over his face.

 “When you face is turning blue?” They all sang as a man struggled to breathe in a noose.

 “Luckily for you…” sang Collin the indigo sheep.

  “There’s something we can do…” sang Keenie the yellow sheep.

 The leader cherub smiled against the sunrise clouds.

 “We can help keep them alive…

 They all posed and sang:

So you can watch them thrive!”

 The three cherubs flew together side to side as their logo “C.H.E.R.U.B.” appeared in bold golden letters on the screen.

 “Cause here at C.H.E.R.U.B.,

We’ll save your honey bun from dying violently,

 The next series of clips showed the sheep saving people from muggers, natural disasters and various accidents. Cletus rescued a woman from a pack of animals while Keenie shoved a frightened Collin toward them, as he held a wooden plank with a nail in it.

 Cause here at C.H.E.R.U.B.,

No, we never even ask a fee,”

 The next clip showed a human handing dollar bills to the leader boy, who held out a dismissive hand.

 “Because good people spread the love,”

 The next clip showed the two sheep cherubs hugging each other as pink hearts spread out in all directions.

 “And we’re here for all above,”

 The next clip showed a spinning earth with more hearts in every direction.

 “We do the paperwork for you,”

 The exhausted Collin wrote down at his desk surrounded by piles of paper around him. A nearby sign was a message from God to use people to get to the top.

 “And the heavy lifting, too,”

 The yellow female cherub lifted a heavy boulder from a crushed woman. The woman gave a weak smile and thumbs up.

 A man in a car crash with a torn up chest and battered skin weakly smiled as the sheep cherubs appeared around him.

 “So sit right back and let us bless a soul for you,”

 The leader cherub smiled and flew close to the screen. He joined his two companions who lifted their heads up and harmonized. The golden C.H.E.R.U.B. logo appeared above their heads.

 “Oh we, are the C.H.E.R.U.B.!”

 (“Cherishing Human Existence, Releasing Unlimited Blessings.”)

 Docile switched the TV off.

 “You’re not gonna angrily blow up the TV with a gun are you?” Timmid asked in surprise.

 “Of course not!” Docile called. “Who would do something crazy like that?!”

 Timmid shrugged.

 “Wow,” Docile breathed, sitting still. “That was…”

 He turned around, beaming. “…the greatest commercial I’ve ever seen!”

 Timmid blinked in surprise. “The jingle wasn’t great and those sheep look suspicious…”

 Docile put an arm around his employee. “Come on, Timmid, the jingle was like a musical. And the amazing things the cherubs can do. Protecting humans and spreading love! And who knows what else!"

 “We literally do the same thing,” she said.

 Docile let go.  “True but we mostly heal people, comfort the grief-stricken and restore things to normal. We’re far less…cheery and sheep-y…”

 “Baa!” Sunna belted out loud, followed by high giggles. Tirred rolled his eyes.

 Timmid sat up. “I have an idea. What if we all traveled to the other Heaven and asked C.H.E.R.U.B. to help us? We could join forces against Kiva’s new company and E.L.F. will continue on. Kiva may even leave us alone.”

 Tirred scratched his head. “Are you sure? You know how hard it is for OCs and denizens of this realm to travel to the other realm.”

 “It’s a piece of cake for the canon characters to travel here,” Docile mentioned. “It’s shouldn’t be that hard for us.”

 “Well…” Sunna said, trying to be encouraging. “I only heard it takes several days to travel from Heaven to Hell and vice versa.”

 Docile smiled and held up a finger. “Not if portals are used along with light speed. That’s how it’s always done every year.”

 “We can’t just travel to and fro on a whim,” Tirred reminded them. “The bodyguard is still there.”

 “Well if you see him, just try and reason with him. Tell him that we’d like to combine our skills and hopefully E.L.F. can be heard about in the other Heaven, too. That’ll prove to Kiva just how capable I…I mean we, can be.”

 “Whatever you say, sir.”

There was a knock at the door.

 Docile got up to answer it. He flinched back when he saw Portal.

 “Kiva’s ready to see you,” he said. “No crazy bets.”

 “So much for that plan,” Docile mumbled to himself as he followed Portal. Portal opened the door to the recording studio. The four women had left and Kiva was surrounded by a gang of slender singer cherubs. These cherubs appeared as whitish bi-pedal sheep, bees and deer, wearing modern day light colored clothing. A woman sheep had light pink fur, a light pink face and wore a matching dress with flowers on it. Another male sheep wore purple overalls, a dark face and shining golden eyes. All of the cherubs had white halos and wings. The cherubs were smaller than Kiva and hovered beside her, staring at Docile.

 “How can I help you, Docile?” she asked, pronouncing the “e.” “Come here to admit defeat and try again?”

 “Quite the opposite, actually,” he said. “I’m traveling to meet with another company, which will totally outshine whatever yours is. They have excellent singers and a fantastic commercial. So if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to expand the best and only company in Heaven, E.L.F.!”

 “How interesting,” said the pink singer. “What is your companion company?”

 “Like I’d tell you.”

 Kiva smirked. “This company you seek…it wouldn’t happen to be C.H.E.R.U.B., would it?”

 Docile froze in his tracks…which was enough of an answer for her.

 “Oh, so it is,” she said as Docile turned around.

 “So maybe it is,” he added. “I’m gonna collaborate with them and your company will be blown out of the water!”

 Kiva and the cherubs laughed. “Hahahaha!” Kiva grinned in superiority. “I work for C.H.E.R.U.B., little elf!”

 “W-what?!”

 Kiva lifted up a pocket of her dress that revealed the tiny logo. “I’m one of their assistants who spreads the word of their activities. Actually more fun than being an Exorcist coach. Guess my fame here was able to reach the other realm.”

 “I…I don’t believe this…”

 “Forget about trying to join forces with C.H.E.R.U.B. Collin, Keenie and Cletus are too busy to be concerned about a bunch of struggling…non-canon elves!”

 Kiva and her crew laughed again. Docile’s face turned red and he seethed.

 Docile then glared in determination, sharp teeth showing, pointing his finger.  “Listen here, snitch. My company was formed before yours! We were beginning to save lives while I.M.P. was just getting started! E.L.F. will continue to exist with or without your help. While your sheep sing Kumbaya on lyres, we’re out helping both humans and angels!”

 Kiva leaned in toward Docile. “Big words from a little elf who formed a mediocre rip-off crew based on C.H.E.R.U.B! I’d like to see you get approved, or even noticed by the well-known figures in Heaven…or Hell! You’re utterly forgettable!”

 “Oh yeah? Well, how about I propose something you will never forget! I challenge you to a…challenge! Gosh darn it, I said that twice.”

 “Oh. What’s the game then, Docile?” She drew out the “e.”  

  “Every year, you airheaded muses go topside for easy entertainment when autumn break is a great date for positive fate and staying up late! So I bet…you cher-boobs can’t amore as many people as we can vivifica by the end of the day.” Docile briefly placed two hands over his heart to show love and then slowly raised his hands around his head to emphasis reviving. He grinned and held up a determined finger.

 Kiva and her gang laughed yet again. Docile gave a determined glare.

 They stopped. “Oh, you’re serious?” Kiva asked, leaning in close. “Game on, snitch.”

 Docile walked out of the room to find Tirred and Portal talking. Tirred handed Portal a large handful of dollar bills.

 “Forget about bribing, Tirred,” Docile said. “Kiva’s not gonna let us collaborate with C.H.E.R.U.B. on our terms like I’d hoped.”

 Tirred just stayed silent.

  “Let’s go, gang,” said Docile, “We’re going up.”

 “To the next floor?” asked Timmid.

 “No. Up to Earth.”

 “Don’t you mean going down to Earth?” Tirred asked. “Because Heaven is higher and superior to…”

 “Shut up Tirred!” Docile and Sunna said.

  E.L.F. went outside as Sunna carried the Bible in her arms. Docile posted several flyers that read “Autumn Break Rescues: 50% Off!”

 “Now we wait,” Docile said.

 “But sir,” mentioned a worried Timmid. “There is no way that enough clients will arrive to read a few ordinary, black and white flyers!”

 Docile grinned as a line of cherubs, native angels and saints alike grew outside.

 “Now, who’s first?” Docile asked as he walked over toward the clients.

  Part Two: At The Beach

The beach in the human world was alive with humans from everywhere. Men, women and children happily walked around, relaxed under umbrellas, or had snacks. Several surf boards stood up in the sand by a decorated teal wall with a wavy orange design taking up the center. The crowd was positioned between a wooden dock and a makeshift stage. Two women wearing sunglasses got comfortably close and kissed each other in the shade. A muscular dark skinned man talked with a red haired woman while a blonde guy wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap shook a bottle of pills into his mouth. Above the beach lay a small row of shops. One sign read “Pawn Paradise.” One sign read “Hotel” in red letters while another sign read “Sea Cream” with a teal ice cream cone structure next to it. Another sign read “Piccolo Pizza” and another read “Dagon Juice” and had a green fish with a sailor’s cap on it.

 In the shadows under the dock, the E.L.F. crew emerged from algae covered rocks.

 “Alright, you ready, guys?” Docile asked. The others nodded.

 “Then let’s go…”

 “Wait,” Sunna held up a paw. “Shouldn’t we all be in human disguises?”

 “What now?” Tirred asked.

 “You know, to blend in so we don’t get caught?”

 “You’re just bringing it up now, Sunny?” Docile asked.

 “I got distracted by…” Sunna’s cat eyes landed on a large white cat-like man pacing by the stage. Portal. “…stuff.”

 Docile gave her a brief wink. “Right. But be sure to get some work done first. We’re all gonna have to work together if we stand a fighting chance. Got the list, Sunny?”

 “Got it,” she said, sniffing a scroll of paper and examining the names on it.

 “Look around for anyone who might need saving or love or comfort,” Docile said.

 “Do you think C.H.E.R.U.B. needs to take on human forms every time they go to Earth? Or do they have the privilege of being adored by everyone they meet?”

 Docile faced Tirred with wide eyes and a strained grin. “Not helping, Tirred.”

 Sunna held up a picture of a group of four humans. It was I.M.P. in their human forms. Blitzo had light brown skin, red eyes, a slender tall body and short wavy black hair. He also had his black birthmark on his forehead. His look radiated a child-like smugness. Moxxie was a short, red-eyed man with white skin, a lanky body and his signature white hair. A grumpy look was present on his face. The beaming Millie was African American, with wild black hair, dark brown skin, red eyes, makeup and thick eyelashes. Finally, the aloof Loona had pale skin, red eyes, a partially shaved head, bars in her ears and a mane of long gray hair. They all wore their same work outfits.

 “This should work,” Sunna said. “If it did for them, it can do for us.”

 The four members stepped forward, their bodies enveloped by swirling magical blue light. The light faded away and there they stood in their human disguises. Docile was slender and white with gray eyes and short black hair…he even had a birthmark on his forehead. Tirred was short with white skin, black hair, a thicker body and serious black eyes. Timmid was little and blonde, with pale skin and green eyes. Last of all was Sunna, a well-formed African American woman with brown eyes and brown braided strands of thick hair. All of them wore their same outfits. They stared at themselves and their hands in amazement.

 “Meow,” catcalled a nearby human man who crept up to Sunna. With a roll of her eyes, she landed an uppercut to his chin and he collapsed.

 “Alright kitty, kitty,” called Docile to Sunna, “Lead the way!”

 Sunna spotted a muscular man with a bare chest sweating in the sun. After he collapsed from heat exhaustion, Sunna raced over and carried him toward a shady spot. Timmid summoned a bottle of water from thin air and lifted it to his lips. The man groaned and stared at them with relief in his eyes. Once he was back to normal, he thanked them and went off to get some ice cream.

 The other blonde man with sunglasses was staggering in the sand, unaware of anything going on. Docile rushed over while Sunna held him steady. Using his golden rod shaped angelic staff, Docile pressed the sphere against the man’s back. The drugs vanished from his system and the man stood up. Sunna grinned and handed him a magazine titled, “How to Cure Your Depression and Be Closer to God.” After they left, the man rolled his eyes and tore the magazine in half. “Religious salespeople,” he muttered.

 Several lifeguards pulled an African American to shore, her leg was bleeding heavily from a shark bite. Tirred waved his hand over the wound and it closed on its own. As the others around them gasped in shock at what he did, Docile waved his staff and their eyes went blank. The humans all went back to their activities, not even noticing the disguised elves anymore.

 Timmid gave a white woman CPR and then pulled her child from the riptides. Sunna helped rescue a man from a mugger in an alleyway. Docile showed a crying child a picture of three fluffy cats. Tirred helped an elderly man up the stairs. Finally, Docile confronted a drug addict and told him about how dangerous it was for him to keep doing drugs. The man didn’t listen, but when Docile told him what could happen to his family, the man pondered his words, begged for forgiveness, and suddenly collapsed from a heart attack. Thankfully with Docile’s healing magic, the man recovered before death could claim him.

 “I hereby bless you with determination and a chance to go to Heaven if you are willing to redeem yourself.”

 The man gazed at Docile, rubbed his eyes and carelessly walked away.

 Although many people wouldn’t listen to the elves, a majority of the time, the elves were very persuasive in steering people away from sin.

 Docile smiled in approval as the gang reunited. “Nine rescues in the bag, guys! Well done! I’d like to see that pompous princess score that many…”

 “All right fall breakers!” called a familiar voice. A large crowd had gathered around the stage. It was Kiva in her human form. She had long blonde hair, white skin and ocean green eyes. She wore a short emerald green wavy dress that exposed her right shoulder and wore matching heels.

 “Are you all ready to have some fun and make some divinely good choices?!”

 The crowd cheered and a fanboy yelled “Kiva!” Her name was written in blue on his bare chest.

 Several teal spotlights shone on her and hearts flashed on the two screens on either side of the stage. “Confess, Docile,” was shown in white letters on the screens…Docile seethed in anger.

 Kiva began her love song, the crowd hooked onto every word. She sung like a siren on land, luring the humans to promises of enlightenment and bliss.

 “All aboard

 Pack your bags

Sun’s out

Take a vacay, babe

Take it straight to Bonetown

 V-time, free time, love to share

Romance, fun dance, global care

Massages and che-rubs on your back

You are more than what you may lack

 Pack your bags

Sun’s out

Take a vacay, babe

Take it straight to Bonetown

 Ice cream, sunscreen, volleyball to play

Kindness, pure bliss, seizing the day

Back to my place, it’s Cloud Nine

No need to stress when everything is fine

 Pack your bags

Sun’s out

Take a vacay, babe

Take it straight to Bonetown.”

  Before long, the humans were laughing and hugging each other. Some gave each other kisses and said nice things. Many of them made out as well. Kiva’s cherub angels were in human form as well, with varied skin tones and genders. Most of them wore high-quality clothing; shirts with pockets for the men and silky sun dresses for the women. A lion cherub was disguised as a white man with long blonde hair. He walked up to another man and smiled warmly. The human cried with joy and rushed into his arms for a hug. Another cherub appeared as a black man, soon surrounded by adoring human women. The cherubs’ eyes were a mixture of teal and gold.

 “God dammit!” cried Docile. “Kiva has started her godish mating call! Now she’s gonna win all those love lunatics! We gotta pick things up, guys! He on the list, Sunny?”

 He mentioned to a blonde man wearing boxer shorts, smoking a cigarette.

 “Huh? Oh yeah, I guess.” Sunna stared at Portal who was guarding the stage. He appeared as a muscular blonde white man wearing his suit. He had a necklace with a pendant in the shape of a cat.

 “Good!”

 The man looked at Docile. “Whoa, what are you…a leprechaun?” asked the blonde man with a strained laugh as he pushed down his sunglasses.

 “Oh yeah, pretty lame, huh?” Docile asked in annoyance. He waved his staff and the man’s mind went blank. He fell on his knees. The smoke cleared from his lungs. Docile tossed the man’s cigarette away.

 “And you sure as spit won’t tell anyone.” Docile turned back. “All right, next one, Sunny, come on.”

 He looked around and saw Sunny slowly making her way toward Portal.

 “Be careful and good luck!” he called with a wave.

 Sunna made her way through the crowd, avoiding a French-kissing couple and a herd of dancers. A male white cherub appeared by her and gave her a wink. Sunna rolled her eyes and shoved him away.

 One of the fanboys squealed and ran toward Kiva with his arms out. Portal grabbed hold of him and dragged him away.

 Kiva turned to one of the cherubs on stage. “Invite them in.”

 The cherub walked off the stage with a Bible in his hand. He drew a Christian Cross and a pink sigil of the name Vivienne in front of him. He chanted in the angelic language.

 When Portal dismissed the boy, he looked at Sunna and smiled.

 “Hello.”

 “H-Hi,” Sunna said nervously.

 “Say, you’re that cat working for my boss’s troublesome previous intern.”

 “Yeah,” said Sunna, “Sorry if that’s weird.”

 “It’s cool,” he said. “The past is the past. I’m paid and I do my job…all that matters.”

 “Yeah,” Sunna laughed nervously. A high squeak escaped her lips. “I’m Sunna!”

 Portal rolled his eyes and gave her a small smile. “I’m Portal.”

 “That’s hot,” Sunna said with a grin. Then her face turned red and flustered. “I mean like literally you know because portals, you know, they give off heat. Probably.” She pointed both fingers in a snap, trying to act cool.

 Portal chuckled. “My friends call me Tal.”

 “Nice, very nice.”

 Docile appeared not too far away. “Are you gonna ask him on a date?” Docile whispered to her. Sunna waved her hand in annoyance at him. “Shush!” she hissed under her breath.

 “I think I know a great place you two could meet,” Docile said. He glanced over at two people randomly carrying a third person on a mattress across the sand.

 “No, no, no!” Sunna said as Docile held in laughter. Portal just looked on.

 Sunna turned to Docile and whispered. “Why are you embarrassing me?”

 “Just want what’s best for you,” he said.

 “I can do things on my own,” she replied.

 “Sure, like your job, but this is a new area for you, and I thought…”

 Sunna moved a hand over her face in frustration. “Just please, let me do this on my own.”

 Docile turned to Portal. “I adopted my little pussycat when she was eighteen!”

 Sunna growled in annoyance.

 “If you want, I have pictures of her even younger!”

 Sunna’s face turned red. “Please, just leave me alone for five minutes, at least! Why are you behaving like this?”

 “Because I adopted you and I want to help keep you safe. My protectiveness should mean something.”

 Sunna hissed, “Well right now it doesn’t!”

 “Well if you want to go back working for the rest of your life, have at it. Don’t forget your earlier years when you needed me most.”

 “It doesn’t matter anymore! I didn’t need you then, Docile! And I don’t need you now. You’re not my real dad!”

 Docile turned his back toward her, hiding a hurt look on his face. Sunna also had a hurt expression as well, seconds after she had said her words.

 “Uh…” Portal began, scratching his head at the awkward situation. He turned to Sunna. “You were…asking me out?”

 “No, no I wasn’t!” Sunna nervously stuttered out loud. “It was just my dad’s…um adoptive dad’s crazy idea. I’m not interested in you in that way, but I love you…as a person…ya know…uh…”

 “Okay?” he asked. “If you ever want to give me a call, go for it. My girlfriend throws the best feline parties back in Heaven…”

 Tears of embarrassment spilled from Sunna’s brown eyes. “Party, new friends, lots of fun! Gotta go back to work, nice mating you….uh meeting you! Bye!”

 “Sunny, wait!” called a concerned Docile. But the disguised cat had dashed off into the twilight.

  The sky had turned from a brilliant blue to a sunset orange. Purple and indigo colors appeared in the sky with each passing minute. Timmid was finished healing another person when she spotted a figure in the distance near the stage. It looked like one of Kiva’s minions, looking from side to side.

 “What are those sneaky cherubs up to now?” she asked herself.

 “Hey, Timmid,” called Tirred who arrived beside her.

 “Hey Tirred, haven’t seen you in a while. You see that cherub over there?”

 Timmid mentioned to the white human woman in a teal dress moving sideways by the stage.

 “Yes. I think we should go get some information out of her,” Tirred said. “I don’t know about you but Kiva seems pretty suspicious.”

 “Agreed. Let’s go.”

 Just before the two elves reached her, the frightened cherub dashed up some steps and vanished. Kiva’s show had ended for the moment. The two elves reached backstage and hid among the red curtains on either side. Timmid peered through and saw the cherubs strolling around and putting away instruments. The front of the stage was curtained off, obscuring the stage from the beachgoers.

 Just then, Tirred stepped forward into Kiva’s line of sight. Her gang of cherubs all turned their heads.

 “Tirred, wait!” called Timmid, following him before she could stop herself.

 Tirred summoned an angelic spear into his hand and pointed it at Kiva with a glare. His eyes darted from side to side, his body shaking. The spear was the one he often practiced with in his spare time.

 “This ends now, Kiva!” he said. “You can admit that you’ve won the contest…but leave E.L.F. alone…or else.”

 Kiva looked at both of them, moving a slender finger toward her chin.

 “You’re outnumbered dear,” Kiva smiled. “Best if you surrender now.”

 “No, don’t surrender, Tirred!” Timmid urged, getting into a fighting stance. “We can work something out once Docile gets back.”

 Several pairs of eyes glowed eerily on Kiva’s white wings in the dim light. Kiva smirked. “Oh, I wasn’t talking to him.”

 Timmid stepped back as Tirred gave her a strange apologetic smile. Suddenly it seemed like getting to Kiva was too easy.

 She had to warn Docile and Sunna.

 She sprinted back toward the curtains and opened them. The blonde-haired beefy Portal suddenly towered in front of her, mouth partially open. He extended his meaty white hands. Timmid leaped out of the way and slid under him, but he yanked her back by grabbing one of her arms. Timmid yelped in shock and fear. He soon had her in his grip, one of his hands over her mouth. Timmid felt a sharp pinch to her neck and was overcome by black.

 Timmid groggily woke up, the world coming back into focus. She looked around, then down…and found herself tied to a pole. Rope was wrapped around her waist and her hands were tied behind her. She struggled against the bonds.

 “Excellent work, Tirred,” Kiva praised nearby. “They should arrive any minute now.”

 They?

 The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Timmid watched as Tirred handed his spear to one of Kiva’s cherubs. The cherub placed the spear on a small black stand in the center of the space. After a flash of magic, the spear hovered in the air on its own. Energy reflected from the spear’s sharp tip, opening a swirling hole in the glowing pink symbol in the air.

 Timmid gasped as she stared down at her now clawed green fingers. Tirred had changed back to an elf as well. Back at the beach, Docile stared at his elf reflection in the water.

 Sunna walked past him, still in human form.

 “That’s what happens when you don’t use your disguise for a while. It wears off after several hours.”

 Docile face-palmed and scowled before lowering his hand. He sat on a rock, tired from saving so many people…and upset at the current events.

   Sunna froze. The dark woman took a deep breath and forced herself to turn around. Something urged her to help set things right.

 Several minutes of silence ticked by. The only sounds heard were the motions of the waves, the cawing of gulls and distant chatter.

 If Sunna had been in her cat form, her ears would’ve twitched.

 “Docile,” she said tentatively as she crept toward him. “I…I’m sorry about before, you know…”

 Docile didn’t move.

 Sunna moved closer and wiped a few sad tears away. “About what I said…I really didn’t mean it…”

 “Didn’t you?” he solemnly asked.

 Sunna sighed. “Look, we all have our bad moments. I know you were trying to help me make a good impression. But you were just embarrassing me in front of him! I’m not a little kitty anymore.”

 “But you are still my daughter…or adoptive daughter. You have your duties to fulfil and I have mine.”

 “Life isn’t just about work and serving a higher power,” Sunna mentioned, inching closer to him on the large rock. “I’ll admit, I do it almost every day but other times I love lazing around. Life’s a chance to explore and try new things. To really live and do things you enjoy.”

 “Not to the point of selfishness,” Docile said. “Pride is the root of all the sins, you know.”

 “Is it really selfish to want to fall in love? To seek pleasure for its own sake and to follow your dreams because you want to?”

 Docile turned to look at her. “Not everyone gets a chance to live their dreams, Sunna. Not even in Heaven. I’ve worked hard, served many people, yet I’m still just cloud fluff in society’s eyes. Elves and imps, the lowest of the low. Eventually you learn to be grateful with what you have and be…docile in life.”

 Sunna raised a thick eyebrow. “Where’s that hidden adventurous Docile I know and love? The Docile who isn’t always docile? The one quick as lightning, who’s willing to take risks to protect those he loves and his wondrous goals?”

 “I’m not a reckless imp,” he replied.

 “You don’t have to be. You just have to be yourself and find that perfect balance.”

 “Easier said than done.”

 Sunna put a comforting hand on his back, sniffing. “I’m so sorry.”

 After a moment, he said, “I’m sorry, too. You really have grown up a lot and…I’m very proud of you.” Docile wrapped her in a tight hug, gently rocking her. “Hey. Where’s that sunny Sunna I know and love?”

 Sunna let out a few hysterical sobs. “She’s right here, dad.”

 They embraced for a while and then let go.

 Sunna stood up and sniffed the air. “There’s something wrong.”

 “Want another hug?”

 “No, I can feel something in the air. I haven’t seen Tirred or Timmid around for a while. We’re supposed to meet back up here.”

 “Could they be lost?” Docile asked.

 “Or worse…”

 Both of them glanced over at the stage in the distance. Several cherub stood guard around it, including Portal.

 “Kiva,” Docile breathed in anger.

 Without hesitation, the elf sprinted off across the sand. “Wait!” Sunna called, racing after him. “It could very well be a trap!”

 “I know. Go call the human police,” Docile said. “I’m not leaving my employees behind no matter what!”

 Sunna smiled, though concern was present in her eyes. “You got this, dad!”

 “Hey woodland pets!” Docile called in a mocking tone.

 Docile summoned an angelic spear and knocked aside a few disguised cherubs with a wide swipe. One of them landed a punch, but he dodged out of the way. A few more rushed at him, but he leapt into the air, using his wings to steady himself. Docile spun around and landed several kicks to the cherub’s faces. They were knocked to the ground, but easily got up. Docile landed onto the wooden stage floor and burst through the curtains. There he spotted Timmid tied up. With another skilled swipe, the ropes fell off of her. Timmid managed to get her hands free. All too quickly, the other cherubs closed in, one of them knocking away Docile’s spear. That spear was picked up by Kiva and added next to Tirred’s hovering weapon. The portal grew wider.

 Docile and Timmid were quickly pinned down by more disguised cherubs from behind. They struggled as they faced Kiva.

 “Not so noble now are we, Docile?” She pronounced the “e.”

 “Smooth coming from you. Why go so low and capture my employees?”

 Kiva glanced over. “Care to explain, Tirred?”

 Docile gasped as Tirred stepped forward, a darkened look on his face.

 “Explain what?”

 Kiva grinned. “Tirred helped lure you elves over here so we could further our plan.”

 “What plan?”

 “To make C.H.E.R.U.B. the one and only reviving company in Heaven. If you were to win, that would make us look bad. But if we win, which we will…we don’t want guys like you to cause any trouble.”

 Docile smirked. “You sound as though you’re sacred of us. What, we’re too ‘low class’ for you?”

 “It’s just a way to keep you in line, to not have too many humans flocking to you and losing their way.”

 “Why would they lose their way when we do exactly the same things as C.H.E.R.U.B.?”

 “C.H.E.R.U.B. does what you do, only better. And as far as we know, you haven’t made an effort to keep demons in line.”

 “My Exorcist days are over. Killing or judging demons is not my concern. If you had just let us collaborate with C.H.E.R.U.B. as friends, we wouldn’t be in the mess you so dearly made!”

 “And if you hadn’t made your silly bet against us, you wouldn’t be here, humiliated, in the first place.”

 Docile turned toward Tirred. “Don’t expect your paycheck for months, traitor,” he growled.

 Tirred grit his teeth and turned toward Kiva. He clutched his head several times and strained. “We…we had an agreement. I brought you my employees, they surrendered, you win. I gave Portal my money and resumes. Now let us free so we can do our…new jobs.”

 “New jobs?” Docile asked, eyebrow raised.

 Tirred’s eyes glazed over and he went slack again. “Not for you,” Tirred said. “I meant for Timmid and I.”

 Timmid stared at Tirred in disbelief and curiosity as he walked over to her. “You know how E.L.F. struggles in comparison to so many in Heaven. Sure saving lives is important, but what if we could make a difference in an alternative way? To cleanse the evil scum that threatens the lives of humans and the Heavenly Order?”

 “By mercilessly killing demons every year? Tirred, demons may be evil but it’s up to them to reflect on their sins…in the hopes that they may end up better than before. You say that angels are greater than humans, but demons…they were innocent humans once, too.”

 “Oh, so now you go for the side of evil?!” they both yelled at the same time.

 “It’s just tradition, Timmid. What difference would it make for us to change things up a bit…together? We could train and be our own bosses. And C.H.E.R.U.B. could pick up where we left off.”

 Timmid stared back in thought. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes. “She’s using you, Tirred. All of them are. I heard you guys talking when I was waking up. She spied on us and knew that you would be tempted to take up the offer. You help hold E.L.F. together…”

 A faraway look came into his eyes, then vanished. Timmid noticed a faint teal glow in his orbs she hadn’t noticed before.

 “I know you’re in there, Tirred. Think of all the fond memories we had. Do you realize how important you are to us?” she asked.

 “Or were?” Docile asked. Tirred had been tricked and now he appeared to be in some kind of daze. Although part of it was his own fault. Docile knew of the elaborate mind control spell: the Adina curse. A spell created by a ruthless angel, capable of hypnotizing an entire God-serving army at the extreme. It was barely noticeable to anyone, save for those with trained eyes.

 Thankfully, Tirred was under a weaker temporary version of it, but it was still bad news.

 Timmid ignored Docile.

 “Well, our old life is behind us, Timmid. For our sakes and for Kiva’s, let’s surrender to C.H.E.R.U.B. and do what she says.”

 He held out a hand to her…and she promptly spit into his face. He flinched and shook his head.

 “I’ll never join you, Tirred. Especially when you’re not yourself.”

 “Well then,” he turned on his heel. “Enjoy your time in the streets begging for clients and money.”

 She scoffed and gathered her courage. “Enjoy your time being single.”

 “Oooooooh,” remarked a chubby male cherub before Tirred shoved him aside.

  Kiva glanced over at the portal, which hummed with energy. She clapped her hands. “Excellent, they’re here!”

 Docile gasped softly as the three C.H.E.R.U.B. members flew through the portal. Music box tunes mixed with angelic choirs played in the background as they arrived. The three members briefly flew into the air out from the stage and did aerial tricks.

 “Look, it’s C.H.E.R.U.B.!” one of the humans called, pointing upwards. The humans at the beach cheered in the sunset as the C.H.E.R.U.B. members happily waved and blew kisses. One of them, Collin, gave a nearby child a brief hug.

 The three of them flew back toward Kiva.

 “Welcome good sirs and ma’am!” she said to them, arms out.

 Cletus, the leader in overalls, stared in surprise at the restrained Docile and Timmid.

 “What is the meaning of this? Release those leprechauns immediately!”

 “Oh for buck’s sake!” Docile cried.

 “Trust me,” said Kiva. “It’s better to have them restrained here until they can fully commit to us. I don’t want their rival company to slow us from our progress.”

 “Why can’t they be friends with us? I’m sure they have a lot to offer.”

 “Precisely my point!” Docile called before getting hit in the back by his captor.

 “With all due respect,” said Kiva. “You three do your job very well. You’ve saved so many people on Earth and your message of love and peace knows no bounds. But I suggest you wait until they become new C.H.E.R.U.B.…interns.”

 “No way,” Docile breathed, knowing that the one thing worse than losing his company was being mind-controlled by another.

 “We don’t want those elves lonely and forgotten. They saw your commercial and were dying to meet you three.”

 “Dying’s never good,” Cletus remarked. “’Survive, revive, thrive,’ that’s our motto.”

 “Wait,” said Collin, “I thought it was ‘Good people spread the love.’”

 “I’m pretty sure it was ‘You live, we give!’” added Keenie with a twirl of her yellow dress.

 “Did any of you listen in the last meeting?” Cletus said. “We gotta stick to one motto. Changing too much doesn’t help with the branding…”

 Kiva cleared her throat. “Time is of the essence, dear friends. It is time to show E.L.F. just how much we’re capable of. Starting with the humans and I.M.P.”

 “The humans are all fine,” Keenie said. “Though way too many of them die…and many of them are so mean and so unsophisticated.”

 Yes,” said Collin, “Those freaks who write and draw and drool over all of us in the most obscene ways.”

 All three C.H.E.R.U.B. members turned and glared at the camera before looking back and smiling again.

 “Reviving all of the humans we can…and eliminating the unfaithful…” Kiva added. “And keeping all eyes on those devilish imps in Hell.”

 “We’ve tried once before,” said Collin sadly, munching on a sugared doughnut he brought with him. “Making friends with them, singing them songs about new hope. They’ve grown up in such dire conditions with not a lot of opportunities. All they know how to do is kill.”

 “Perhaps all they need is some love, some music, and a chance to ‘relive the afterlife again!’” declared Keenie.

 Cletus elbowed her. “I like singing too, but this ain’t Disney. You know how angry and jealous those imps are of us. And I’m pretty sure that elf over there is giving us the stink eye.”

 He pointed down at Timmid.

 “Besides, that motto sucks. Too repetitive.”

 “It is not!”

 “It most certainly is.”

 “No way!”

 “Shut the front door!” Collin called abruptly. One of the cherubs shut a lone door that was part of a set of props. “Thank you,” said Collin in relief. “I couldn’t stand to look at that robotic clown poster.”

 “Enough!” called an impatient Kiva. She took a breath. “Please, please, my friends…we have work to do. You don’t want those demonic creatures to spoil your hard work by killing off more mortals, do you?”

 The sheep mumbled in agreement.

 Kiva straightened up. “Then let your transformation begin.”

 The three sheep looked at each other in concern, but complied with their advisor’s words. The curtains opened up on both sides, leaving a clear path to the outside. They flew into the air, held hands and then spun in a circle. Kiva held an open Bible in her hands and chanted a spell in the angelic language. The spell had the word YHWH and VVNN-MDRN in it. The sheep spun faster until they became a speeding white circular blur. A glowing white circle appeared against what was left of the setting sun over the ocean.

 The gang led the elves on the beach. The sky had a blinding brightness to it…many of the humans gasped and covered their eyes. Some of the people were pointing at the scene and screaming. Everyone except Kiva was surprised, even Tirred almost broke out of his trance with a worried look. Portal and the cherubs stared with worried looks.

 One long white angel wing looped in a downward arc against the now golden sky. Then another wing did the same thing. Soon there were six large wings, two pointing down, two wings extended to the sides and two more crossed over slightly above the first two. The wings burst into white flames and glowing yellow eyes slowly appeared on each of them. Golden moving bands slowly materialized around the wings, forming large rings with more eyes on them. Appearing in the white sphere of energy inside everything was a much larger golden eye that almost seemed transparent.

 The divine creature pulsed with powerful energy as rays of light shone from the large eye in every direction. Some of the humans ran for their lives while others prostrated onto their knees on the spot.

 Docile nodded to Timmid and the two of them whirled around, freeing themselves while the cherubs were distracted. They landed several nimble kicks and punches, knocking them out. The elves took to the sky on their wings. Timmid gasped as an entranced Tirred was lifted into the air by vine-like light from the hybrid monstrosity. As he hovered in the air, the left side of his face slowly morphed into the black skin of an Exorcist.

 For one of the first times in her life, Timmid brushed aside her fear. She knocked out another cherub and snatched up a long holy dagger and a bottle of holy water from his belt. Her white hair fluttered in the breeze as she flew toward Tirred over the dark ocean with objects in hand. Tirred was pulled closer to the scrutinizing eye, which began to invade his very soul. Timmid’s feet landed on one of the spinning wheels and she raced on, her stretched wings supporting her.

 Squelch, squelch, went her feet as she stepped onto the eyes with a look of disgust on her face. She dragged her dagger along behind her, creating a screeching noise and sending off a shower of blood and sparks. The force of the larger wings tried to send her back, but Timmid held on with all her might.

 She finally reached Tirred, who tried to shove her away. She reached for his hand and forcefully grabbed his wrist. She tried to pull him out of the golden light bonds, but he wouldn’t budge. The golden wheel was tipping dangerously. She slashed her knife forward, cutting the bands loose and freeing her companion. When Tirred almost knocked her down, she slashed lightly at his neck and muttered an apology. He growled out in pain but didn’t protest further.

 Timmid hoped the holy water would reverse his curse soon.

 Just when she was about to open the small bottle, the wheel tilted again, causing her to lose her items and almost fall. Tirred was pushed away by the wind, and he sailed back to the beach. He landed haphazardly in Docile’s arms.

 “Urgh, I hate that woman,” he growled. “Judgement will come to the unfaithful.”

 “Tirred,” Docile said in a rare show of passive-aggressiveness, “Please screw yourself on a sword.”

 And with that, Docile promptly knocked him out.

 Back at the battle, Timmid held onto the spinning ring with both hands. The circular fire of the eye below her flared like a miniature sun, her feet dangling. The more she spun around, the more she almost fell. She screamed for her life, calling on God to rescue her.

 More rays of light shot from the large eye toward the beach. In a cemetery, a bunch of recently dead criminals suddenly rose back to life. They stood confused at first, but the gang of men grinned and began to chase after frightened women nearby. More people rose from the dead, some of them spreading their racism toward others. A loving child with a deadly disease raced back toward his parents.

 Kiva recited from the Genesis: “…And God said unto them: 'Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that creepeth upon the earth.’”

 “Why are you doing this?!” Docile cried. “You’re allowing the Earth to be overpopulated!”

 “You save lives too. Don’t we not have the same goals?”

 “Not to defy the cycles of life! Both C.H.E.R.U.B. and E.L.F. cannot raise the dead!”

 It was then that Docile realized: macabre as they were, I.M.P. must exist for a reason…a manifestation of destruction to clash with creation.

 “This is chaos! Without death there is no life!”

 “And life is never complete when there are demons and sin to led one astray,” Kiva replied.

 Kiva smiled. “C.H.E.R.U.B. will soon give people a second chance at human life…to prove that they are worthy in His eyes. All the rest will go to Hell upon death, as is tradition.”

 “But why have second chances when the majority of people go to Hell anyway? There’s no justice, even of the vengeful kind. It creates an unfair system!”

 “Exactly. A system that may be unfair to some, but it works. It has worked for thousands of years. The worthy get in, the dammed eventually die again. There is nothing in this world that can change that.”

 “You’re wrong,” Docile glowered. “Just you wait. Even some demons have good inside them.”

 Kiva brushed off his comment. She muttered in a low voice, “Search for I.M.P.”

 Before the remaining disguised cherubs could take off, Docile tripped them and promptly knocked them out.

 “I don’t need to be an Exorcist to eliminate threats like you,” Docile spat.

 “Is that so? See for yourself,” said Kiva, mentioning to the angel monster. “That divine cherub hybrid sees everything…no one can defeat it head on. And it appears that your employee won’t last much longer.”

 Docile’s face fell. He knew there was no way he could reach Timmid in time. With the potential loss of two members, he would be reduced to a lost cause. The cherubs slowly got up, preparing to surround him again.

 He held up his hands in defeat, eyes closed. “Just…let us live, we’ll do what you want, Kiva I give…”

 Docile almost surrendered right then and there.

 But upon opening his eyes, he spotted something long and glinting not too far away. The two hovering spears stood inches over the stand, light from the tips supporting the portal.

 A last determined look crossed his face. He picked up Tirred in his arms and flapped his wings.

 “…you my regards!”

 Portal blocked the path to the spears but Docile raised his arms, tossing the unconscious Tirred into the air. Tirred landed against Portal’s white face, briefly making him stumble. In the split second that Portal was distracted, Docile charged and rammed his head against him as hard as he could. Portal stumbled backward, bumping into the podium. He, Tirred and the stand crashed to the floor, taking the spears with them.

 “Docile…” thought Timmid.

 Timmid closed her eyes and her spear appeared by Docile’s feet. He pushed himself up and grabbed the weapon.

 The other two spears slowly made their way back into position…

 Whack!

 With a well-aimed swipe, Docile’s spear cut through the other ones like sticks. The broken spears clattered to the ground, the light fading from their tips.

 Timmid cried a river of tears, unable to hold any longer. Her hands slipped from the ring and she began to fall with a yell.

 The creature suddenly vanished in a shower of white light, and Timmid plummeted into the ocean. She bobbled her head and reached the surface with several gasping breaths of relief. She looked up and saw the three C.H.E.R.U.B. members defusing. The sheep shook their heads before hugging each other.

 “Man that was horrible!” exclaimed Keenie.

 “It felt like my wool was on fire,” Collin added.

 “Kiva always was a female dog,” Cletus added. “We gotta make sure this event doesn’t get out!”

 They all glanced down at Timmid with wide cute eyes. “We’re sorry!” they all sang.

 Timmid just glared suspiciously.

 The three members flew back through a portal.

 “This isn’t over!” Kiva called, summoning another portal. But for some reason, she and her gang couldn’t get through.

  Deerie, a deer cherub floated toward Kiva from the colorful opening. She summoned glasses and a clipboard.

 “Yeah, no, sorry dear, but you cannot re-enter Heaven now.”

 “What?!” she screeched.

 “Since you’ve been messing with the affairs of humans, and seeing as how you failed in your mission to bring down I.M.P…yeah, no, sorry. And reviving humans is a big no no.”

 She happily waved with a “Bye!” and went through the portal.

 “No!” Kiva cried, extending a hand as the portals closed and the sigil disappeared.

 Kiva seethed as her human disguised cherubs surrounded her. The gang walked to the beach. Docile grabbed another bottle of holy water and poured it down the still Tirred’s throat. He muttered a prayer and felt the last of the mind numbing magic dissipate away. Tirred’s wounds healed up and the Exorcist features faded to reveal his normal face. He was free of the spell.

 Tirred’s eyes fluttered open and he groaned. “D-Docile?”

 Timmid raced over, dripping wet and hugged him.

 “What happened?” Tirred asked.

 “You were being conned into working for Kiva and being a total ass,” Docile deadpanned.

 “I’m truly sorry. I let my desires led me astray…”

 “It’s okay,” Docile said. “I gotta have a talk with my former boss. And get us some new spears.”

 The elves walked onto the beach and met Kiva and her cherubs. Sunna came skipping back.

 Kiva smirked when she saw Docile. “That was handled rather…obvious, don’t you think?”

 “I’ll say,” said Timmid. She and Docile raised their summoned golden staffs into the air, mind-wiping the surrounding humans. The formerly frightened and concerned people went about their day without a care in the world. With a gut-wrenching feeling and tears, Docile sent the revived maniacs back to their graves, restoring the balance of life.

 Timmid continued. “Would be a shame if anyone found out you guys unlocked a secret evil form of C.H.E.R.U.B., along with helping to push a sinister agenda that could ignite a rebellion in Hell and a soon to be World War Three. Oh right, you just got banished!”

 “Oh Jesus! You and your crazy conspiracy theories,” Tirred sputtered to her. He turned to the cherubs. “You guys will be screwed, screwed, screwed!”

 “Yeah,” Kiva began. “Well you three will at least be in trouble for going against a canon organization and not wearing your disguises the whole time!”

 “Snitch, a human called me a leprechaun. I am not a bucking leprechaun,” Docile added. He stepped closer. “You know, we could keep your little Viv cartoon agenda on the down low if you allow us to keep our company…and my parking spot!”

 Kiva scoffed. “Fine.”

 “Yes!” Docile cheered. “We won! In your face, psychotic sheep!”

 “Come on gang, let’s get out of here,” Kiva said with a sneer. “Tal!”

 “Guess I gotta bounce,” said Portal to Sunna. “Feel free to give me a call sometime."

 Sunna blushed and said, “Will do.”

 “Stop on by for my girlfriend’s feline parties. Let’s get you living the life!”

 Portal walked away and followed Kiva up the stairs and onto the street. Kiva and her gang were quickly surrounded by police on horseback and drawn guns.

 “Alright disciples,” said Kiva, “Get ready to atone for a lot of your sins.”

 Her gang groaned in defeat as they raised their hands in surrender.

 A portal was created in the air. Timmid carried Tirred through, while Sunna followed Docile. The portal closed and they were back in Heaven.

 “Hallelujah!” Docile cheered as they parked their silver van in their rightful spot in front of E.L.F. headquarters. Off in the distance, the four women drove the chariot through another portal to the parallel Heaven.

 “That was an unpleasant curse,” Tirred said. “I didn’t even realize I said those mean things to you.”

 “It’s still partially your fault,” Timmid reminded him. “You still secretly wanted to be an Exorcist and get a taste of power. Sin can get anyone, even angels it seems.” Tirred hung his head.

 “Yep,” Docile agreed. They got out of the van and headed back to the office. They met in the hallway. Docile smirked. “In fact, you can prove your loyalty to our company by scrubbing down the rooms from top to bottom.”

 Sunna came back from a closet and handed Tirred a mop and a bucket.

 “Seriously?”

 “What goes around comes around,” Sunna mentioned.

 “We cannot afford a lot of things right now…including losing someone so hardworking,” said Docile. “I know things can be a bit rough between us but Timmid still has faith in you. We always have.”

 Tirred gave them a small genuine smile.

 “Don’t focus on what could be,” Timmid said, giving him a hug. “Focus on what is…right now.”

 Tirred hugged her back, breaking into silent sobs.

 “Are you…crying?” Docile asked.

 “No sir!” he growled, letting go of Timmid. “You guys are still a bunch of airheaded wimps.”

 “Now that’s the old Tirred we love!” Sunna said, back to her sunny personality.

 “Alright Tirred, get to work,” Docile ordered. “Timmid, Sunna, let’s have some angel food cake to celebrate.”

 Sunna licked her lips. “Sounds yummy!”

 Tirred grumbled as he cleaned.

  Meanwhile, back in the first Heaven, Collin the cherub sheep flew up toward the screen with a child-like smile and a wink.

 “See you in the next episode!” he sang.

DID YOU KNOW?

During his time in the Chasity Halo (opposite of the Ring of Lust with Blitzo), Docile had a loving female friend named Veronica (Verosika's true opposite). She had pale teal skin, white hair, white wings and dresses rimmed with gold. Unlike Verosika, Veronica sang love songs to bring joy to others. She was happy, cheerful and modest. In fact, she had cupid abilities and was part cherub. (like how it's theorized that Blitzo is part succubus, and Verosika works for Asmodeus, it is rumored that Veronica is affiliated with Uriel.) Feeling he had no choice, Docile joined the Exorcists and clashed with his self-righteous supervisor Kiva, growing apart from Veronica for a while. Kiva and Veronica are related.

#heavenuvaboss #helluvaboss #cherub