Alone in the Dark

Shamgarel sat at Jaci's desk, alone in the dark. He was shifting periodically from weeping, to anger, to guilt, to vengeful. All the while he was drawing up battle plans in his head. He'd been to Hell before, after all he was the one who grabbed the Son from the fiery pits when the Gate was broken. But much had probably changed in the 2000 years since. He was going off of possibly outdated information but that's all he could do. At this point there was only one way to save Jaci, venturing into Hell itself, alone if he had to. No he would have to. He couldn't ask the others to risk their life to save hers. He doubted anyone would either way, they were needed to fend off Raide and his armies, save the world from certain destruction. But without Jaci, there was no world for Shamgarel, no way he could return here without her. His plan was set, he would go into Hell, quietly as possible and save Jaci, or die trying.

Cassiel knocked on the door, he was physically healed thanks to GUN medical facilities and xyrons assisstance. He didn't want to be rude, after all Shamgarel wasn't the only one who is emotionally scarred. Cassiel experienced the faliure with Raide twice. Once with his precognitive sense and once with reality. He knocked lightly, and with a tone of voice precoged to be soothing he said softly, "It's Cassiel." He waited for a response.

Shamgarel wiped his eyes quickly and cleared his throat, "Come in friend."

Cassiel opened the door came in slowly. He knew Shamgarel was emotionally distraught. He decided to take fault in himself to soothe him, "I'm sorry, had I the time to discuss the future back then, things would have been different. I would like to make time now so we can discuss the future so we... or at least I don't fail again."

"It wasn't your fault. Raide's far stronger than any of us could have thought." Shamgarel tried to force a smile but failed, once again going back to sobbing. He slammed his hand hard on the deske, causing it to fracture. "If...if I had just been stronger. I wouldn't have lost Jaci...I could have saved her." He struck the desk again causing it to split and fall apart.

Cassiel just stood there. For once he was unprepared for converstation. It was one thing to predict it but another to experience it. Cassiel stuttered, "But... uh... do... Um, well... what would like me to do?"

Faith had heard her friend was destressed and wound her way the woman he loved's office. She gently pushed open the door. Her blond hair had grown to her waist and she'd plaited it today, clapsed with a golden band. Her blue eyes took in the dark room as she slipped in. Her angelic form cast a warming light across the darkness.
"Don't blame yourself for what has happened," she said softly, drinks in her hands on a tray.
"What we need to do is get her back," she smiled, a curling up of her lips.

"There is nothing you can do Cassiel, unfortunately." Shamgarel reached down and picked up the one of the desk splinters, studying it shortly before throwing it back down. It was then that Faith walked in. He looked up to see her comforting face. Not as beautiful as Jaci in his mind, but he was fairly biased. "I couldn't ask anyone to venture into the pit on my behalf. I had already planned on going myself but it's just to much to ask of another."

Faith shrugged as she moved the desk aside and carefully, drawing on Scarlets powers, fixed the wooden desk before placing the tray of drinks down on it.
"Who said you have to ask? I volunteer to go," she smiled softly, glancing at Cassie, hoping he would also make the pledge.

"I was hoping for a softer approach but..." Cassiel walked over to help himself a drink and took a sip, "But I also wanted to stress how much we need to be ready before we charge blindly through the gates of Hell."

Cassiel was slightly insulted. Shamgarel was asking to forsake a fellow Hand of Justice! "You say that to me? The Eyes of God? I watched everything she had accomplished. Even now, I still watch her! And I will not forsake a friend no matter how far the relationship."

"I meant no offense friend. I only meant that you don't know her on a personal level. Like I do..." Shamgarel looked at the ground picturing her face, it helped very little and served to do nothing but make him feel worse, imagining what he could only speculate was happening as he sat on the ground weeping. It did however strengthen his reslove. Shamgarel stood almost instantly and made his way out into the hall. "If you insist on joining me, then we must make preparations. Get Xyron and Stephen, we'll need them both..."


((Continued in the GUN Lounge.))