Vengeance Owned:Gabriel and Milo

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Milo Andros had just naturally assumed that his red headed cohort would be following him when he strolled away from the store they had just exited. In fact he did not realize his mistake until he went to step off of the curb at the corner and the link that tied him to Gabriel nearly severed his ankle with the recoil.

The demon whipped around to discover that not only was his unwelcome attachment not following as it should, but that the angel had in fact affixed himself to a spot on the sidewalk just outside the store and looked as though he had no intention whatsoever of moving.

Milo growled under his breath as he stalked back over to where a stubborn looking Gabriel had made his stand. “WHAT…” The demon caught himself and tried to remain clam. “What do you think you are doing Gabriel?”

“What we are doing…” Gabriel spat. “is going back in that store and giving that-that bandit a good thrashing!”

Milo sighed and rubbed his temples. “No.”

“No?”

“No.”

“Pay attention demon…” Gabriel’s eyes glowed neon with rage. “I don’t answer to you!”

“Pay attention angel….” Milo couldn’t help looking smug. “Its true that you don’t answer to me but…..” The demon tugged at the invisible chain binding them. “Its also true that you have no choice but to listen to me.”

“Fine.” Gabriel snarled. “Say your piece, and then we shall go in.”

Milo took a deep breath and allowed himself just a moment of wallowing in self pity. Of all the angels in all of creation, why in the name of Beelzebub had he been so offensively linked to this one? “Gabriel… I know you don’t understand the concept of ownership as it exist on this planet.” The demon held up a hand before the angel could protest. “That man in there neither owns the store nor is he in charge of how much he must set as a price for the merchandise. He is merely a servant of the people who do own the store.”

“But surely he knows it is wrong!” Gabriel sputtered. “He follows their orders of his own free will!”

“He is a thief also by the way.” Milo grinned. “He has been passing food stuffs and bottled water out the back door to those that are most in need.”

Gabriel gaped at him. “The store is insured so the owners lose nothing, but even if he were not using his position to help others and was merely the greedy bastard that you took him for; what else would you have him do? Walk away from one of the few jobs available in self righteous protest and then sit back and watch his own family starve to death?”

“It would be better than living in sin.” Gabriel stated self righteously.

“Um hmmm…” Milo reached out and gave the irate angel a fairly hard pinch on the arm.

“Yeouch!!” Gabriel screeched and rubbed at the rapidly reddening spot. “What in the name of God Almighty are you doing??!!”


Milo couldn’t stop the smirk that now decorated his face. “You feel that Gabriel?” He asked with a snicker. “That…. Is pain.” The redheaded angel scowled at him darkly. “And very little pain at that.”

“Little my ass!”

“Its really all relative.” The demon continued to snicker but, then became serious. “I assure you Gabriel… compared to starving that pain you just felt was infinitesimal.”

Gabriel frowned. He had, of course, heard of pain; but in actual practice he had never experienced it before. If what Milo had done to him was considered a little pain then what must man really endure during his time on this planet. It was truly mind boggling.

“God is great and good…” Gabriel muttered. “He remembers his children in their time of need and prepares a place for them at his side…. So none of this really matters in the eyes of heaven.”

“I agree.”

“You agree?”

“Yes.”

“I knew it!” Gabriel crowed. “Even you have to admit that God is great and good.”

Milo slowed to a halt. “No.”

Gabriel stopped beside him. “No? But you just agreed…”

“I agreed,” Milo said caustically. “That it didn’t matter.”

“What?”

“Look Gabriel…” Milo leaned in close so the angel was sure to catch every word. “I agreed that it doesn’t matter if God is great or God is good or if he’s just some raving psychopath sitting back and enjoying a raucous laugh at the expense of all and sundry.” Milo shook his head. “It just. Does. Not. Matter.”

Gabriel blinked rapidly. “How can it not matter? God must be good and great.”

“Forgive me Gabriel.” Milo said sarcastically. “But I do not share your blind admiration for a God that creates thieves, and then punishes them for stealing. It doesn’t matter because God always gets the last word. Always. And even if he is wrong…. Who can stop him?”


Reven Ben Apollyon stalked his way down the cavernous brimstone filled passage ways towards his fathers outer chamber. Reven had, of course, been told by his mother to steer as far away from his father as he possibly could, but like most spoiled brats Reven had a hard time following orders.

He growled a greeting to the two huge fire demons guarding the doors to the inner chamber and then pushed his way through the highly ornate doorway to find his father exactly where he had expected to find him.

Satan himself was lounged back on his throne. Long, dark hair curled around the pointed ears and the fire inside of the chambers seemed to set his red skin aglow with power. The horns upon his forehead looked sharp and menacing. Black piercing eyes turned as the devil inclined his head to study the approach of his youngest son. His mouth which was framed by a black beard and moustache seemed to twitch with amusement as Reven approached. By his side stood his eldest son, and the official heir to the throne of hell, Nicodemus Ben Apollyon.

Reven bowed his head and dropped to one knee as he came close to the steps leading up to the throne.

“You may rise.” The devil said lazily. He watched closely as his youngest son regained his feet and the violet eyes swept around his chambers. Nicodemus stirred beside him and a small smile stretched across Satan’s face. The jealousy that existed between his sons was no secret to him nor anyone else for that matter. If Reven was Lilith’s baby, then Nico was indeed his fathers spawn in every aspect. His oldest son stood proud and tall, with long sinewy muscles that hid none of the power they possessed. Even his black hair and eyes were a perfect match to his Pater. The only true difference between them lay in skin color. Whereas Satan’s skin was as red as merlot, Nico was more of a creamy caramel color, that and the fact that his lower half was human, of course.

Reven’s purple eyes scanned the chamber before coming to rest on the giant jeweled mirror directly across from his fathers throne. The mirror of evocation. Quickly he tore his eyes away and refocused on his father and brother.

He really needn’t have bothered. The mirror drew the eyes of anyone and everyone that had ever set foot within the chambers. Even Satan was not immune to its magnetism. After all, it was the most powerful, devious and cruel torture device ever to be placed in hell. Crafted not by demon hands, but by God himself; especially to inspire the misery of none other than the Prince of Darkness.

“You may speak.” Satan growled from the throne.

Reven wrung his hands. “I-I wish to ask you to return Milo to me.”

Satan stared at his son with an unreadable expression for a moment and then threw his head back as he burst out laughing. Beside his father Nico gave Reven a nasty smirk. “Milo…. Is busy.” His father chuckled and turned in his seat to pour more wine into a golden chalice that was situated on a table made of skeletons at his side. Reven stuck his tongue out at Nico while their fathers back was turned. Nico shot him the bird just as their father turned back.

“Why does it have to be Milo?” Reven whined. It always worked with his mother.

His father was not impressed. “And who would you have me send?” He grinned and his fangs glistened. “One of you?” He motioned between his two sons.

Reven nodded. “Send Nico.”

Satan took a long drink of his wine before shaking his head no. “Milo can do this….” He looked disgusted at them both. “Either of you would be a disaster.”

Nico bristled at his side, but remained silent. Reven on the other hand was not so easily denied. “Send your most powerful demon then.”

Satan pursed his lips. “No.”

“But father!”

“No buts.”

“But why?” Reven griped loudly.

The Grand Prince of Hell was on his hoofs in the blink of an eye. “Because I BLOODY WELL SAID SO!!!!!!!!” He roared deafeningly.

Reven crossed his arms over his chest and stuck his lower lip out. “Fine.” He stamped one foot then turned and waltzed back out of the chambers.

As Reven flounced out of the great chamber, Satan turned to his eldest son and groaned. “Sometimes… that boy makes my pitchfork itch.”

Watching through narrowed eyes as his little brother exited the huge chamber doors, Nico nodded his head in full agreement.

TBC....