Free Angelus by Sabrina Benulis

her breaths. Kim breathed with her again, his heart thrumming. She was so beautiful. The pendant that matched Sophia’s glittered on the pale skin below her neck. Even with Angela’s arms and legs blotched where her cruel-looking burn scars were exposed, she’d never seemed lovelier. The minuscule jewels on her black satin gown shimmered like stars.
    Her practiced regality as the Archon seemed like a dream as Kim stared at her face.
    For once, it seemed she wasn’t having one of her terrible and confusing visions.
    It felt like a sin to break that peace. Python was the first to have the courage to do so. Slowly, he began to circle Angela’s body, tracing along its contours with his fingers, muttering softly. A strange, admiring expression lit up his face.
    Kim set his jaw.
    He tried to push Python’s hand aside, knowing it was a stupid thing to do, but unable to hold back.
    The demon offered a nasty glare. “Do the smart thing and stay out of my way,” Python whispered. “I don’t have to do a thing for her, you know.”
    Sophia said nothing. She only stared down at Angela with tearful eyes. Once, she looked up at Kim again and searched his face as if hoping against hope that he might change his mind, and a miracle would happen, and Angela would awaken on her own with her memories fully restored. And because they both knew the truth, she looked away just as quickly and stroked Angela’s cheek.
    All too swiftly, Python was done with his ritual. He straightened and tousled his mop of hair. “There. She’ll remain asleep as long as the ritual lasts, and possibly for another night. But her spirit is unusually resistant to any kind of mental barrier being broken; the typical spells aren’t going to work.” He looked askance at Sophia. “It seems the time has come for you to be helpful again. I need the Angelus.”
    Another long silence.
    â€œHow do you know about that?” Sophia said, her voice shaking.
    Kim swallowed hard. A thick tension filled the echoingair of the room. For the first time in a while, he felt another presence in the hall. A familiar iciness crept through his entire body. Someone else was watching what took place.
    â€œEvery ancient angel knows the Angelus melody,” Python said. “The Supernal Israfel was the first to sing it. Supposedly, he learned it from God. I say, perhaps he learned it from you. That was Lucifel’s theory. And despite how I grew to loathe her, I’ll admit she was always right.”
    â€œI can’t sing that here,” Sophia said firmly. “I won’t. Besides, only Israfel can manipulate matter with the power of his voice. He’s the Creator Supernal. Not me.”
    â€œThat’s right. You’re not him,” Python said. “You’re someone much more special, Sophia. Your true power might remain under lock and key, but I can see it behind your eyes, swirling like a storm. The choice is yours, of course. You can help Angela, or you can continue to watch both her and the universe waste away.”
    â€œWhat is the Angelus?” Kim asked her.
    â€œThe song of creation,” Sophia said, still staring back at Python. “But it’s not to be used lightly. It has great, no, immense power.”
    â€œWhy would it be important now?”
    â€œBecause,” Python chimed in, “it is ultimately a song of Binding. Its notes hold the universe together, and so they would also contain the power to connect your soul with the Archon’s to break down the walls of Her mind, to bring back Her memories. Think hard—for the dimensions to be disintegrating, the notes of the song must have faltered. It would seem someone has stopped singing.” The demon looked around them, as if addressing an omnipresent person they couldn’t see. “And by someone, I mean God.”
    Kim opened his mouth to speak but couldn’t find words anymore. Sophia’s lips