Chapter Text
“Die, fucker, die!” Purah yells as she swings her halberd, severing the heads off of three leviathan at once. Amitiel rolls her eyes at you before joining the fray. You watch as Amitiel’s whip snakes through the air, grabbing one of the monsters before it could attack Purah from her blindspot. Sighing, your grip tightens on your sword, blue flames crackling to life along the blade.
You and your two sisters were Doreshki, a class of female warrior angels. God had created the Doreshki in groups of three, sisters who remained together always as they fought at each other’s sides. Doreshki were blessed with exceptional skills in battle, especially when fighting with their unit. However, if one Doreshki in a unit died, the other two would soon follow suit, even if they didn’t sustain any battle wounds. It was often said the separation became too much to bear.
Your body danced in tune with your blade, blood painting the battered earth in Purgatory. You and your sisters were stationed here at the moment for population control, as well as a good workout. It would be the last time the three of you would be able to leave Heaven for a while. Once this was done, the three of you would have to help with preparations for the Omega Games, and would not be able to hunt again until all the festivities were over.
The Omega Games was a holiday of sorts for angels, only occurring once every thousand years. It was similar to the humans’ Valentine’s Day, except it was an entire week instead of one day. For the first day, all of the heavenly host convened together, reuniting as one family while subtly scouting for prospective mates. Many angels choose a different mate each time, while some choose their same old flame. Angels weren’t bonded together… unless a child was conceived, but that was rare.
The second day and third day was reserved for courting. Alphas usually presented their love interests with unique gifts to garner favor. Omegas, in turn, liked to tease and flirt relentlessly. Betas often did a mixture of both. Usually by the end of the third day, most angels had someone in mind. Then on the fourth day, the games officially would begin. However, participation was consensual, and some angels choose to hang back every games to guard Heaven.
Omegas and more submissive Betas would gather together near the gates of Heaven, overlooking the Earth. The archangel Gabriel would blow his horn once, and the omegas and betas would pour into the skies. To the lucky enough humans to see this event during their nighttime hours, it would seem like a meteor shower. After giving them a fair headstart, Gabriel would blow his horn a second time, allowing the Alphas and remaining Betas to give chase.
The pursuing angels had twenty-four hours to find and catch their lovers. Some Omegas and Betas made it easy, hiding in plain sight or going as far to turn around and chase their pursuers in return. Some lived for the thrill, and would hide out until almost the last moment before letting their lovers catch them. After the twenty-four hours were up, all angels returned to Heaven, regardless if they had found their other half or not. The new (or old) couples would return to the nests Omegas and Betas had made, and passionate lovemaking would ensue. Days five, six, and seven were spent in the nest, worshipping bodies and wings until the festivities were over.
Usually with each Omega Games, about two or three angels in the entire host would become pregnant. Angel children were scarce, but were considered a blessing. The two parents would become mates for life, and were free to try for more children or just spend time with each other and the one child they shared. You huff softly, clearing your thoughts as you ran the last leviathan through the heart, black goo sizzling into the blue flames.
“Is that all of them?” Purah looks around, looking severely disappointed. She has hoped this small mission would have lasted a bit longer… until she would remember what you all would be returning to. Purah was the most excited about the Omega Games. She loved to take a new lover each time, and even more so loved to brag about all the attention she got afterwards. Both you and Purah were Omegas, and Amitiel was a Beta.
“We could search closer to that creek we saw a few miles back.” Amitiel suggests, wanting to delay returning to Heaven for just a bit longer. She always chose not to participate, and was usually alone until you and Purah returned. Purah was unaware, but you knew the truth of the matter. Amitiel was in love with someone she couldn’t have. She had a lifelong crush on an Alpha, but the Alpha-Beta relationship wasn’t the main problem. An Alpha-Beta couple could make it work, with a lot of effort. The issue was she had fallen for an archangel. Raphael. Most archangels refrained from participating in the Omega Games.
“I vote we search the creek.” You speak up, moving decisively that way. Your two sisters moved to flank you in that direction. It was the second nature of the Doreshki to stay together, to move as a pack. “Besides, we still have a few more hours until the gates close.”
“Yeah, but the best seats at the gathering get taken quickly!” Purah pouts, plump lower lip quivering. She was a typical Omega; she loved to be the center of as much Alpha attention she could get. From the way she acted to the way she dressed, Purah attracted a lot of attention. You and Amitiel shared a secret smile, making a secret pact NOT to have some of the best seats. Purah would garner enough attention regardless.
“Just a few more hours. Please.” Amitiel begs, drawing a loud huff from Purah. “I’ll even let you pick my outfit for tomorrow.” Amitiel offers hesitantly, and a mischievous smirk covers Purah’s face.
“Deal. But I pick yours too, Zar.” Purah nudges you gently. For Amitiel’s sake, you agree. “I can’t wait! I already have my dress ready! It’s PINK!” She squeals, excitedly swinging her halberd overhead. Purah had been obsessed with the color pink ever since she found a pink flower at the time of creation. It was her favorite color.
“Really? We would never have guessed.” Amitiel replies, an easygoing smile on her face as your unit stumbles on a few more leviathan on the creekbed. Soon after, the enemies were vanquished, and the three of you slowly returned to Heaven. On the way back to your unit’s quarters, you all passed by another Doreshki unit. Dinevah, Seket, and Laylah. Anahera, the young nestling of Laylah, played with her two aunts as they tossed her back and forth, encouraging her to fly. Laylah raises an arm in greeting, and the three of you do the same.
Angels tended to be very protective of their young. Usually only the parents would interact with the little one until they were older, but Doreshki were a bit different due to their pack nature. If a Doreshki bore a child, the other two in the unit usually cared for the child as well.
“Damn. That will never be us.” Purah says once you are far enough away. “I hate kids. They’re noisy, messy, and get into everything! They only cause trouble!” She complains, and you and Amitiel share a knowing glance. A certain sister of yours fell into that description as well.
“Come on, let’s get our nests ready for tomorrow. Purah, you haven’t even started yours yet!” You gently remind her. Purah playfully punches you on the arm before running ahead. As the three of you finally reach your quarters, you see a group of Beta Doreshki talking excitedly. They wave your group over, excited grins on their faces.
“Did you hear the news? One of the archangels is planning to participate in the Omega Games!” One of them chatters excitedly. You carefully watch Amitiel’s face go pale. Purah, however, lit up like a Christmas tree.
“Oh, is it Gabriel? It’s been four Omega games since I’ve had him.” She says with a dramatic hair flip, not so subtly bragging. Of the four archangels, Gabriel was the only one who had ever participated in the Omega Games. He did not participate each time, but it wouldn’t necessarily have been considered unusual for him.
“No, it’s not him.” One of the betas whispers, her eyes bright. “It’s one of the others.” A small squeak forces its way out of Amitiel’s mouth, and she disappeared into your quarters. You sigh softly, but a hopeful smile comes to your face. If anyone deserved a chance with an archangel, it was your sister Amitiel.
“Where she’s going?” Purah asks, brows furrowed as her eyes watch the closing door. She shakes her head, returning her attention to the betas. “Well, if another one of the archangels is participating, he’s MINE.” She says confidently, eyes crackling with primal omega power. Of course she saw this as a challenge. Escaping her notice as she banters with the betas, you follow after your other sister, finding her desperately trying to get a nest in order in her room.
“Do you want some help?” You ask softly after knocking on the door to her room. Amitiel doesn’t seem to hear you, trying to throw something together last minute. You head swiftly to your room and start to collect some of your more treasured blankets and pillows, desecrating your own nest in the process. You carry the pile to Amitiel’s room. “Here, use these.” You say, piling the heap on the floor. Amitiel’s eyes flash over to you, full of anxiety, despair, but also hope.
“Are you sure?” She asks, already moving over to collect the items. “What about your nest?”
“It’s fine. You need the best for your nest. And you deserve this. Put your best foot forward, and give it all you got.” You say encouraging, accepting the quick hug graciously. Amitiel wasn’t touchy-feely, so it meant a lot coming from her. “And if you take the bath towels, I promise not to get mad at you. But maybe leave a few for Purah.” You say with a wink before retreating, giving her privacy to build as she needed.
Your own nest was in tatters when you returned. Sighing, you go collapse on what remained. Maybe it would be better for you to sit out this time. Giggling, you let yourself imagine seeing Amitiel’s deepest wishes fulfilled. Then your face darkens as a horrible thought crosses your mind. Purah and every other female would be vying for his attention as well. Some Omegas and Betas played dirty to get what they wanted. Sitting up, you start to haphazardly throw your nest into some kind arrangement. You would participate, but if only to guard your sister’s back and let her have her best chance.
Inside you, your omega side growled. She was not appeased by the lackluster nest. “I’m sorry, but that’s the best we are going to do.” You talk to yourself, groaning internally. Your omega side was normally pretty quiet, and usually not too picky. Maybe she was worried for Amitiel’s sake?
“Mine.” Your omega growls, internally narrowing her eyes. Oh, shit. Hell no.
“No. Amitiel needs Raphael, not us. She’s wanted him for like, forever.” You say, moving to arrange some scented candles around the nest, trying to appease her. It didn’t work. Internally, your omega gave a high pitched whine, shaking her head furiously. “What? We don’t even like Raphael! He hates us! And he smells like burning ozone!” I protest.
“Want Alpha.” Your omega growls. “Want Alpha. Want pups.” At her words, your blood chills. Maybe you should sit out of the Omega Games this time. Your omega was a bit more active than normal. “Alpha is mine.”
“Raphael is not ours.” You grit your teeth, internally stomping your feet. “Look at us.” You moved in front of a mirror, your eyes tracing over your imperfections in the mirror. One of your breasts was slightly larger than the other. Your hair hung around your face wildly, no matter how much you tried to tame it. Also, thanks to being a Doreshki, you had more slender muscling than most Omegas. “He would not choose us. Neither would Michael, Gabriel, or even Lucifer.”
“Mine. All mine.” Your omega sniffs, making your eyes widen. “We are beautiful, and we are more than enough for ANY of them.” She says determinedly. If only you were more in tune with your omega’s confidence, like Purah.
“If it is Raphael, we will leave him alone for Amitiel.” You say, then offer a compromise before she can complain. “And if it’s one of the others… fair game.” It wasn’t much of a promise, but a purr rose in your throat from your omega’s pleasure.
“Mine.” She says again before relaxing back in your mind. You shake your head, finishing your arrangements before going to take a shower to cool off. While the hot water streams over your body, you hear shuffling in the bathroom as Purah starts to steal the towels.
“Leave one for me.” You command, eyes flashing blue in warning. Purah stops digging and smirks at you through the frosted glass. Nudity was common among Doreshki. Some even shared sexual partners on occasion. “Seriously. Just one towel.”
“Fine.” Purah says, then her lips turn up in a bright smile. “Amitiel is building a nest. I saw her!” She says excitedly. Your face morphs into mock surprise. “Yeah, really. I was surprised too! I guess all three of us will finally fly out together during the games.” She does a little happy dance, then her face turns serious. “I actually wanted to ask you about something. Is your omega acting strange too?”
“Yeah, a bit.” You confess. “Mine is normally pretty quiet.” You go back to scrubbing, knowing Purah would tell you what was troubling her. She and Amitiel were your beloved sisters. You knew their natures like the back of your hand.
“Really? Mine is doing the opposite.” Purah bites her lip, leaning back against the counter as she watches you. “She’s not feeling as sexy as normal. Maybe I’m getting sick or something.” She then shakes her head and gives you a winning smile. “She’ll perk up again tomorrow, I’m sure. We’ve got to be at our best.” You give her a reassuring smile before grabbing the only towel she hadn’t claimed and dried off before heading back to your room. Giving your nest a quick once-over, you curl up to try and rest some. However, your mind wanders back to several years ago, before Lucifer was finally released from his cage.
***Flashback***
“Just a few more seals to go.” You whisper quietly from your perch atop Lucifer’s cage, watching him peruse a new human novel you had brought him. You were always loyal to Heaven, but a very long time ago, this older brother had been the one who taught you how to fly. The one who wiped away your tears and told you stories before bedtime. You had been heartbroken when he fell, and had snuck down to the cage multiple times to come visit him ever since. Each time, you brought him something from the human world. It wasn’t much, but you thought maybe his heart would soften towards humanity over time.
“Yep.” Lucifer says, glancing up at you. “Listen, as much as I enjoy you coming to visit, you need to keep your distance for a while.” He says, shutting the book and tucking it away as he gives you his full attention. Your face wavers for a moment.
“Why?” You ask, trying not to be offended. His dismissal stung, actually. You had risked getting caught coming down here for centuries, only for him to tell you to back off right before he was released. Right before things could return to normal, if things didn’t go according to plan, as you so desperately hoped.
“I don’t want you to get hurt.” He says lamely, reaching up to pat one of your feet. “I’m sure more angels will be watching the cage now. It’s not safe. I want you to stay out of sight. Just be good.” He says, trying to be gentle. When he sees your reluctance, his tone turns cold. “Look, being attached to me isn’t good for you. I’m not the same big brother I was back then. You need to move on and forget about me. When Michael and I fight, one of us is going to die. And my bet is on him winning.” He says, retracting his hand.
“Don’t say that. You don’t know what’s going to happen. None of us do.” You say, a small tear forming and dripping down your cheek. Lucifer turns away from you, not wanting to see the hurt in your eyes.
“What’s done is done. I can’t go back and change my decisions. Not even if I wanted to.” Lucifer says, facing the darker parts of Hell. “Get going. I need to get ready for what’s coming.” He waits for a moment, but you didn’t move. “Didn’t you hear me? GO! I don’t want you here! I never wanted you to come here in the first place!” He shouts. “Leave me alone! I don’t want you, or your stupid books!”
More tears roll down your cheeks, but you spread your wings. A second later, you were gone. Lucifer turns back and faces the place where you had sat, putting his face in his hands. It had to be done. At least that is what he would tell himself. “I’m sorry, little sister. Forgive me, Zariel.”
***End of Flashback***
You sigh softly, wiping the unwanted tear away at the memory. It was the last time you had talked to Lucifer. When the cage had been opened, Lucifer and Michael had fought. To everyone’s surprise, they stopped when they had nearly beaten each other to a pulp. Somehow, the two had decided to reconcile. No one knows exactly what happened, but you were thankful both were still alive. You had been too shy to approach Lucifer again. What if he didn’t want you around? What if he had meant what he said?
For all the times you had gone to visit, your two sisters had covered for you. They didn’t approve and never had accompanied you down to Hell, but keeping your secret was more than you could have asked of anyone. The punishment would have been severe if anyone had thought you were more loyal to Lucifer than Heaven. They would have been held in contempt for lying. Then again, you had covered for your sisters, too. You all protected each other. As you needed to do now. You stretch and get up, going to pull some of your armor out from under the bed. Finally, you pulled out two sets of what you were after. Wing guards.
Omegas in particular were vicious when fighting over a particular mate. If you broke an opponent’s wing “accidentally” leading up to the games, the opponent wouldn’t be able to participate. It would be near impossible to fly with a broken wing. Sighing, you place a pair out to wear tomorrow to the gathering, and carry the other set to Amitiel’s room. Betas wore wing guards too, but usually did not bother to get as high quality ones as Omegas did. Amitiel needed all the help she could get.
Knocking on her room door, you peek in to see her passed out in her nest. It looked well-planned and neat, just like everything else your sister did. Smiling softly, you go to place the wing guards on her dresser, then notice the dress she had laid out for the gathering. It was a silky lavender, one that would complement her dark skin and features beautifully. You gently set the guards down, then creep back out of the room, closing the door behind you.
Everything would be okay. It had to be.