by The Indestructible Man
One year ago:
"Where IS she?!"
With a flail of metal, Peter Aconand grimaced in pain. He felt his immortal lifeblood slipping from the gashing wounds made upon his person as the rogue Aegial looked on at him in fury.
Aegial said, "I've already removed your gift, Nephilim. You'll die unless you let me know where the wench Natsuko is."
"Never." The immortal spat blood and saliva onto the fallen angel's face. It dripped to the floor of Bannerman Castle as Peter's body began to writhe with pain.
"Isn't it obvious, brother?" said Bestial. "The fool doesn't know where his fellow guardian is."
"But there are only three we have yet to kill," said Aegial. "If Aconand doesn't know, then there's only Thomas to lead us to her."
"Then I recommend we find the forge soon, and through him find the guardian," said Bestial. "As for this specimen..."
A psychic blast tore through Peter Aconand's millennia-old skull as he screamed for the last time, a curse toward the foul Triarchy that had imprisoned him. In a heap, the third-to-last member of the Elioud clan of the Nephilim fell, finally dead. As he did, the door opened, and a figure in white seersucker stepped in, stepping over the dead immortal with the grace of an angel. His orange eyes smiled as he surveyed the scene. Azazel looked displeased.
Bestial said to the newcomer, "Aconand didn't know."
"Forget him," commanded Azazel. "The Elioud have been hunted by us for a millennium. What was a thousand-strong is now down to two. And Lady Natsuko, my destined bride, can't run forever."
Aegial said, "But surely the other one, Thomas..."
"Probably knows as little as Aconand did," said Azazel. "They were wise spreading across the globe. No, I have another plan to draw her out. I've just managed to secretly purchase a controlling interest in Magnus Corporation -- not that the fool Magnus is aware of it."
Bestial asked, "And how will that help us, Imperator?"
"You'll see... in time."