Goddess, half paying attention and looking about the room, responds somewhat half hearted, "
You're not very useless. Everything comes in time. I wasn't capable of capturing my first demon for at least a few raids." All the while, she was basically waiting for him to turn away, and finally her chance had come.
"What exactly am I looking for? I've got quite a great scope from up here, but my eyes feel rather useless right now."
"
Well, I was hoping your senses would tell us to be honest. Mine seem to be a little faulty at the moment..." her voice was trailing as she began muttering a spell beneath her breath. Normally, for this type of spell, she'd quickspell it, but when she does that, everybody can hear her do it. It's a dead giveaway, and given his natural divine powers which will naturally erode the seal she placed upon him, she can't cause too much suspicion yet. She placed her hands in front of her stomach, right a foot above the left, palms facing each other. A red spark ignites once, twice, and then in a flurry as she quickly backs away from it.
"
There!" she cries and points out towards what is now large arcs of sparking red magic. "
It's coming..." The magical bait was cast, and a demon came in on a burst of gray smoke. An ugly thing, it propped itself on two large, five toed back legs, and on appendage which came to a point sticking out of it's chest. It was coloured an odd blue, with a tongue which slapped about it's ridged, scaled body, and no observable teeth or eyes. "
All evil things come to those who wait," a singe of joy on her words. "
Get him," her words were simple, commanding.
And the Archangel immediately sprung into action, landing a punch on the demon who shrieked and lashed him with his tongue.
"
What was that? Where is your power?"
"
It's Thursday. It's fire based."
Goddess was close to visible disgust. "
Here!" she spread out her right hand, her arm outstretched, and a jet of flame shot out at the ceiling, "
Now use it!" and the Archangel did so, pulling it to himself, and then shot it in little, damaging but non critical bursts towards the demon before him.
"
What are you doing?"
"
I can't. I'm not a killer!" Skipping out on how his powers deactivate if his will is the will to kill.
"
Do it before it kills us!" The creature's long tongue swelled up to two feet in diameter, and shot out a large blue of non illuminating energetic magic at the Goddess, as it knew she was the caster of the bait, but the Archangel ate the attack meant for her. She couldn't help but feel pleased the spell worked so well.
"
Slay it."
And the Archangel, struggling somewhat internally, felt a deep pit of despair until he shot out in a massive load of fire designed like pitchforks at the beast, nearly incinerating it to death, and felt nothing but bliss for doing it. His powers didn't deactivate. For it wasn't his will which forced his hand.
"
Perfect!" Goddess was exuberant, and most pleased, "
Now to finish it," she waved off the Archangel, who stood aside, as she looked at the dying beast. Her eyes began to glow that dark purple, and put her hand out towards it's dying body. And when the beast next sensed anything, it was only:
"
Do you dare to dream of life and power which rivals gods? Because such is my power, and you can share it with me if you so choose... Or you can just die the pathetic creature you are," And with that, the corpse was gone.
"
That takes care of the evidence," Goddess smiled.
"
What did you do?"
"
Eradicate it's corpse is all," she lied. The corpse was indeed gone from view, but was now part of her returning power. She coughed a couple times, thinking it odd, as she's never had problems "digesting" demons before, but she's simply restarting, and absorbing demons with very little demonic power of her own is just taxing.
"
Let's move on. The day is young." Within a few days, there were a few dozen more busts just like it. Each one ending with Goddess "disposing" of corpses, rebuilding her magical power base within herself.
It was also strife with what the Goddess hated most, personal problems. Apparently Michael was filled with them. Probably why the seal works so well with him. Small confidence, big power. Easy to manipulate. Point him in the right direction, give him enough woe, a little charm, a massive soul brand, and it's no competition. It was almost boring to her. But she didn't complain, she could have had more problems than having to deal with him in-between transformations. Such as this woman, "Grace." Apparently they were courting, and she broke it off. To some degree, Goddess was happy to see women have a more equalized role in this society, but honestly, she didn't care. Grace was simply getting in the way, asking Michael where his "artwork" is, and how he's doing, and what is he doing. This last part particularly worried Goddess. Who knows what connections this "Grace" woman had, and her cat was too far away to contact, and any prolonged use of communication magic would simply give her away. She needed quick, random strikes like she had been doing so far. So the next time he busted out his cell phone when it rung, he answered, and looked to Goddess with a saddened look.
"
Hey look, I really do gotta go back. I have things to do."
Goddess was no pleased. She couldn't simply make him defiant, his powers would erode her seal away quicker, demanding her to reseal it more often, and that is taxing. Instead, she went for theatrics. She furled her brow, frowned, and moved close to him, holding his arms.
"
We can't stop now! And you can't go to her. You're involved now, and they're watching us. You go to her, show your care, and she's dead. They'll erupt from the very earth, and make her their own to toy and kill. I must advise against it, and ask you to endure just a little more." She turned up the sadness, "
I need you just a little longer. Please, do not turn back from your calling just yet. See it through!"
Of course, the patrons in the food establishment they were eating at (Which Goddess was quite interested in) found them confusing, and really just funny to watch. Goddess made a note to hunt them down, and turn them into undead slaves to clean the sewage when she ruled things. However, none of that mattered. The command was in place.
"
I guess you're right..."
And they went back at it, a few more days. By this time, Goddess was back in garb, requiring her masque to hide her facial features. Her more ruthless nature growing by each demon she consumed into her being. After all, it was the demons who made her what she was, aside from the coward inside.
"
Now... Now I'm strong enough to fight again," she looked to the Archangel, "
Will you stand beside me once more?"