Melek

This story is by R. Amieva and was part of our 2018 Fall Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here.

There was a time when the world was ruled by angels, protectors of earth and their habitants, a world based in prudence and honesty, in loyalty and humbleness. But, where there’s light, lies a shadow. And in those shadows, demons hid, oppressed by angels’ power. But not quite long after, when earth was created, the power of the light created Life and darkness created Death. And from them, a force much more powerful than angels rose, known by the name Melek.

The Melek came as fast as light, destroying everything that was alive, and leaving behind just ashes of what was once good.

The greatest creatures were destroyed; the oceans dried, and the woods burned. And only men were what was left in the world.

Destruction didn’t stop, and men called the Angels for them to save them all, from the beast that had arisen from Death…but also from Life.

The Angels came together, and wonder how something that had goodness within it, could be such a monster. Why, Life was good and merciful, but the power and strength of Death was greater; ruled by the ambitious and terror of demons. Creatures born evil, and evil shall they die.

The Angels decided to create the salvation men were praying for, and these creatures should only come from Life, because Death shall not corrupt the goodness these creatures have. And from Life, a new force came, and the Angels named them Melek Vitae.

The war between Angels and demons came, and men started to fall, until there was no more than two women that hid under the shades of doom when all lives were taken from the world.

All Meleks disappeared. Well, they were just the spirits and forces of Angels and demons. And finally for nine months, the Earth was silent, and the world was peaceful and quiet once again.

Men started to rise once more, and the balance of the world returned. Until, one dark and cold night, the screams of those women that had survived the apocalypse were heard by demons and Angels, making them turn their attention to those fragile creatures. And both women gave birth the same night and time to something stronger than everything that has been known in history. Both babies had been male; they’ve been strong and healthy infants, but as they grew, whatever they touched healed or died. One of the children could heal, he was protective and was good, but the other child was destructive and brought death whenever he lost control. One was life and one was death. One had been gifted and the other had been cursed.

The Angels acted faster than demons, knowing that even they couldn’t destroy the cursed child, so, they designed a silver ring and assigned it to a moral man. The Angels told him: “You, man of moral heart, you should have power over this creature. He shall obey your command and needs. You, moral man, must control the Melek Morte, and command them to stop this abominations. You, pure heart, must protect and guard that ring, and must not tell anyone about this. But just your successor.” And the man did as they said.

Demons at seeing this, decided to curse the Melek Vitae as Angels had cursed their creature with the ring; giving a manuscript to the same man which words read the curse to control the Melek Vitae, knowing that men, one day, won’t be moral, but ambitious.

Time passed, and the birth of new Melek came, always two, never one more, or one less. Melek Vitae were celebrated as gods and Melek Morte were summoned under moral men. But men can be vicious creatures, so they started to abuse the power of those cursed and gifted creatures for their own sake. To conquer and bring terror. For power.

And once again, war came between Angels and Demons. But what they forgot was that Melek were now something much bigger and stronger than just a force, but were flesh, bones and power. They would obey, but they would feel, as well. Without mattering if they were Vitae or Morte, both had became slaves under the ambition of men, and the war between their creators.

Sky above me. Earth below me. Melek inside me. I’m a beast that heals and destroys. Try to master me, and I shall obey.