The Disobedient Child: Vladimir, #2

By Ravyn Karasu

After an incident with a demon, Heaven and Hell are brought together to decide if Hope needs further supervision and protection from her fallen seraph, Vladimir. Will Stolas, a Hell prince be instated as her second guardian?

Hope is surprised to suddenly become a person of interest to her classmate, Nina. It seems as though there might be a tense friendship forming. However, there is something strange about Nina aside from her sudden interest. She's acting very much unlike herself. Disobedient, even, and it looks like she may be trying to be an influence on Hope.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ravyn Karasu
• Release date: Apr 19, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223035770

Book preview

Vladimir

Guardian Angel

©2021 Ravyn Karasu

Cover ©2023 Fabio Zonatto & Ravyn Karasu

Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

-Ephesians 5:6

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The situation was a grave one, indeed. Vladimir was well aware that he was trapped.  But he also knew that he had to keep his cool. That poker face of his would have to stay strong and un-telling. Never let the opponent know that they have the upper hand. Always keep them guessing. Always make them tremble at the thought that you could have a trick up your sleeve. Yes, that was a perfect philosophy to live by.

Even now, he thought desperately for a way out of this situation. How could he have let it get this far, this bad? He gritted his teeth and growled deep into his throat as he contemplated every possibility. A drop of sweat trickled down the side of his face. Was he cracking? He was starting to feel the pressure building up. Finally, he saw what looked like a possible escape from disaster. He reached down and grabbed the small disc-shaped piece and set it down in a square, There. Top that.

Hope glanced up at him with a bit of confusion. He sure seemed awfully tense for a simple game of Checkers. But his move had been made, and now, it was her turn. She picked up her piece, the black one, as Vladimir was playing the red. She then skipped his piece and landed at the edge of his side of the board. King me.

"Damn! Vladimir spat with a snarl. You won again! He slammed his hand down on the table, How is this possible?! How could a simple human child like you defeat the mightiest of the mighty Seraphim?!"

Hope, despite his frightening display, could only cover her mouth to stifle the giggle creeping from her throat. It had been a few weeks now, and she had grown rather used to Vladimir and his odd behavior. He was certainly capable of carrying out his threats, but she knew him well enough now to know that he was mostly bark when not in battle.

"Honestly, Vladimir, I can’t understand why you’re being such a sore loser. It’s only Checkers."

She examined the board and the discarded pieces beside it. "Still, I also can’t believe how bad you are at this."

Vladimir let out an angry huff and crossed his arms. He topped it off by spinning around to put his back to her. "Hmph! Board games aren’t my thing, okay? You got some sort of problem with that?"

I don’t have a problem with it, at all, she insisted.

What’s the point of such a meaningless thing?

"It’s for fun, Vladimir, she tried to explain. Board games are for fun and entertainment."

"This isn’t fun for me, he growled. And the only one entertained right now is you. I don’t take well to losing, and I don’t like being humiliated. I have a lot of pride. He sat himself back down and crossed his legs, Fun is— He had to pause and look into such a beautiful and innocent little face. He felt hesitation suddenly. He cleared his throat and turned up his nose, replying instead with, —Well, to each their own."

He was suddenly distracted by the distinctive sounds of cooing. It was a sound he hadn’t heard in the house before. He felt a chill travel up his spine as the realization began to sink in. It was only confirmed when Hope let out a squeal, "Oh, how pretty! I’ve never seen any bird sit right on the windowsill."

Birds? He turned slowly and snarled. There were doves sitting on the windowsill of the open kitchen window. He examined them closely, their markings, their mannerisms. It only made him grit his teeth tighter. He knew those blasted doves, and they were not mere doves. Hope was oblivious to who and what they were, but Vladimir had seen it all before. "You, horrible, feathered scum! How dare you laugh at me!"

Vladimir, what are you talking about? Hope asked as she arched a brow. They’re just doves. She then gasped as Vladimir flew to his feet and darted towards the window. He nearly fell out as the doves took flight and landed in the yard. Vladimir, what are you doing?!

You blasted feather-brains! He roared. He darted out the kitchen door and into the backyard. Hope quickly ran to the window to see what he was up to. She could only cover her mouth and gasp at such a horrid display as Vladimir chased after the poor little white birds with a shovel he had found by the little gardening shed by the house. She had to turn away and shook her head furiously.

"Oh, Vladimir! That’s so horrible! I can’t even watch!" And she didn’t. She decided to simply return to the dining room and start to put the game away neatly in its box. It was only a few moments before Vladimir returned inside. He clapped his hands together as if to pat the dust from them. 

Was that really necessary? She asked with a sharp tone.

"You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that—or why. But it’s done now. So, where were we?"

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Outside, Michael sat upon the edge of the stone birdbath and stared down at his comrade. It was a rather sad sight, indeed, as Gabriel sat, almost in a cartoon manner. The poor thing saw stars floating and circling about his head in the grass. The shovel had been abandoned in the grass beside him. It was of little comfort, though Gabriel wasn’t in any condition to care. Michael, however, felt a slight bit of pity, and a sense of guilt at the feeling of such amusement.

"Funny, isn’t it, Gabriel? I don’t remember Vladimir being that fast. To which, Gabriel merely replied with a groan before flopping onto his birdie back. I have to admit that your resilience is outstanding as well. No wonder you make a fantastic Shield of God."

Gabriel groaned. He was still a bit disoriented from Vladimir’s attack. Michael turned his head this way and that to study him. Vladimir had done a number on him, but it seemed that Gabriel was recovering fairly quickly. That was a good thing.

Perhaps showing ourselves in such a close proximity to him wasn’t wise, Michael continued. Though, I didn’t think he’d be so cheeky as to come after us in front of the child. We’ll have to be more careful from here on out.

Apparently, Gabriel said with a long exhale.

It’s a good sign for us to go. Things seem to be in order here, and—we have a prior engagement to attend. You know how Raguel is when it comes to promptness.

Gabriel rolled back over and scuttled to his feet. He stumbled about momentarily and then shook his little white head. If we are tardy, he could hold it against us in your case. It’s not part of the issue, but he sure likes to make examples of other angels.

And you don’t? Michael chuckled.

Not like that.

Michael simply chuckled again and spread his wings. He waited, allowing Gabriel to take flight first before following after him to return to Heaven to meet—Raguel.

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Inside, Vladimir watched as Hope began to put the checkers, by color, in little sandwich baggies before she placed them into the checker box.

"Do you want to play another game? You can choose what we play next, since you don’t seem to like the games that I pick."

I don’t think you have anything that would please me, Vladimir admitted flatly. "In all honesty, a battle is what would please me most. You cannot provide me with that. Let’s face it, your life is boring."

A battle? She questioned. An angel with a violent core. What was God thinking?

He wasn’t, I don’t think, he said absently. But, like I said, you’d be a horrible sparring partner. You can’t fight worth crap. You might wrinkle that stupid skirt of yours.

Hope stood as tall and erect as she possible could. She puffed out her chest and pulled her shoulders back. What are you talking about?! I’m tough enough to take you on! She stomped her foot to attempt an aggressive display. She then charged at the seraph and began to pound on his chest, or at least, what she could reach of it. He towered over her, after all. He replied with a laugh before he used his index finger to push her back by her forehead.

Is that all you got, Short-Stuff? He taunted.

She replied by running at him and leaping up at him to tackle him. This was also an unsuccessful attempt to show her strength. She merely dangled from his middle, feet slightly off the floor. Oh, this is absolutely pathetic, he teased. He reached down and pinched her. To her surprise, she let out a high-pitched yelp and dropped onto her bottom.

You meanie! Why did you pinch me?! She demanded.

Aha! If you tangle with the Mighty Vladimir, you will face the Wrath of God. As if to prove a point, merely out of spite, of course, he reached down and pinched her again.

"Ow! Vladmir!"

"If you don’t like it, try and stop me! He cackled. Come! Catch me! Teach me a lesson!"

The moment that Hope got to her feet, Vladimir snatched up the game box and rushed up the stairs. Hope was right behind him in chase. He led her into her bedroom. There, he tossed the game box onto her bed and then quickly escaped onto the balcony where he abruptly sprouted his wings and made a graceful escape onto the lawn.

Hope nearly crashed onto the wall-rail and stared down at the seraph leering up at her. That’s no fair, Vladimir! You’re cheating! I can’t fly!

Oh, quit your whining and belly-aching! He called up to her. If you want me that bad, come and get me! The more you jabber, the less revenge you’ll get!

Hope slammed her hand down, though not as violently as Vladimir would have done. She was a determined sort when she was hot. She flew through the house, down the stairs, across the kitchen, and out the back door to run across the backyard and tackle the seraph. The force was a little more than he had expected. It caused him to lose his balance and topple backwards into the grass. After she recovered from the fall, she opened her eyes to see that she had fallen atop of him. She smiled and straddled over his waist, Ha! I’ve got you now, you silly seraph.

Got me? He inquired as he peered down at her. "Pfft. You don’t got anything. You’re merely sitting on me. Humans think far too much of themselves. Don’t give yourself the credit you don’t deserve. He rolled over, putting him in the towering position once more over her, and she was on her back in the grass. Prepare to face my wrath—" In the next instant, he attacked her, tickling her mercilessly. She let out screams and wild laughter as she squirmed and desperately tried to defend herself.

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A scream sounded from the bowels of Hell. It came from the very heart of the Unholy Land, in the capitol City Kingdom of Dis. Here was where Lucifer’s palace stood. It was surrounded by the stereotypical chaos of ruins and stonewalls. A fortress seemed to engulf the very capitol itself. From his high windows, he could see the beauties of the neighboring kingdoms, which were ruled by other high-ranking fallen angels and demons, yet still falling beneath his command.

However, sightseeing was not what Lucifer had planned. Instead, he decided to visit the torture chambers in the corner of the capitol. The walls were high, but the torture chamber, full of unspeakable devices, was open-air. One such horrible device was currently in use. And it was the source of such blood-curdling screams.

Along one of the walls, a line of three tortured souls dangled from their shackles. For the moment, they praised silently for the break. It would be brief, but it