As Michael picked her up he glared at me “If she dies I’ll kill you myself.”
I couldn’t reply though. I couldn’t believe how stupid I had been. Evelynn could die now because of me…I knew my plan wouldn’t work when I saw her without a weapon, not enough strength, and without a hope of even trying to fight back. I had planned to “fight” her and then end up grabbing her arm and transporting us out of there and explaining everything to her, but her question had caught me off guard because I didn’t expect for her to question anything about me I just expected that she’d be happy that I was there…I should have stopped them, but I wasn’t strong enough…I never was, even when Layla had come to kidnap her I wasn’t strong enough. Even now as a rogue I’m still not. My whole world was falling apart before my very eyes and I couldn’t do anything about it…
I heard laughing behind me and realized that Gedeon was still here. I felt a wave of anger and a thirst for revenge come over me as they stood there and laughed, but before I could tear them all apart, Michael said something I couldn’t understand and they disappeared. I knew they weren’t dead though
Good I thought then I can kill them myself
“Why don’t you make yourself useful and get back to the battlefield?” He said flatly
I looked at him to the unconscious Eve in his arms “I didn’t mean for this to happen…” I managed to whisper
“It’s never one’s fault is it?” Michael snapped as Raphael and Gabriel appeared alongside him. Raphael said something to him and they quickly took Eve into one of the tents. I started following them when someone tapped my shoulder. I turned around and immediately fell onto the ground and my jaw hurt like hell. I glared up at Malcolm who was shaking his fist.
“You really got a lot of nerve.” He spat
I stood up “Not as much as you do.” I growled as I started walking towards
He laughed as he lifted his sword up at me “What is a traitor like you going to do? Kill me?”
“I’m thinking about it….” I replied raising mine up as well
“Malcolm.” We heard Gabriel say
Malcolm went silent for a second as he glared at me. After a few seconds he sighed and lowered his weapon while looking over at Gabriel as they seemed to exchange unspoken words, he then pushed past me. I took a deep breath in not to do anything else I might regret.
Always playing the same role of the traitor aren’t we? My father’s voice laughed but I just ignored him. I could hear everyone talking in the tent as they healed Eve’s wounds. I walked towards the entrance of the tent when Michael came out. He looked over at me with a disgusted look “I thought I told you to leave?”
“I’m not leaving Evelynn.” I replied firmly
“You are if you want to keep your head!” he snapped walking towards me
“You can’t tell me what to do Michael,” I growled “I’m not one of your feathered Chihuahuas.”
“I actually think they’re quite cute.” I heard Gabriel mummble as I fell to the ground in pain
“You know how easily I could kill you rogue?” Michael retorted
“Michael….” Gabriel said calmly
“Stay out of this Gabriel.” Michael snapped at him
I glared up at Michael as he looked down at me “Ever since you came around Evelynn has been put through every little danger that you can think of. If it wasn’t for you she’d be back at college safe….hidden.”
“They would have found her….sooner or…later…” I managed through gritted teeth “You can’t keep her…from everything…she has to…learn how to….defend herself.”
“Brother…” Gabriel said putting his hand on his brother’s shoulder “He has a point. You can’t always be there for her….”
“I wasn’t there and she almost died!” he snapped
“But she didn’t….she’s stronger then you think.”
“How would you know? She’s not your pure blood!”
“No…she isn’t, but I know a lot more then you think I do….remember that I’ve been through all of this more than once.”
I don’t know what else they said after that because the pain became worse and worse. I thought it was like Lucas all over again, except this was slightly more painful. I thought my head was splitting open by the time the pain lessened. I laid there taking deep breaths before I stood back up. My head was still throbbing and I hated that archangel even more than before, yet I couldn’t blame him. We both cared for Evelynn. I would have probably have done the same if things were switched…in fact I might have just killed me. Michael looked over at me then “One more chance demon, you’re lucky that my brother was here.” He said flatly as he walked back into the tent
I looked over to Gabriel “…Thanks…” I said as I was confused why he would stand up to his own brother for me
“Don’t mention it.” he replied
“If you don’t mind me asking though….why?”
He sighed “Malcolm might hate you but I know he doesn’t want to see Eve get hurt. Don’t expect me to be able to talk Michael out of killing you again though….war changes people Clement, remember that. Michael isn’t always this tense and neither is Raphael.”
“And yet you seem to be perfectly calm.” I smirked
“War doesn’t interest me as much as it does my brothers. I’m more of a….pacifist as one might say, but I will fight when there is no other alternative….” He then went quiet as if in deep thought but he came out of it quickly “I would suggest you go though.”
“Bu-”
“Don’t argue with a man who saved your life,” he interrupted “Evelynn and the others already have enough to deal with right now. Go try to help as much as you can, but since no one really knows what side you’re on I’d also suggest to keep as much of a low profile as possible.”
“Will she be ok?” I asked him
“…..only Evelynn can answer that.”
I nodded but as I walked always the only thing on my mind was Evelynn. The world felt colder than before, as if all the warmth had just disappeared and Lucifer had already risen. What would happen now? What would she think of me now that she knows that this has been the second time I’ve been sent to kill her. I stopped at the edge of the medical area as I watched everyone fight to their deaths. Was it all going to be worth it in the end? Was freedom and peace really worth all this blood? I closed my eyes as I smelled the blood of the dying, I could smell their fear of losing what was most fragile and precious to them; their life, their existence, their very being. I looked back at the medical tent and thought about Eve’s fragile body laying there unconscious. I hoped she would be alright, not for my own safety from Michael because if she died I couldn’t say that I would stop him. If Eve died and I lived…I’m sure I would go insane without her near. Her laugh, her smile, her voice, her eyes, her hair, everything about her made me want to be a better person. She made me wish I was human. She brought out feelings so deep within me I thought I never had. She was my other half…my world, my soul, and without her I would be nothing. She couldn’t die on me, she just couldn’t! There was so much to say….so many things left in life to enjoy.
I walked down into the battlefield as yelling and the sound of clashing of weapons filled my ears. I ducked as I heard the swiping of a sword only inches from my ear. Out of instinct I hissed at the demon but I dodged his next attack. He didn’t seem older then fifteen years of age….How could Layla allow this?
She’s desperate…..a voice said in my head why else would she allow it?
As I dodged the boy’s sword I realized that there was more demons close to his age fighting. I then realized that they made up at least of third of Layla’s army. When I wasn’t paying attention the boy’s sword had grazed my stomach before I could jump back.
“Fight back you coward!” He yelled at me
“I’m not one of them.” I replied as I dodged his next attack
“Yah right! You’re wearing their armor and you smell like them!” he yelled
I stepped to my right and managed to grab his sword and twist. He fell down to his knees and I removed his helmet. I was shocked for a moment on how much alike we looked.
A warrior is a warrior no matter what age he or she might be my father’s voice rang inside my head from a distant memory. I remember the day he announced I’d be his successor. I remember the shock I was in because I never really thought about being king. Sure Dad had always joked about it in front of Layla, but Layla would just laugh it off and would just push me out of her way as he walked out of the room. Layla had resented me since that day and nothing has changed. For a while I thought we could get along but then our past had to reshow it’s ugly head and ruin everything. Dad had always trained me himself though, he’d never allow me to practice with anyone else except with Layla on a rare occasion, but he found out that it wasn’t a good idea when we got a little bit too rough (she almost killed me in our first sparring). He always told me those words every practice, every session. It didn’t matter of you were sixty or six; you were a warrior no matter what. I flipped the sword as the kid flinched. I held out his sword to him and when he opened his eyes he just stared at me in confusion.
“I wouldn’t close your eyes,” I replied “You die a lot quicker that way. I don’t think your family would want that now would they?” He shook his head and got up as he took his sword “Now go. Tell everyone they need to team up. They’ll die if they fight alone.”
He nodded “…maybe your kind isn’t so bad after all.” He replied and ran off
I sighed “Oh I can assure you we are.”
I heard a small chuckle behind me then and turned around only to get the stinging of a blade as it swept across my cheek. It was a good thing that demons healed, even better (for me) that rogues healed even faster. I disappeared as Gedeon tried to strike again.
“So you have chosen to be with them after all have you?” He laughed “I can’t say it’s a shame though; you are our weakest link.”
“I’m stronger then you think.” I growled
“Oh I’m sure by the way you saved Evelynn; tell me, did you enjoy the sound of her beating heart become slower…and slower? Hm, I sure did. I could even taste her fear on my tongue. It was so…exhilarating.”
“Too bad it’ll never happen again.” I replied as we encircled around each other
“Oh don’t be so sure Clement,” he smiled pointed teeth “Things happen more often than you think!” he said as he lunged at me. I luckily brought out my sword in time to block but the force of his attack knocked me back
“I told Eliza to just wait for someone else,” he said “I told her you were too weak but women just never listen. She’ll come to see when I bring her your head though.”
“I very much like my head attached though thank you,” I replied “but a good idea none the less. Would you mind if I steal it?”
He laughed “Why not? Let’s see who can do it first….”
I dodged his attack but I felt something sharp pierce my shoulder. I yelled out as I grabbed at the arrow and broke off the tip, but before I could pull it out Gedeon kicked me down to the ground making the back of the arrow snap and my shoulder throb. I rolled to the right as Gedeon’s sword came down and I felt a sharp pain shoot through my shoulder. I pulled out the arrow feeling every bit of it as it came out of my flesh. Gedeon had planned for me to step in that direction…but how? Was my fighting tactic that obvious?
Another memory from the past flooded back into my head. I was fifteen while Layla was seventeen. It was our third sparring; Dad had forced us to practice after a month of separation concerning training. We both held a wooden staff in both our hands. Layla kept somehow tripping me at my feet though as father yelled at me to get back up. After about the seventh time I felt like giving up; my back, neck, butt, and calves hurt. As Layla waited impatiently for me to get up I just stared up at the stone ceiling counting how many stones were all there.
“Will you just get up?” She snapped at me
“My butt’s broken I can’t.” I replied
She sighed annoyingly “Father how do you expect for him to become king if he refuses to fight?”
Father just laughed though “Well I guess he can’t if he has a broken butt. Come on Clement get up and try again.”
“But father, we’ve been at it for an hour!” I had complained “I’m tired!”
“Well what would you do if you were in a war?” He asked
“He’d be dead?” Layla muttered under her breath
“Would not!” I yelled as I sat up
“Then prove it mutt.” She replied simply
“Layla,” father snapped “do not call your brother that.”
“Well he is!” she yelled
“Yah and you’re a bitch.”
“Why you little-” she started to say but Father appeared in front of her
“I believe this is enough for today,” he replied flatly to her “and I’d watch what you say young lady. You will have to be taking orders from him someday.”
“I will never take orders from a Halfling.” She said lowering her voice “Especially one who’s fighting style is so easy to figure out, he’ll die the first mission you give him.”
The next second Layla was on the ground and her cheek was bright red. I couldn’t see the look on my father’s face but I knew he was angry. He turned around and pulled me up and pushed me towards the entrance. I recall looking back at my sister as we left the room and her glowing red eyes staring at me with such a hatred I had never had seen before….•
I came back to reality when I heard Gedeon’s weapon embed itself into the ground inches from my head. I kicked my leg up at him, hitting him right in the face as he fell backwards. I got up quickly and grabbed his sword as he got up. I smiled when I saw his nose bleeding.
“You’re dead now Halfling!” He snarled
“Talk’s cheap Gedeon, let me know when you finally decide to kill me.” I replied
I was in a head lock then and I transported quickly out of it, but I had dropped the sword like an idiot when I did. He picked back up his sword and twirled it once in his grip. From the corner of my eye I could see my own to my left. Sensing this Gedeon charged as I disappeared. I grabbed my blade and turned over to meet Gedeon’s blade with my own. I gritted my teeth as his blade carved itself into mine. Any second my blade was going to break in half. I could hear the chipping of the blade and could feel it about to bend right before I disappeared out of the battlefield and back at the rogue camp. When I looked down my blade was in two.
I told you to get your own so it would last longer my father chided Do you know how old your Grandfather’s sword is?
Apparently a lot older then I had realized I thought more so to myself then replying to him
Apparently My father mocked
Why don’t you go bother Layla? I snapped
Maybe I will since Mr. Grinch is getting all grouchy
And with that comment I shoved him out of my head and I heard nothing but the outside voices of the world.
I looked down at the broken blade and felt a sudden wash of sadness come over me. It was strange how attached I was to the blade; I had never even known my Grandfather nor had he ever met me, and yet he still left his blade for me and I felt as if I had known him my whole life. I’ve had this blade ever since I was young and it has been the only blade that I’ve used (except on some occasions).
No time to sympathize over a weapon I told myself Find a weapon and get back in the fight.
I got up and closed my eyes listening for any rogues that had stayed to help the wounded like Layla’s army had set up. I could sense five ten feet over to the left in the tent and unluckily that is where the spare weapons would be nearby. I quickly made my way over and slowed down my pace as I neared the tent. I could hear voices within the tent as the rogue were playing some kind of card game. I could see the weapons from here and they were so close! Yet so far…it’s a good thing I’m a demon. I closed my eyes and pictured being in front of the weapons and I felt the word being sucked in, but something had thrown me off (the pain in my shoulder stabbed at me again) and I ended up falling into the pile of weapons.
“Shit!” I cursed as I felt just how sharp the rogues made their weapons. I heard the rogues get up and saw as they came out of the tent and looked over at me
“Be careful why don’t you?” One of them snapped
I was ready to fight them but then I realized that they didn’t know about me being on the other side. I stood up rubbing my back as I picked up a short sword “My…weapon broke and I needed a new one….”
“It doesn’t mean that you can just crash into the rest of them and ruining them!” A shorter one replied who’s gray hair was thinning “Boy you’re lucky that you didn’t break any more!”
“Yah…my bad…anyways I should get going…” I replied edging away from them as they glared at me
“I would if I was you.” The rouge growled and I transported quickly out of there and back to the battlefield where more rogues and demons were waiting to kill me.•
As I suited up in armor I couldn’t help but feel that something bad was going to happen…as though we would fail. Michael and his brothers had gone down to help when Michael started bleeding. Of course he couldn’t feel it though, because it wasn’t his blood but Evelynn’s. That is where the bond always confused me; Gabriel tried to explain that if the pure blood got hurt then the archangel would have more like an illusion of the same wound as a warning. I really hoped that that child would be alright, but by how the illusion looked it wasn’t good. I tried to think of how it could have happened, but right now I couldn’t think about it. Right now I had an army to prepare.
I heard someone call my name and looked over to find Angie. I’ve known her for almost as long as I’ve known Drop, maybe even longer. Her straight strawberry blonde hair hung in ringlets and her armor shined when the light hit it. Her wings were extended out since there was no use hiding them here. “What’s wrong?”
“Why do you have to always assume there’s something wrong?” she smiled “the others want to know if you’re ready.”
“That I am.” I replied
“We have to wait for Gabriel’s signal though…”
Yes, she was right. It was tradition to wait for the sound of Gabriel’s horn before we went into battle. It was like that in the beginning and it has stayed that way for as long as I can remember. We angels never change.
“I know,” I replied “but we’ll be ready when he does.
“Briathos?”
“Yes Angie?”
“Be strong.”
I nodded “and you as well.”
We both walked to the middle of the courtyard. The clouds surrounded the whole area and the wind was a soft warm breeze. Yet I still felt cold. I looked around as all the angels gathered in full armor and white wings extended. I wondered if Malpas was still waiting but to be honest I didn’t really care if he stayed or not. We walked over at stood before all the angels. Stage fright suddenly came over and I couldn’t talk at first. This was an archangel’s obligation; they were the ones that told us what we had to do and when to do it. Standing before them though I knew I was the only one who could.
Overcome your fear….Drop’s voice echoed in my head and with the sound of her voice and the memory of her smile I finally had the strength to talk “I know I am not in the position to tell you all what to do but we all know what has to be done. People are already dying down there and we must help and don’t tell me that there are just demons down there because your wrong. I hate them as much as you but we have to settle our differences with them if we are going to fight alongside them,” I looked around and could sense the uneasiness in the crowd “You’re scared, I know, and I am to, but we must all overcome our fears if we are to win this war. To dispel a fear we must confront it….today we fight for our loved ones, today we fight for their salvation!”
They all yelled out raising their weapons as the sky turned dark and thunder shot through the clouds. We will be ready, but will our enemies be?'
Bows were strung, arrows, swords and knives sharpened to a deadly point, and shields oiled down. We all waited for the sound of the horn but Gabriel seemed to be taking his time. I walked over to the edge and looked down, our side was obviously outnumbered and more demons were falling. What was Gabriel waiting for? Did something happen? I looked back at everyone who stood waiting for the echoing sound of the horn. Had we missed it? Surely one of us would have heard it. I looked at Angie and she nodded.
I’ll be back I need to see what’s going on.
I know, hurry She replied
I looked down as my feet balanced on the edge. I felt my wings tuck in as I let myself fall towards the ground. I spiraled down and let my wings catch the wind as I slowed down. Even from this height I could hear the screams of the dying and wounded and see the blood from the fallen. I saw something black in the corner of my eye and brought out my sword but my strike was blocked. I found that it had only been the black wings of Malpas as a raven.
Hey I thought we were finally getting along? He voice echoed in my head
“and here I thought you left,” I replied “I guess you aren’t such a coward after all.”
His beady black eyes glared at me I am not a coward
“I can see that now, but enough of this. We need to find Gabriel and see what is going on.”
He sighed and nodded. I sheathed my sword and we descended back towards the ground. We landed on the ground where the wounded were being taken. I looked around with my blade in my hand. I could smell healing herbs and cleaning alcohols as Malpas transformed back into a human. He and I then made our way through the area. I stopped him when we came to the corner of one of the few tents that were up. He gave me a confused look but I lifted my finger to my lips. I could hear steady breathing inside the tent but someone else was in there…someone who wasn’t supposed to be. I heard the unsheathing of a knife and charged in there and before the rouge knew it my sword was imbedded in his chest. I covered his mouth and dragged him out of the tent before the recovering demon could wake up. I pulled my sword out of the demon right after he bit me and kicked him to the ground where Malpas finished him off with a hatchet (which had appeared out of thin air). I nodded to him and we understood that we needed to split up.
I walked throughout the tents making sure there were no more rouges until I came to Eve’s. Of course I could tell it was hers when I saw Malcolm standing near it. I nodded to him and stopped when I heard Michael and Raphael talking to each other.
“You know it’s considered rude to eavesdrop right?” a voice said to my side and I drew out my sword and quickly regretted it. “I’m so sorry Saint Gabriel, I didn’t know it was you.” I said sheathing my weapon. Gabriel was always different from his brothers and pretty much most angels. Here he was just leaning against the post of the tent wearing armor that could hardly be considered armor at all. His sheathed sword hung at his side while his horn over his shoulder and across his chest.
“The others and I are wondering-” I started to say
“When I was going to toot my horn?” He smiled
“Forgive me when I say this Gabriel but is it really the best time to joke?”
“In times like this it really is.” He replied looking up
“So….the army is ready but we’re waiting for your signal….”
“I know.” he replied
“Then wh-” I started to say again when he stood up straight and stuck his head in the tent
“Michael may I speak with you?”
Gabriel backed up as Michael walked out of the tent “What is it?”
I could tell that there was some kind of tension going one between the two but I knew better then to question.
“Briathos and the others are ready. What would you like to do? I might give the signal but you’re the leader after all.” Gabriel said to his brother
“Send half of them down,” Michael replied “have the others wait until they are needed or if our dear brother gets out.”
“Alrighty then.” He replied and brought his horn to his mouth “You might want to tell the others in the tent to cover their ears.”
“That would be a good idea.” He replied and went in the tent
“I believe you should to Briathos.” Gabriel told me and I nodded and then covered my ears
Gabriel’s horn might play one of the loveliest tunes you may have heard but it is louder that a gunshot or an explosion. Gabriel waited a few seconds and then even with my ears covered I could still hear the single heavenly note the horn possessed. I could see the sky open up and half of our family descended down onto the battlefield. I heard someone walk over to us but it was only Malpas.
“Okay,” Gabriel smiled taking his trumpet from his lips “I believe it’s time for us to go join in the fight.” He said clapping his hands as he winged unfurled out reflecting a blue hue. I looked to Malpas and he nodded then turning back into a raven and flew off towards the battle field.
“Malcolm,” Gabriel said to him “It’s time to get back to the fight. Raphael and Abri will take care of her but we need to get back to the fight.”
I watched as Malcolm took one last look back at the tent and nodded. When I saw that there was no use in staying I backed up and took to the sky and headed toward the screaming and the smell of blood.'
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