Demon-Angel (I)

This is my Demon-Angel Story. It's still a work in progress, and it's pretty long, so I apologize. The grammar is probably bad, so I'm sorry for that too. Please forgive me and take it for what it is anyway. Thanks!


Sweat dripped down the Angel’s face, her eyes narrowed to keep the moisture out of them. Three inches. That’s all it would take: three inches. Possibly four, and he would be dead. The Demon’s vivid green eyes glared balefully back at her. He lay on the ground, his back pressed up against the grass, his chest heaving. The faint moonlight making his eyes shine out like beckons, the vivid green standing against his bloodshot whites. That was the mark. The outside sign that he wasn’t human. He was something lesser. Something sinister and evil.
A demon.
She could do it. She could kill him. She knew she could. He was in her power. He deserved it. He had killed Layn, killed her like it had been nothing. He was a demon, a monster. The sharp point of her blade rested directly over his heart. All she had to do was push down. Her left hand gripped the flat of the blade, holding it steady. It would be her first kill. The first time she sliced through flesh and claimed a life as her own.
The Demon’s baleful glare once again drew her gaze. The bitterness and hatred showing through. The fate of the fallen, and something else. . . Something barely noticeable. His eyes screamed. He didn’t have a wound on his body, but his eyes screamed in pain. What was wrong with him? He hurt. . .he suffered.
The Angel’s hand slipped, and her thumb touched his skin- the shirt having burned away from the power of her blade-and felt the sticky, wet substance stroke her finger.
Three inches, maybe four, and that substance would flow freely.
Blood.
With a shriek, the Angel leaped backwards, ramming against the alley wall. In an instant, the Demon was up. He glanced at her only once-the gaze full of hate and something new. . . fear. Then he vanished.
***
Lynn paced the hallways restlessly. Janet walked beside her, laughingly telling her all about the day before. Lynn smiled and laughed, but wasn’t really paying attention.
She had been so close! What other mission was she serving then to rid this world from as many demons as physically possible? And yet she had felt pity, and let him get away. As though he had a soul. As if he deserved her pity. . .
But those green eyes. . .those painful green eyes. . .
“Look at Jerren today,” Janet commented, breaking through Lynn’s thoughts “He looks kind of down.” Lynn felt a small twinge of concern, the same pang she felt whenever anyone was in pain. She looked across the room and located the boy, sitting at a small, dismal table in the corner of the commons room. He wore a baggy grey shirt and flannel pants. His skin bleached of color, his hair arranged in disarray. Lynn bit her lip and felt a rush of sympathy. She began to walk forward, when a new thought snuck into her brain.
Why was he wearing those clothes? Was he trying to commit social suicide? All she had to do to ruin this kid’s life forever was whisper a few words to Janet. She would carry them to the other girls, who would carry them to others. He would be destroyed, with only a few well placed words. It would be almost too easy. . .. .
Lynn shook her head angrily, slapping her forehead and closing her eyes. What was wrong with her?! She was an ANGEL!
“Yeah, he looks sad,” she told Janet softly, “And lonely.”
“Lonely?”
“Go talk to him, you’re the one who’s good with words.”
“Yeah, cause you’re no good at all,” She laughed, then glanced over at the boy, her smile fading. “I think I will,” she murmured, “He looks so sad. . .” within moments, she was standing by the boy, opening her mouth to speak. Lynn smiled. That was what she was here for. To help people.
The day continued, and Lynn’s mood went from bad to worse. Thoughts. . .images and ideas plagued her. Things that were NOT angelic. Trip him and he’ll hit her. . . say this and she’ll go home crying. . . sneer at them when they walk by, make them wonder what they did wrong. . . She barely avoided them. Her mission was to help the humans around her, not tear them down more then they already did themselves. What was wrong with her? She’d bitten her tongue so many times it felt swollen, some of the human friends she’d acquired were noticing something was wrong, but she brushed them off. What was she going to tell them? I’m sorry, it’s just that I’m an angel sent to protect you guys, and right now I feel like doing the opposite.
Like make your lives miserable?
“Well that was a brilliant move,” Sarcasm dripped from the boy’s tone like soupy rainwater. Laughter resounded through the hallways. Lynn opened her eyes, she’d been trying to block out the thoughts and images, not even realizing where she was going. Now she was at the edge of a small crowd; all clustered around an attractive junior. His back was to her, but his voice made her angry, “Are you really going to go out with her? She looks like a maggot.”
“It’s a girls choice. . .”
“Turn her down, she’s disgusting.”
“Yeah Eric, She’s gross!” The other sheep-like humans jumped at the chance to suck up to the popular boy. Why did being beautiful give you permission to be a jerk? Lynn scowled, the poor boy who was being picked on was new to the school. Didn’t know the social status’s or whatever cruel chaste system this rotten hole had for its members. For the first time all day, Lynn felt her angelic righteousness return to her, and she pushed her way through the crowd.
“You could ask Ashley,” the popular boy was saying, his face in thoughtful contemplation “She’ll strip her shirt if you so much as look at her sideways. . . “
”You’re a jerk,” Lynn snapped. Utter silence. The crowd all turned toward her, and the boy slowly turned toward her, “Don’t you have something better to do then prove that you’re a prick?”.
“OOOh!” Some boys chanted, “Little prissy’s going to tell us what to think and say?”
“Maybe she wouldn’t stand so straight if we took the stick out of her. . .”
The junior cocked his head at her, grinning the devil’s smile. Lynn gasped and leaped backwards, knocking into the people behind her. Vivid green eyes that nearly burned. The whites blood-shot, until they didn’t look white at all.
Demon. He grinned wider when he saw the recognition flicker in her face, “Hey Angel,” he taunted, “Did you miss me?” The other boy’s laughed, not realizing how serious he was. Lynn stared, shocked, before regaining her composure.
“I don’t suppose we can take this outside?” she hissed through clenched teeth. The Demon grinned at the humans around him, who were all laughing foolishly. They had no idea who this boy was. And she doubted they would care if they did.
“Sure,” he smirked. She spun on her heel and marched out, praying his desire to put a knife between her shoulder blades would be quelled by the fact that it would be witnessed by several high school students. He threw his cronies a look and they stayed back.
Lynn led them through the halls and into the back, there were no security camera’s in this part of the school, as she knew from her several scouting trips. As soon as the door closed behind them, she spun, gripping the boy’s shirt and slamming him against the wall. He moved faster then lightning, twisting out of her grip and grabbing her wrists, pinning them behind her before she could struggle free. She tried to kick him, but he blocked it with his knee. He laughed, his voice echoing against the school walls; then shoved her away. He leaned against the wall lazily, gazing down at her smugly.
“I should have killed you when I had the chance!” Lynn snarled, pushing herself up from the dirt.
“Yes you should have,” he said rolling his eyes in an exaggerated motion, “Has anyone told you, you’re a moron? Or are all Angel’s as completely incompetent as you are?”
“I could kill you now,” Lynn growled, her teeth clenched.
“Good.”
Lynn grabbed her blade, resting and compacted at her belt. It didn’t look like much at first glance, just a silver canister she could have been wearing for a fashion statement. It had small ruins etched into the sides, flowing and twisting like flowers. But both the Angel and Demon both knew that when held properly, it would twist and elongate into a brilliant weapon.
Lynn yanked the weapon free, twisting it the way she’d been taught. Sharp pain shot though her fingers and up her wrist, digging and shocking her very bones. The scream jumped from her throat before she could stop it and the weapon dropped uselessly to the ground, smoking slightly. Lynn didn’t pick it up, just stared at it.
“Oh yes, very effective.” The Demon drawled. Lynn didn’t answer, “You know what’s going on, don’t you Angel?” The Angel looked up from her weapon, her face draining of blood. “You’re falling.”
“F-falling?” she whispered, her voice catching.
“Y-yes.” he mocked.
“Why?”Lynn chocked out. Falling? NO! It wasn’t possible. Why would she fall? Fall from heaven, fall from grace, fall from being an Angel? No, it wasn’t possible. Lynn shook her head, trying to stop the horror and panic from crawling up her skin and settling into her muscles and joints until she froze completely, “Why am I falling?” She lurched forward, griping his shirt. He snarled and tried to jerk free, but she held on tightly, “Why?! What did I do wrong?!”
“What do you think?!” he shouted, gripping her hands and trying to pull them free, “You spared a Demon! Did you honestly think you could gain forgiveness from that?” Lynn fell to her knees, his shirt fabric still clenched tightly in her fists. .
“It was an accident,” the words were nearly unintelligible.
“Don’t lie to yourself.” The demon snarled, with a sudden fury he ripped her hands free from him, tossing her aside, “It was pity. I don’t want, or need, anyone’s pity. Let alone yours. Demons are demons for a reason, you had no right to spare my life. What is wrong with you?!” With one hard yank, he pulled her to her feet, his fingers white where he gripped her upper arm, “Do you even realize what you’ve done?”
“It was you’re eyes,” she whispered. Falling. . .falling. . . to fall was the worst punishment there was. You became weaker, became foolish. It was almost like becoming a human. She wouldn’t be able to communicate with the others anymore. . .wouldn’t be able to see their faces without shielding her face from their glory. “You seemed so. . .” it felt foolish now. Foolish and sinful, what she had done. She had spared one of the hellspawn. One of the creatures that had been trying to destroy the world since it had began. How was it possible that she had thought she’d seen remorse in his horrible bloodshot demon eyes? “I’m falling. . .” she whispered, but something didn’t make sense. . . “Why are you here? Are you offering yourself to me? Do you really want to die?”
He snorted, his face thick with disgust, “No, I don’t want to die, Angel. I just don’t want your pity binding me. Because now I have to do something incredibly distasteful.”
“What’s that?” Lynn hurriedly whipped her eyes, she hadn’t even realized she was crying in front of this monster.
“I have to help you keep your grace.”
***
Alaric. He’d been known by many names of course, but that was the one he remembered the most. Alaric, a Demon no one wanted around. Not that most people wanted demons around anyway. He hated his name. The humans called him Alex, and he preferred it. It was simple, mundane. Nobody expected to get their heart ripped out by Alex.
Though what people expected and what actually happened was usually very different.
The Angel was still trying to come to grips with what was happening to her. Alex scowled and turned away from the beautiful red-head. Her blue angel eyes were still wet, though she was trying desperately to stop the flood of tears. Typical of Angels, weak, unable to stop a show of weakness. That was the first lesson he’d learned, it had been beaten into him by his beastly brother.
The pain was finally receding, now that he stood next to the bloody bird girl. Her pity, her mercy that allowed him to retain his life, had formed a bond between the two. She’d spared him, so it was his “responsibility” to help her. Of course, the bond used torturous pain to pull the Demon back to his charge. If he even thought about leaving her, the pain rippled through his body.
“Are you just going to sit there all day?” he growled, the annoyance so thick in his voice he was surprised she could recognize any of the words.
“Sorry,” she muttered, she was still dazed, she probably didn’t even register that she had just apologized to her worst enemy. The silver in the white’s of her eyes flashed with sunlight as she lifted her head, gazing up at him. “Where are we going to go?”
Alex snorted, “I have no idea.”
“An Angel Sanctuary?” she whispered, thinking. Alex hissed softly through his teeth.
“If Angel’s were the only thing that could help you girl, a Demon wouldn’t be needed to bring your grace back.” It was true. Alex knew very little about an Angel’s grace or how they obtained and kept it. He didn’t believe in that heavenly god crap. There had to be some other source of power they used. And it had to be linked with his own, or the bond wouldn’t have been formed.
“Then we should just walk,” Lynn whispered, “And go wherever it leads us.” Alex scowled. But what else could they do? Maybe the Angel had better instincts about this then he did. He just wanted to get the annoying task over with as quickly as possible. Then he could kill the girl without feeling like his cells were being torn to shreds.
Alex cracked another smile, thinking about it. He would save her, then kill her, and maybe she would even go to hell. Seemed like a fun ride to him.
Lynn had her eyes closed, walking with a sure step that betrayed her otherworldliness. She was very beautiful, with her long red hair and angelic figure, but Alex had learned long ago not to judge from appearances. She had nearly killed him after all. He had just finished off her partner and hadn’t seen her until it was to late. And now he was here.
Alex swore. His frustration and anger building up until the word formed and fell through his lips. He hoped it would take a little of the annoyance and pain with it. Lynn stopped in her tracks, turned and slapped him.
“How dare you?” she hissed, Alex rubbed his jaw.
“Why not?”
“Do you not realize you are in the presence of. . .”
“A falling Angel?” he sneered. She turned away, and when she spoke her words were softer then they’d been before.
“I’m falling Alex,” she whispered, “Is it so wrong to try and avoid falling faster?”
“Do you think it will rub off on you?” he taunted, “Make you want to be more like me?”
”Just. . .don’t,” she sighed.
“I’ll try. I sure wouldn’t want to be damned myself.” She turned away, ignoring the comment; something Alex thought was a shame. He’d found the joke very funny.
Soon they were traveling through main street. The cars whizzed by, honking their horns erratically, some of the drivers screaming profanities that made Lynn flinch. The smell of fast food was heavy on the air along with the pungent smell of gasoline and body odor.
“Are you getting any epiphanies yet girl?”
“There has to be a way,” she murmured.
“Sure there is.”
“Do you have an idea?”
“Nope.”
Lynn scowled, “You’re no help at all.”
“Sure I am, my mere presence has kept off at least seven different attacks on you.”
Lynn jumped slightly, looking surprised, “What?”
“You’re a weakened Angel. Use your brain and do the math.”
“Demons were trailing me?”
“Anyone with fangs would love to get them sunk into that pretty neck of yours.”
“Wonderful.” Lynn buried her face in her hands for a moment, rubbing it wearily, “Just. . . wonderful.”
“Have you ever thought of just letting yourself fall? Just letting it happen?” Alex cocked his head, raising an eyebrow. Lynn frowned at him.
“Why would I do that? I want to be good. I want to be an Angel.”
“Do you? Do you really?” They locked eyes. Blood-shot green eyes locked on blue silver streaked ones.
“Yes,” Lynn said firmly, “I really do.” Alex smiled slightly, a small smile, like he knew something she didn’t.
“Then let’s get going,”
They continued on. Heading nowhere. Making no headway. Lynn was lost in thought, her brow scrunched in concentration. Alex wondered how hard she had to fight against the impulses to do wrong things. It was hard, thinking things that were contrary to what you’d been taught. He wondered how long she’d fare.
They’d been walking all day. The sun was setting behind the tall buildings and lighting them all to brilliant shades of orange and red. The city looked like it was on fire.
“Alaric.” the word trickled down Alex’s spine, chilling his bones. It was deep and penetrating, rumbling in the evening air. Alex felt his back stiffen and he turned toward the sound. At first, it was nothing but shadows. But as Alex watched, the shadows solidified, taking a form and mass. He was tall, broad shouldered and black haired. He didn’t look anything like Alex, who was fair haired, spiny and thin. But the two held an unmistakable resemblance in their blood-shot green eyes. The shadows fell around the newcomer like a cloak. Like protection.
“Gereic.” Alex whispered. Lynn turned her blue eyes to him, and recognized the tone of voice. Alex was afraid. No, more than afraid. He was petrified. More figures were pulling themselves from the shadows between the buildings. They were in an alleyway, hidden from the rest of the world. Alex tried to back into a wall, keep all of the enemies in He reached out a hand and gripped Lynn’s forearm, pulling her with him. “You can’t fight them,” he whispered to her, his voice tight, teeth on edge, “Especially without your weapon.”
Gereic smiled at the small demon, “Alaric, it has been too long.”
“Not long enough,” Alex responded grimly. Gereic laughed, his dark head thrown back and shaking with mirth. Alex grit his teeth, wishing he could spit at the man. Gereic took another step forward, Alex wanted to step back away from him, but his back was already to the wall.
“I have to wonder, why is the girl still alive?” Gereic shook his head in mock sorrow, “You’ve been with her all day.”
“Because I can’t kill her.” Alex growled, his eyes flickering to the other demons surrounding them. On a normal day, he wouldn’t have given them a second thought. They were low levels, barely more then cronies. But with Gereic here. . .
“Can’t you?” the greater demon murmured. Alex flinched. “I know your skills boy. You’ve been to the deepest pit, a little pain shouldn’t bother you.”
“I don’t do pain anymore,”
“Oh really?” Gereic laughed, “You don’t do pain? Are you a Demon or not boy? There’s no way for you not do have pain. Our entire existence is pain! Are you trying to repent? Trying to heal the wound from all those years ago? You think helping this. . . flying rodent will help you forgive yourself?” Lynn gripped Alex’s arm. He was grateful for the contact, though he would never admit it. “The easiest way to save her Alaric, is to kill her. You know this.”
“Shut up.”
“It won’t be hard.” Gereic’s voice turned smooth and persuasive.
“Leave him alone,” Lynn growled, “You’re evil words mean nothing here.”
“She can’t fall if she’s dead.”
“No,” Alex was shocked when the word broke through his lips. What was he doing? A trickle of blood flowed across his palm from where his nails had dug into the skin. His entire body was shaking. He locked eyes with the greater Demon, challenging him with his gaze, “No,” he repeated.
“Do you want her to heal you?” Gereic actually took a step back in surprise, “Do you really think what you feel is able to be healed by an Angel? You’re wounds go deeper then physical boy. Her kiss will do nothing for you.” Alex didn’t answer. He didn’t do anything, “The Kiss of an Angel would destroy you boy, no matter what healing properties it contains.”
“What do you mean?” It was Lynn who spoke. Her voice was strong, but Alex could hear the effort of maintaining that strength. Gereic turned to look at her for the first time. Her blue eyes glared into his green ones. Lynn raised her head proudly, expression defiant, eyes unblinking. They stared at each other for a moment, and Alex felt slightly proud of the girl. It was rare that someone could hold a greater demon’s gaze.
“The touch of an angel raises things,” Gereic said finally, his gaze still holding hers, “It you kissed him, he would raise above a demon.” Alex flinched back. “And I will not allow that to happen. Some part of him wants it, he wants to be free from the chains of Hell.” Gereic shifted his gaze back to Alex, who stared back defiantly, “But it won’t happen. Not to him. Not to my little brother.”
“Little brother?” Alex whispered, “Little brother? Since when have you been sentimental Gereic?” his voice burned with derision.
“Kill her,” Gereic commanded. ,
“No,”
“I wasn’t talking to you.” The demons behind their master snarled, then leapt forward. Lynn screamed, dropping to the ground and using both feet to knock one of the demons back. Alex leapt forward, his scythe appearing and elongating in his hand. He brought it around, slicing through one of the many black little monsters. They were like sludge, a mass of moving barely beasts, they had a vague human form, but were wavy, like the form wasn’t all there. Lynn came to her feet, shaking. Alex could read the expression on her face. She was defenseless, she needed a weapon.
Another demon rushed them. Alex leaped into the air, driving his feet into its face. It was like jumping into jello. The form held against his weight, but it gave slightly. Alex shoved it to the ground, his scythe slicing through the flesh easily. He spun, blocking the strike from on of the other creatures. A large sweep of the weapon knocked down three other opponents, sending them flying in different directions. Sickly green blood leaked from the black bodies. He glanced frantically back at Lynn, but she seemed to be holding her own.
The angel’s fist flashed through the air, shoving the demon’s nose into his brain. She spun and high kicked another one in the chest. She moved so fast, it was as if she flew through her moves. It wasn’t long before her fists were slick with the green blood of lesser demons.
Alex heard his name whispered, and he only had a second to whirl around before his brother stabbed at him. Their blades locked, and the greater demon smiled down at his brother. Alex wrenched his scythe free, whirled it and cut sideways. Gereic blocked it and shoved Alex down. He rolled as fast as he could, but his brother’s blade still sliced through the thin skin of his arm. Alex cried out, holding the limb to his chest, clutching his only weapon with the other.
“Alex!?” Lynn yelled, but he didn’t look at her. The greater demon advanced, and it was all he could do to keep his brother from ripping his flesh to tiny chunks of raw meat. He spun and ducked, trying to get to the offensive, but was always forced to defend himself. The singing blades rang through the alley, filling the night air with their cries. Gereic laughed, and Alex knew that he wasn’t even trying.
“I don’t want to kill you Alaric,” he said, Alex spun his blade and tried to slice off Gereic’s head, but the Demon easily avoided the blow, “I want to save you.”
“From what?!” Alex snarled, his arms and body shook, partly from fury, partly from exhaustion, “From an angel? Because she can do so much damage.”
Gereic’s eyes flashed dangerously, “She will take your. . .”
“Soul?” Alex barked out a laugh, “My soul is gone!” his scythe flashed, brought up before Gereic realized what he was doing. It sliced through the tender skin on the Greater Demon’s ear, causing him to cry out in pain. Gereic’s eyes began to burn, and Alex could see his small reflection staring back at him. His brother’s control finally broke, and he began to really attack. He moved so fast, Alex didn’t even see the blow coming. One moment they stood facing each other, Gereic’s ear bleeding slightly, his weapon gleaming in the faint light. The next second, Alex screamed in pain.
Gereic shoved his blade straight through his brother’s stomach. The sickening crunch of flesh and sinew being ripped apart snapped through the alleyway. Alex’s eyes widened in horror. Lynn cried out in horror, staring at the blood covered tip of the blade.
The one poking out of Alex’s back.
With deliberate slowness, Gereic twisted the blade; flexing his grip to extend the excess blades into either side. They shot out, snapping through his ribs and extending out of him like a cross. Someone screamed his name, but Alex could only feel pain, white hot and never ending. The blades retracted, and he fell to the ground.
***
Lynn screamed when Alex fell, nearly missing the blow that was aimed at her head. She ducked, feeling as it whizzed by her. She struck out, and he was knocked flying. She couldn’t seem to tear her eyes away from Alex’s motionless body. A thousand emotions ran through her. Demon’s were evil. It was a horrible act that she had spared one, but Alex had refused to kill her. Alex had saved her life. If he hadn’t been there, she would already be dead.
Lynn jumped into the air, using all the strength her angelic body could lend to her. She landed beside Alex’s body, crouched low as though she could protect him from the wounds that spilled blood all over the ground. Gereic laughed at her, drawing back his blade. Lynn narrowed her eyes, her teeth bared in a snarl. Pain ripped through her back, the muscles screaming as the bindings came loose after years of confinement. She stretched the muscles she’d been unable to use for years.
“No,” Gereic whispered in shock, taking a step back, “You’re too young,” Fifteen foot wings burst from her back. They slammed into Gereic’s chest, his eyes widening in surprise as he was knocked flying. Lynn’s arms wrapped around Alex, gathering him to her the best she could. His blood washed over her hands like a waterfall, sticking between her fingers and making her grip slippery and loose. She tightened it as best she could, then forced herself straight up and into the air. Her wings strove forth powerfully, bringing them height. Alex’s dead weight was dragging her down, but Lynn continued to force herself higher.
Her arms and back burned with the effort, her eyes streamed tears of pain that the wind snatched away. She flew for as long as she was physically able, until finally dropping to the ground in exhaustion. The demons were far behind them. She laid Alex down gently, lowering his head onto the floor carefully. He still bled, and if he’d been human, he would have been dead. Even by demon standards, it was a miracle he was still alive. Gereic hadn’t pierced his heart. Slashing through his middle section and missing the important organ entirely. Had it been on purpose? Even as he was driven to a rage, did he have compassion on his brother?
Could demons have compassion?
Sweat dripped down Lynn’s neck, dampening the back of her ruined shirt as she tried desperately to stop the flow of blood. Alex groaned and she touched his face. It was cold to her fingers.
“What. . .”
”Hush,” Lynn whispered, “You’re hurt.” Something caught in her throat, forcing her to look away from the boy’s face.
“Wonderful.” Even half dead, his voice held a fair amount of sarcasm. She lifted his head and set it in her lap, trying to figure out a way to make him more comfortable. He gasped, groaning in pain. Do you want her to heal you? Gereic’s voice whispered in the back of her mind. She didn’t understand what he’d been talking about at the time. Some wound, some feeling of remorse Alex had been feeling? He was a demon, could he feel remorse?
But she was an Angel. Her kiss had the power to heal, a gift from heaven. Could she heal him? Should she heal him? She was falling because she had spared him once, was it possible that there would be no hope for her at all if she spared him again? And what if the kiss destroyed him anyway? Was it worth the risk? Was it wrong to save a life, even if it was a demon’s?
She couldn’t think, couldn’t concentrate. Alex’s breath was becoming shorter, shallower. Lynn’s own breathing quickened in panic. He had saved her life. If he hadn’t been there, she would have died. Was it wrong? Would it kill him? Would she be doomed forever?
“Lynn?” his voice was quiet.
“Yes?” The word came out as a sob.
“Thank you.” His eyes closed, and a small smile played on his pain stricken face, “I never would have wanted to die anywhere near my brother.” Lynn’s heart throbbed, was it wrong? Her soft hands gently turned his face until he was looking at her. His eyes opened and he stared at her, realization dawning on his face, “No,” he whispered.
“I won’t let you die.”
“No!” But Lynn ignored him and gently pressed her lips to his. Alex was too weak to struggle, and Lynn wrapped her arms around his head, pressing him to her. She could feel the energy transferring, leaving her and seeping into the dying body of the Demon. She felt her grace really begin to slip from her, sending her down further and further. When he was healed, would she even be an Angel anymore? Alex lifted his hand, touching her cheek with the bloodied limb. It rested there for a moment, too weak to move, then the strength returned to him and he shoved her away. Lynn fell back, gasping. She felt heavy, weighed down like she’d gained a hundred pounds. Alex was on his feet, glaring down at her.
“What’s wrong with you!?” he shouted, and Lynn jumped at the unexpected noise, “I’m a demon!”
“You’re not like other demons,” she said, “You’re. . .”
“Just as evil as the rest of them! Why won’t you let me die?! Why can’t you act like an angel? Why do I have to be left with the only angel in the entire realm who wouldn’t kill me if she had the chance?”
“Why do you want to die?”
“I don’t!” Lynn came to her feet, striding toward him, she reached to touch his face, but he flinched back, “I’m a demon!” Lynn could see herself reflected clearly in his eyes. The vivid green eyes that haunted her nightmares. The reds seemed more swollen then usual, and something else. . . Lynn gently turned his face toward the light, and watched as the light reflected off tiny strands of silver.
“No,” she whispered, “You’re not.” Alex shoved her away. He leaped backwards, staring at his hands. He had seen his reflection in the Angel’s eyes. He had seen the change. He gripped his hair with both hands, looked up at her only once more, then fled.
She could never make him Rise.