Feathers & Scythes (Angels & Grim Reapers BOOK III)

Chapter 13: The tree and the red winged Angel

                    

Ivan tried to open his eyes. Well, technically his eyelids were the only part he could move. As for the rest? Legs, arms, neck, wing joints, everything was crashed, broken and strangled. The Grim Reapers hadn't killed him, only tortured him to the point of wanting to be dead, courtesy of Death of course.

But Ivan was not going to die so easily. He knew Death couldn't kill him; that would destroy the Balance more. Only a Demon or an Angel could kill him. In his case the pair with which he had unfinished business.

Anastasia was so close to his grasp. In a sick, twisted manner his mind had connected her existence to the one of Auge's the Angel he desired all these years, yet he lost her because of Marco.

Always the Demon, he thought bitterly and urged his powers to heal his broken body. Where he had fallen, Ivan didn't care and didn't know. Soon, he would ascend again to the skies and catch the half Angel. Machias wanted her alive. He never mentioned unharmed. And what would be better than having Marco watching him as his scythe would cut her skin, driving the girl crazy from pain?

Ivan licked his lips in anticipation and tried to open his eyes again. The dark sky welcomed him. As he tried to move his head he saw that he had fallen into a forest.

A burnt one.

"Perfect." He cursed and tried to work his fingers, then move slowly his feet. Everything screamed in pain. Ivan tuned out the emotion and pushed his back from the hard ground. As he sat up the joints of his wings cracked, a disgusting sound as the wing popped back into the socket of his back, between his shoulder blades.

Ivan smirked and pushed himself up, trying to stand.

"Just like a baby."

Ivan turned abruptly, trying to sense the source of the voice. He knew it was a man's.

"Don't try to hide, I'll find you." Ivan sneered and summoned his scythe. The green hue shined into the night, illuminating the burnt trunks.

"Hiding? Who said I was?" the voice sounded again and this time Ivan stilled.

He knew that voice. He had the privilege to hear it 5000 years ago, when Gabriel fought him.

In the middle of a forest.

After the mating ritual of the Angels.

And Auge was there. How all his thoughts could end to her, he couldn't understand; and loathed himself for it.

Something hard pressed on his back and hot liquid burnt his skin. Ivan roared from pain and fell down, his head smacking at the cold soil. The sick scent of burnt flesh and feathers made his want to puke. A hand suddenly grabbed his scalp and lifted his head from the ground.

Ivan came face to face with the red irises; eyes with slits instead of pupils. The man's face was angular with a strong jaw and pale skin. Lush lips, lips that any woman would die only to kiss, were curled up into a sardonic smile, revealing two pointy fangs that even vampires would burn to possess. Raven black hair were cascading down his shoulders, emitting a thick black aura, which made Ivan wince.

"Of course you don't need introductions." Lucifer said and hit Ivan's head down like a basket ball.

Ivan groaned but made no other sound as new blood started to fall on his face. Lucifer got up and took a step back, allowing Ivan to crouch on his knees and stare back at him. "Why...why are you here?" he dared to speak.

"Why do you think asshole? The Balance has been so disturbed that the curse He had placed upon me has broken." Lucifer pulled a cigarette and lit it. The smoke was red and smelled of blood. Ivan didn't want to know from what it was made off.