Fallen Ascension

Nephilim

I had attempted to nurse Payne to health. He had recovered to a point that was acceptable. He was however now declining again. I had no idea why either. I tried to think and realized that he hadn't had food or any kind of liquid in about three days; possibly more than that.
I walked over to him and looked at him. His lips were cracked and bleeding slightly as he frowned at me. He winced as the wounds that had started healing reopened.
Maybe he is human. I thought as I realized that I would have to get food and water for him. The possibility of running into the Archangel Michael was something I would have to risk. "You better not die while I'm gone," I mumbled as I headed out.
I gathered the necessary supplies and paid for the cart full of food and drink. I hadn't encountered the Archangel Michael and was positive that I wouldn't have a dreaded run in with him. I was still prepared for it though. I returned to the bus stop that would bring me to the closest section of the woods I was residing in. Something no longer felt right to me.
I glanced around at the people and surroundings. Nothing seemed out of place. I didn't ignore my intuition though and stepped away from the bus stop. I made my way into a dark alleyway and took flight after making sure the bus had arrived and left. I made my way to the decrepit building. I landed silently beside it and put the obscene amount of groceries down. I cautiously entered the building and saw the individual I had dreaded encountering.
The Archangel Michael had found Payne and had placed a damp, drugged cloth over Payne's nose and mouth. Payne was struggling even as he slowly slipped into a drugged sleep. I knew better than to strike Michael at that point. He was holding his sword as he stared at me. His wings unfurled slightly and I knew he had every intention of killing me. I decided that there was only one way to not die and keep Payne away from Michael. I would have to draw Michael away from Payne, snatch Payne and flee again.
"You do not seem afraid Demon," Michael commented as my old instincts returned.
"Possible stupidity," I stated with a chuckle. Michael studied me and then struck. I side stepped him, grabbed his wrist and rammed my other hand into his elbow. I heard it snap as I twisted his arm behind his back.
He had dropped his sword and one of his wings rammed into the corner of my jaw. I reeled back as blood spurted from my split lip.
"Michael, stop," I heard Gabriel's voice order as I felt Michael's sword press against my chest. I blinked back the dancing stars and looked at Gabriel. Michael had halted, his injured arm dangling by his side.
Michael snorted and glanced at Gabriel. "Why should I?" Michael asked Gabriel as I felt the sword slid slightly into my chest. I knew that he would slowly impale me to the wall as Gabriel relayed whatever message he was sent to tell Michael.
"I have a message directly from the Creators," Gabriel told Michael as my prediction began to become reality.
"What is it?" Michael questioned as the point of his sword pressed against my spine.
"You are not to kill the one you are to work with," Gabriel said. Michael blinked and looked at Gabriel.
"What?" Michael inquired, not removing his sword from my chest. I grit my teeth together and tapped the sword with my elongated nail. This was a bit difficult to ignore as the annoying pain continued to surge through my body.
"I am only the messenger. The Creators have told me to relay the message that you are to work with the Demon, not destroy him," Gabriel said with an apologetic smile. Michael studied me with irritation. I smiled, feeling my blood escape from my mouth. Michael scowled, reluctantly removed his sword and turned to face Gabriel. Only Gabriel had dismissed himself. I swayed slightly on my feet and studied the wound on my chest. I turned my attention to Michael.
"I'll admit, that actually stung," I mumbled as I poked at my healing wound. Michael mumbled something incomprehensible. I turned around and retrieved the groceries that had been left behind.
By the time I returned, Payne was awake and glaring suspiciously at Michael. He obviously didn't believe Michael, who was trying to convince him that he meant no harm. My bloodied chest, mouth and chin didn't help Michael. I put the groceries on the old counter and proceeded to give him something to eat and drink. He practically inhaled the food I made and downed the drinks. I had cleaned myself off and Michael had realized that he was the one who appeared to be the bad one.
"Just so you're aware, oh wonderful partner of mine, he doesn't know what he is. You can officially cross that off your line of questions," I told Michael.
"How did you discover that wonderful fact?" Michael asked. He then held up his hand. "Never mind, I do not wish to know," he said. I knew he had answered his own inquiry.
"If you're interested, he heals at an extremely rapid pace. Much like you," I informed him. Michael studied me, realized I wasn't lying and glanced at the sleeping human.
"He may be Nephilim then," Michael thought out loud. I looked at Michael over my shoulder, debating that possibility. I shrugged.
"He might be," I agreed. "Though it's obvious he doesn't know that," I sighed.
"What do you intend to do?" Michael questioned.
"You know as well as I do the only way a Nephilim who doesn't know what they are can only access their powers through extreme trauma," I reminded him.
"I will not allow that," Michael said.
"Too bad, if we don't do it someone else will," I stated. Michael fell silent. I knew he hated the fact that I was right.
"I will leave that to you," Michael sighed. "If he is not Nephilim though, I will make sure he does not die by your hand or on my watch," Michael told me, his gold eyes gleaming as he barely held his power at bay.
"Very well then," I agreed. Michael studied me and nodded once. Payne was still asleep in the morning when I tied him to the chair and gathered my tools.
He was waking up when I returned. He saw me lay my tools out before him and was instantly awake when he realized what I was going to do. I ran a finger over my tools, deciding on one and walled over to him as I picked the tool up. I would start small to see if the memories of my first session with him would be enough to activate his possible powers. Unfortunately it didn't seem to be.
I sighed and began my second session of torture. Michael was watching to make sure that Payne wouldn't die. Though I could tell he was highly perturbed by the fact he couldn't interfere. I returned to the table, cleaned off the tools I had used and grabbed my favorite tool. It had been the former Prince's dagger. I walked over to Payne to see his wounds were healing. I reached him and wondered just how to use the dagger without killing him. His side would more than likely be my best bet.
I slipped the dagger into his abdomen, missing the vital organs. There was surprise and then the classic replacement of surprise to anguish and an airy scream that escaped from him. He tried to free himself to remove the dagger from his gut. I slowly twisted the hilt of the dagger, causing it to split into a multitude of sharp, twisted and angled points.
Payne writhed as the points slowly tore his side to shreds. I finally stopped twisting the dagger. Simply because the points were now fully extended. Payne's head was down as cold sweat broke out on his skin and his breathing became ragged gasps for air.
"That is enough," Michael said.
"I have to bring the points back in and then I'll be able to remove the dagger," I told him. I should have realized that I was pushing his limits too far. I thought as I looked at Payne.
"Leave the dagger then. I told you that I will not let you kill him or have him die on my watch," Michael reminded me. I glanced at Michael and then Payne, who was struggling to remain conscious.
"I know you're just as curious as me," I said.
"I will not let you continue this," Michael commented. I studied him with a blank stare. Michael was unfazed. I released the hilt of my dagger and Michael waited until I stepped away from Payne. He nodded and then turned his attention to Payne, a small amount of worry flickering across his face. I waited until he found it to be required for the dagger to be removed. He reluctantly turned his attention to me. I walked over to Payne and wrapped my hand around the hilt of the dagger again. I knew that I would have to act quickly this time.
I twisted the hilt so the points would become one again. Payne couldn't even manage a whimper. Only a shuddering gasp escaped from him. I removed the dagger from his shredded side and watched as no Spiritual Energy swirled around the wound that was pouring blood. I went to the table and began the process of cleaning my dagger.
Michael was trying to stop the bleeding and soon realized it was pointless. He glared at me and returned his attention back to Payne. I put the dagger down and walked over to where Michael was.
"Let me," I said. Michael snorted and realized that I wasn't going to move.
"You would make it worse Demon," Michael stated angrily. I sighed and studied the dying Payne.
"At least allow me to try," I persisted. Michael studied me and reluctantly stepped aside. I knelt down in front of Payne and wondered if I had retained the Angelic ability to heal others. There was only one way to find out. I placed a bloodied hand on Payne's side and felt the familiar sensation of Angelic powers. I focused on them, even though they were giving me a horrible headache that was getting worse. Payne's wound began to slow in its bleeding and then eventually stop. I couldn't stand the headache any longer. It was more than a headache now. It was like I was being burned on the racks again. I removed my hand and stumbled away, knowing Michael was gazing at me with shock, a question that would eventually need to be answered would be spoken if I looked at him.
The burning sensation passed and I straightened myself and proceeded to clean my dagger, ignoring Michael's stare.
"Is he ready for more?" I asked Michael when my dagger was completely cleaned. Michael looked at Payne and reluctantly stepped aside after I selected another tool. Payne recognized the battery operated screwdriver and he struggled to free himself. I placed the screwdriver against his sternum.
"Sorry, I can't go easy on you anymore," I whispered and brought the screwdriver to life. The sound of his sternum breaking was instantaneous. He had no choice but to expose his chest more or his throat would be torn off. He had opened his mouth to scream, but no sound emerged. There was only the sound of the screwdriver chipping and breaking Payne's sternum.
I didn't stop pressing the screwdriver into his chest. That seemed to have the outcome both Michael and I were curious of. There was a change in the air. I felt myself flying backwards and hit the wall. I slumped to the floor and saw dots dancing in my vision.
Michael had been just as unprepared as I had been. He was slowly rising from the floor. Payne had freed himself from my restraints and had removed the screwdriver from his chest.
His purple eyes were gold and his Spiritual Energy had healed all of his wounds. Two wings had manifested on his back, gold in color as two swords appeared in his hands. Payne was studying me and I realized that I would have to fight Payne. Payne, who was Nephilim.
I prepared myself to fight and blinked when the Archangel Michael swiftly knocked Payne unconscious. "We are supposed to be working together," Michael reminded me as he caught Payne. He no longer had his wings or swords.
"I guess he is indeed Nephilim then," I said. "So, now what?" I asked as Michael placed Payne on the couch I had dragged here one day.
"Now we wait," Michael answered. I raised an eyebrow and sighed when I realized he was right. We would have to wait for Payne to regain consciousness.
"After that?" I pressed.
"I am unsure," Michael replied.