After-Life

Chapter 37. Nemesis

Mabel opened her eyes, blearily. The light from the hospital room burned at her retinas, and the heat that surrounded her was almost unbearable. Was the place on fire?

Sounds of screaming and tortured cries of agony sliced at her ears. The scent of sterile hospital and sulphur insulted her nose, and she wanted nothing more than to pull the sheets over her head and hide away from the mess that surrounded her.
"YOU WILL NOT TOUCH HER!" Thet's voice yelled in an unfamiliar strained tone. He was in pain, in agony.
No. Mabel thought to herself. Not Thet, not my beautiful friend.
"STAY AWAY FROM HERR GREYSON, YOU LIAR!" Screamed Helga, powerfully; "BO! ATTACK!"
"VIKINGR! AROO!" Further chants echoed around her head and the sound of wooden shields being clattered, thundered by her head.
"I just want peace," she heard Kristoph murmur sleepily beside her. "Gerroff, don't touch me!" He snapped.
Mabel felt a sudden movement, as though Kristoph had just swatted a fly. The distinctive sound of a slap echoed across the room and a stunned cry of astonishment, followed by; "I'M BURNING!" caused Mabel to force herself to sit upright.

The sight that slowly came into focus was one of surreal chaos! Thet was slumped weakly by the main doorway to the room, cradling Lilith's prone body, his hands coated in a dark pool of blood which stemmed from the wound in her chest that he was desperately applying pressure to.
Helga and the gang of children were nothing more than orbs of light, whirling madly around the room, screaming, and screeching at Gestas and Nemesis, who were both desperately trying to lunge toward her; their attempts being thwarted by, what Mabel could only presume were Saxon and Viking muscular, phantom arms, throwing them around the room. Azrael, meanwhile, was staring flabbergasted at his own arm, which was blistering and burning before his eyes.

Seeing the angel looking murderously at Kristoph and hearing Thet's tortured pleas to Lilith to stay with him, caused Mabel to burn with fury. She turned to face the two foes reaching out toward her. Nemesis, her silver blonde hair, plaited back tightly, jet black eyes cold and venomous; sneered maliciously and swiped at an orb, sending it careening into the wall. With a faint groan, Helga's spiritual form slumped down to the ground, dazed. At the sight of the fallen child, Nemesis cackled with triumph.
"HA!" She cried out, ecstatic.
With a deranged look on her face, Lilith's daughter pointed a taloned finger at the child; "don't think for one second that a Demonic spawn can't make contact with a pathetic, lousy orb! You are nothing more, than a worthless waste of air-born ener..."
Nemesis's insult was cut off as a blast of light sliced through the air. Spatters of black blood splashed against the wall, and all fell deathly silent.

Nemesis looked down at where her outstretched arm had been and where it now fell, on the floor, rolling toward her mother's leg. Mabel slowly turned to glance at where the source of light had stemmed from and was gobsmacked to see Kristoph, standing tall, shaking with pure, unrivalled rage.
"Take another step toward the child, Nemesis, and it will be more than just your arm that will be rolling on the ground," he snarled.
Mabel gaped. Kristoph's voice had a calmness to it, but it was evident he was anything but. His hands were glowing. Asmodeus's branded scar on his wrist was burning away before her very eyes. His golden flecked hair shimmered, and he stood with a confidence and certainty she'd never seen him portray before. He looked every bit the protective hero she'd read about in the Grecian legends. He stood as tall as Eric, how had she never appreciated this gentle giant's height before?

"NO!" Azrael's whiney protest shattered the stunned quiet, in the room. "Father granted the male human powers, and bestowed nothing to me?" With a sudden burst of volatility, the angel lunged toward Kristoph.
"AZ! YOU IDIOT!" Yelled Gestas, "DON'T..."
There was an almighty burst of light, fire and a blood curdling scream as Azrael was vaporized into ethereal dust.
Kristoph, slowly panned around and looked down in shock at Mabel who was kneeling on the bed, staring in wonder at her outstretched hands.
"Well... that was different," she croaked.
Lilith coughed as she chuckled weakly in her son's arms, "You thought that the Almighty would let you both face this bunch of otherworldly beings, without giving you some powers for self-defense?"
Soundlessly, Kristoph mouthed 'the Almighty?' to Mabel, who shook her head in disbelief. How? When had that happened?
"Nemesis, Gestas..." Thet's voice was hoarse; "please, cease this madness. You cannot win. Even as I speak, mother has convinced the rest of the angelic host to charge against the usurper. Your fight here, is lost. Surrender! Sister," he pleaded to Nemesis. "Mother is injured! Help us, please!"