After-Life

Chapter 40. Dark Omens

Kristoph and Mabel stared blankly at the space where the almighty's had disappeared. The very idea that they had allowed the mastermind of all the grief and turmoil they had been facing, to slip away in front of them was incomprehensible. Footsteps hurried up behind them as a pair of hands firmly twisted them around. Thet's eyes blazed with a fierce blue flame and his face was twisted in an array of emotions.
"Mab! Kris! Speak to me, are you both alright?" His voice sounded desperate.
"He got away," Kristoph finally managed, his chest aching with anger and regret.
Thet shook his head, "for now;" he assured them. "We will catch up with him, but he has left an almighty mess to clean up. The main thing is, you're both safe!"
Mabel swallowed hard, "Thet... we failed."
"No!" Thet snapped, "Neither of you have failed. It is we, the very deities you entrusted your souls with, who have failed you!"

The rest of the group slowly approached them. Eric's arms were slumped drunkenly over both Pete and Jésús's shoulders, while his legs dragged lazily behind him.
"Eric!" Mabel cried and hurried toward him. "Is he...?"
"No," Samael answered, grimly. "Your friends were noble, valiant, and loyal throughout. That said, I think we can all agree that Eric went above and beyond. Perhaps a little too far."
"Where's Asmodeus?" Kristoph asked suddenly, looking around. "Eric carried him, where is Asmodeus? He made a promise that Eric wouldn't come to any harm!"
"A promise, Kris," Lucifer smirked and folded his arms. "That he is working on keeping. I see your awful scar has healed..."
Kristoph looked down at the smooth skin of his wrist and his brow furrowed. "It must have been my powers."
"Really?" Lucifer asked, sarcastically. "Forgive me. You said your role as Adam reincarnate, was to protect; while Mab illustrated that she could restore those on the brink of death. I didn't realise you were on Death's door, Kris?"

Kristoph looked at Mabel who shook her head. Cautiously, she brushed away the strands of dark hair from Eric's face. His skin was getting warmer, but it was still clammy. She could hear his laboured breathing, his chest heaving and struggling under his black shirt.
"Oh Eric, what happened to you? Guys, I don't think I can heal him, right now;" Mabel confessed. "What I did back there, I don't think I have anything left as back up."
Samael chuckled softly, "Rest Miss Mabel. You projected a force of life across this expanse of land that has revitalised a lot of fallen comrades, you have allowed those who fought alongside us from Limbo, to ascend. You are, how would you humans say? Spent. I promise you; that Mr. Payne will be fine. We just need to get you all to safety. All will be made clear, let's just get you out of here."

Everything seemed to happen in a blur. Before she knew it, Mabel found herself back in the familiar surroundings of the tour bus that had been parked up in the basement carpark of the Hotel on International Drive, Florida. She was surrounded by the Dark Omens members. Adrian, now back in human form was excitedly writing his experiences down in lyrical form, his hand a mere blur as it scribbled across a note pad. Samael, Thet, and Lucifer sank leisurely on to the bus's couch that seemed to magically extend to allow for the other-worldly derrieres. Cain, Pete, and Eric collapsed, exhaustedly, around the table where Adrian was hastily scrawling away. Jésús walked to the back of the bus and flopped heavily on to his old bed, ignoring his claustrophobia, and started to snore softly within moments of his head hitting the pillow. Kristoph and Mabel, however, sank sleepily to the floor, still holding each other's hands, tightly.

"Cain?" Mabel asked, "what happened back there? What did we miss?"
"I think you need sleep, more than answers right now, Mab," Cain smiled softly, but Mabel shook her head.
"That's the problem, I want to sleep, but I need answers," she insisted. "Is the battle still ongoing? What on earth happened to Eric and Asmodeus?"
"Hush," Cain soothed gently. "Once you are all fully rested, we will tell you."
Somewhat reluctantly, Mabel and Kristoph stiffly rose from the ground staggered into the bunk room, and collapsed on one of the bunks, holding each other close.