Darksiders: Falling to Grace

Chapter V

"Okay darling, I need you to get these nesseceties for me." Kikyo said handing Strife a slip of paper with herbs written on it.

"And who are you to command me?"

Kikyo looked up from the black book and glared at him.

"I'm going, I'm going." He laughed and headed out the back door, rushing to the garden.

"One, roses. Colours, crismon and light pink. Two- oh this is fucking ridiculous." He said and plucked a few, newly blossomed roses from the bushes. He didn't understand why these were a nessecity but if it were to help Ayil, then by all means he'd get the required materials. He got the last remaining ingredients, which were Rosemary, Gardenias, Carnations, and Eucalyptus.

"I got the-Kikyo?" Strife called as he set the required things on the counter and crumpled the sheet of paper. The lights were off and Kikyo was nowhere, but her scent still lingered by the front door. "Damn it. Now where the hell did you go?"

"Well damn. Can I not go anywhere?" Kikyo stated and came in through the door setting down a basket of things. "I'm an adult."

"Then where the hell you'd you go?"

"That's for me to know, and you to never find out." She laughed and opened the basket. "Now, I need to do something, so you take Grief and go somewhere else. And yes, this is a demand."

Strife sighed and with it came eye rolling followed by mumbling. "Fine. When do I return?"

"I don't know, but I'll send my signature light to get you. Okay?"

Strife chuckled remember how she sent it the first day he heard from her since Eden. He hadn't seen her for close to three decades. "Okay."

And so, Strife did what Kikyo wanted him to do. He mounted Grief and wandered her realm, actually getting good looks at the scenery. He ventured father from her home than he'd ever gone. It seemed that the realm was falling apart from the seams. As he got father, the sky turned an awful grey and you couldn't make out any figure beyond the thick fog. What you could see, where no visible stars, dead trees and cracked earth.

Kikyo took the basket of things, the fresh herbs from the counter and the two healing books up to her room. She turned the Gardinias, Carnations and Eucalyptus into incense. Then she plucked each rose free of their petals and stored them in a jar.

She focused on her altar, she had a bowl of water and one without, some salt, a match and sage leaves. She pulled out some candles and lit the wicks.

"Up through my roots, down through my wings, into my core, energy sings. Through mind gone still, through words that dance. Descend upon me, sacred trance." She whispered. "Let all impediments to grace, now be banished from this place."

Kikyo took the salt and tossed it in the bowl of water, "salted water," she lit the sage leaves and put them in the empty bowl. "Smoke of sage. Cast out all trace of doubt, fear, and rage." She breathed in the fumes of the incense and the sage. She smiled and sat on the edge of her bed.

"Perfect." Kikyo stated.

***

Ayil stared at the inscription, her so called 'wonderful' sister made it especially for her. Emmanuel made sure to make it special. She read the scription aloud. "The best thing about having a sister, was that I always had a friend." She could still hear Emmanuel's voice each time she read it. She sighed and let a single tear roll down her cheek.

She's the only thing that mattered. And now, she's gone. She thought long and hard about her sisters whereabouts. She didn't know if Emm's punishment was to be a human, or a demon. Much less her severe crimes against the Silver City. All she knew was that her sister found comfort within the dark, as she had long after, but not like Emm. Her head began to ache again as the thought of her downfall appeared fresh in her mind.

She tried to think about something else but found it rather hard to. None of it makes sense. She kept telling herself. Before her knees began to feel like they were on fire Ayil screamed and it echoed throughout the house, that cleared her thoughts.

It wasn't that she couldn't think about her past, but the memories that came with it. Emm and her just laughing day to day and they'd make fun of Azrael. And on some occasions, they would trick Michael for some reason, then later would "get away" with it because he'd find it funny. Afterwards, Michael would tell them that they had some form of training to complete. But that was back in the good times. Before her sister grew dark. It was a vague memory, and she never knew why.

"I'm just a fucking screw up I guess." She grabbed her good wing and stroked it lightly. The white tips began to turn grey, but she hadn't notice. She didn't even realise that her eyes had turned their new violet colour.

The door opened and revealed Death. Ayil scoffed and shut her eyes, quickly tossing her head away. He'd seen only a glimse of the bluish gold glow that settled and sat in a chair opposite of the sofa.

"How does your wing feel?" The pale rider questioned. He rested his chin on his knuckles.

"Fine." Her eyes remained closed. "When's Fury gonna be back from her hunt or whatever?" She motioned a roll with her left hand.

Death shrugged, "it all depends on the mission. But listen, we're only trying to help-"

"So far it's really only been Fury, okay. I think it'd be best if you just left." Ayil snapped and adjusted her necklace out of sight.

Death said nothing, absolutely nothing. No comeback, no sigh, it was weird-no, it was plum creepy. But, he broke that by slamming the front door and almost seemed like he tried to break it off the hinges.

She heard Despair's signature nay and the sound of his hooves galloping against the earth. Why would he even care about helping me, Heaven knows that if Fury didn't say anything, hed've killed me on the spot. She sighed and slowly opened her eyes. Ayil stood up and wandered out the back where she sat on the oak swing to admire the view.

"Astounding." She awed as the ranging flowers swayed along with the forever high trees and the cry of the water ran through her ears. She thought that she'd actually be able to get used to it all. And soon, she'd be training with one of the most powerful beings in all of creation.

Come sunset, Ayil heard an unfamiliar nay. A white mare with a lavender mane stopped just shy of the house and off came someone familiar, Fury. Her claws were bloody and still had her whip out. She had bite marks on her shoulder and forearm. Scratches were appearing on her neck.

"What happened?"

"Well, come to find out, it was a fucking flock of demons. The damn things jumped me and tried to tear out my throat." Fury sheathed her whip and Torment vanished. "But, what did Death want? That was him. Right?"

"Yeah, but nothing, I thought that he would've stopped by. I guess he changed his mind." Ayil lied. Fury was skeptical but decided against it. She joined the angel on the porch and stared at her claws.

"How ya feeling?"

Ayil smiled, "good."

"Ready to train?"

Ayil nodded and looked back out at the scenery. "Sooner, than later. Maybe tomorrow would be good."

"Great." Fury laughed and closed her eyes trying to relax as best she could. The rider whistled for her phantom steed and along came Torment. She waltzed up the steps and laid at Fury's feet.

They sat there just like the night before. The two said nothing and just listened to the wind. It was gentle on Ayil's broken wing.