Shadowed Light

Trapped

"We need to leave." Toby said after five tense minutes of silence.
Clara's head snapped up. "What? We can't just leave."
"Yes, we can." He said with finality in his voice. "I'm not letting you go anywhere near Nathaniel when you're not ready. You need time."
"We don't have time!" Clara yelled, now on the verge of tears. "Those people are trapped because of me, in danger because of me. You cannot just expect me to run the minute it gets tough. You don't want to see me hurt, I understand, but running is in no way an option. This is my decision and I say I don't run. As for you three-"
"Don't you dare finish that sentence." Toby snapped. "Like hell I'm leaving you here. You want to stay, fine, but I'm staying too."
Clara opened her mouth to speak, but no words would come out. She'd never felt this way before. So sure that she'd have someone there for her, always. Of course she had her parents and Emily, but that was a different sort of security. Toby would literally descend to hell and back just so she was safe. That sort of love was something very special and unique, because Clara did love him. It sounded foolish considering they've only known each other for a short period of time, but how could you not love the man who would go to hell and back for you?
Toby stepped closer to her and took her hand. "I'm here, always. Remember that."
Clara nodded and Toby pressed his lips to hers. It was a sweet kiss, nothing like the wild one in the Devils home. Although it was still passionate, it was also filled with love and hope.
When they broke apart, Clara leaned her head on his chest and listened to his fake beating heart.
"We're staying too." Zoe said, gripping Adams hand.
Clara looked up and smiled. She was glad that they both had someone through this. Someone to hold before the unimaginable happened.
"Are you sure?" Toby asked, one arm around Clara's waist.
Zoe scoffed. "Like I'd miss the chance of a good fight. Besides, while you and Clara are off kicking immortal butt, someone needs to help get everyone out to safety."
"Zoe's right." Adam stared, wrapping his own arm around Zoe's waist and placing his chin on her head. Zoe scrunched her nose and batted his hand away, causing them all to laugh.
"So," Adam said once he was done laughing. "How are we going to do this?"
Clara took a shaky breath and looked up at Toby. "I think I have an idea."

Tina ran to the man's side. The man who Nathaniel had just stabbed in the shoulder for not having answers about the Saviour. The poor man looked around his late twenties and had stood no match against the all powerful Nathaniel. It seemed this Saviour could though, considering the great lengths Nathaniel was going to find her.
Blood gushed from the wound as Tina ripped off half her trouser leg in one swift motion-something she'd been taught in training-and pressed it to the mans shoulder to help stop the bleeding. The man let out laboured breaths, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
"Your going to be fine," Tina soothed. She was soaked in his blood now, so much so that she knew he wouldn't survive the next few minutes.
The man put a trembling hand on Tina's own. "Does this mean I get to see my family? My-my little girl Gracie?"
Tina felt tears begin to slip from her eyes. "Tell me about her. Your Gracie."
The man closed his eyes briefly and took a shuddering breath. "She was so beautiful, l-like her mother. I-I died in the war when she was two. It's been so many years now that I know she must have passed to heaven w-with my wife. I can't wait to see them both."
Tina smiled. "I'm sure they can't wait to see you either. What's your name?"
"Jack."
"You are very brave, Jack." Tina said, she looked down at him black clothes, telling her he was a warrior like Zoe and Toby. "Your bravery these years will not go unnoticed."
Jack smiled, a drizzle of blood leaking from the corner of his mouth. Tina watched as the life slowly left his eyes, then gently brushed her fingertips over them, letting him rest. She'd lied. Jack had been stabbed with Nathaniel's sword, meaning he was now a lost soul, wondering around for the rest of eternity. Never getting to see his little girl again.
Tina felt rage burn through her entire body. She jumped to her feet and turned around to where Nathaniel had gone to torment a young girl not even fifteen years old. Tina had never been a very violent person, not even as a woman living in the early 1900's, being restricted and looked down upon. Zoe had always been the one to snap at ogling men and give a piece of her mind to whispering women. Tina had always stayed back and let it happen. Well not this time. Not now.
"Leave her alone!" Tina shouted, whipping out the short sword which had been sticking out of Jack's pocket. The blade felt heavy and unfamiliar in her hand.
Nathaniel turned to her. The corner of his mouth lifted into a malicious grin when he realised who had spoken and forgot about the young girl all together. His strange golden eyes bored into Tina's soul hungrily as he took a few calculated steps towards her.
Tina would be afraid, what with hearing so many stories of the great Nathaniel the Creator, had she not just witnessed the death of a man who would never again see his daughter. Tina remembered what it felt like to know she would never get to see her parents again, never be able to get married and have children of her own. The reason she wouldn't see her family again was because of him. Because he enjoyed playing games with people's emotions and chose her against her will and forced her and hundreds of others to live between the two afterworlds, their souls never able to pass on. Trapped and with no escape.
The sword in her hand shook violently as she stared the man worse than the devil and greater than the Lord in the eye. He could most likely smell her fear and feel her hatred.
"Well aren't you sweet." Nathaniel drawled, looking at the sword once before grabbing its blade. Red blood welled around the blade where it cut deeply into his palm and Tina gasped at the sight. With no other warning, Nathaniel bent the blade backwards until it snapped. He dropped it at the same time Tina dropped her own half, her eye wide in shock. Nathaniel laughed, looking down at her grey clothes. "Your a healer, I see." He takes in her shocked expression to the amount of blood seeping out of his palm. "No wonder you seem so shocked. You just can't help yourself, first sight of blood and all you want to do is help." He sneered. "How pathetic."
Tina let a nervous laugh escape her lips. "Pathetic? Caring about other people is not pathetic. The only pathetic one is you who doesn't have the capability to care. You bring people here against their will and force them into fighting with demons, negotiating with angels with the risk of injury or being cursed. You call yourself great, the creator, when all you are is a lonely monster."
Nathaniel's face twisted into pure fury. His golden eyes began to glow with power and he bared his crystal white teeth like an animal. "How dare you. I should teach you a lesson of how to speak to people properly."
Tina laughed sharply, her eyes filling with tears. "You are no person. You are a monster wearing a mask and playing a role."
There was suddenly a sharp pain in Tina's chest, so agonisingly painful that all she could see was red. The pain increased as something sharp and cold was pulled away, bringing with it a sickening wet sound. Tina couldn't even gasp it hurt so bad. She felt her legs crumple beneath her then the cold stone floor beneath her face. She knew she should be afraid, but wasn't. She was free, finally free. She just wished Zoe had been there with her.
Tina closed her eyes and thought of her family and her freedom, letting the darkness consume her one last time.