Rose of Passion

Chapter 17; Betrayal

Blood flowed from Lycaon's mouth as he lay on his back, his flaring nostrils the only sign that he was still alive. Kate was let go and she fell over Lycaon, her fingers grazing over his wound, over his blood. Her whimpered and choked.

"Ly..." She sobbed, cradling his head in her lap, and whispered, "Ly, I love you." He made a sound in between a choke and a whimper, then went limp. "No, no, no...Ly, no, no-" Aesc grabbed her arm at the elbow and jerked her away from Lycaon. "No! Lycaon!"

"Ah, ah," Aesc whispered into her ear, holding the bloody blade to her throat. He spun her around, still gripping her arm, and she saw that he looked completely different. The mask had been lifted, revealing that he never was the man she thought. He was his father, The Father of Evil.

Kate trembled as the dagger was lowered, grazing across the flesh of her neck, her collarbone, her chest, to her shirt.

The King of Hell gazed down at her with hooded eyes. "Don't move, Kate." She gulped, and he grabbed the top of her t-shirt and began cutting.

Kate knew what he was going to do; it wouldn't have been the first time, but now it was public and he wasn't going to simply stop. Fresh tears fell over her cheeks as she began shaking her head.

"No," she whispered. "Stop-stop-"

Aesc held the blade close to her eye. "Ssh."

Kate shook her head in denial and called out for her last hope, whispering, "Faellan..."

Suddenly, the sound of wind filled the hall, but the air was left unstirred as the angel stepped up to Aesc and Kate, who let out a sigh of relief and started crying all over again but this time for joy.

"Aesc..." Faellan cooed, moving the king's hand away from Kate, who collapsed at the angel's feet and hugged his legs, sobbing against them. Faellan guided Kate behind him, his eyes never leaving Aesc. "What are you doing, Aesc?"

The king scoffed. "That sword at your side is pointless," he sneered arrogantly. "You would never kill, let alone hurt, me." But the demon say the angel's unwavering, hard expression, and thought twice. Aesc became overwhelmed. He unsheathed a sword from one of his henchmen and shoved her aside. "You, too! You both betray me - after everything!" he screamed. "All I've done ever done is try to do what would be considered morally correct! I did nothing but love her! I sided with the angels to bring down all of Hell's regime! And you'd both rather have me dead!" He cried out in anger and rushed Faellan.

The angel unsheathed his sword, making all demons cower except Aesc. Aesc raised his sword. Faellan grabbed his wrist and swiftly thrust his sword forward.

"We both love you," Faellan murmured. "I'm sorry you couldn't see it." Aesc collapsed, and Kate covered her face as Faellan dropped his bloody weapons next to his old friend. He bent down next to her, placing a hand on her back. "Don't worry. I made it quick on purpose. He felt very little, if any, pain. It's time to go home now."

Kate wrapped her arms around Faellan, sobbing into his shoulder and nodding. Sorrow etched into his face, Faellan took once last glance around: two demon bodies, a swarm of chaotic, evil, leaderless minds, and blood. Pools of blood.

The angel and girl disappeared.