The Seven Seraphim

Chapter TEN

The counter and drawers exploded next to Charde, and she used her body to cover Sam, bearing the blunt of it. Sarah stopped fighting and rushed to her side, not thinking or knowing that she couldn't heal her. Sam helped Sarah move her mom farther away from the fighting and made another makeshift barricade while Sarah tried desperately to heal her. After two minutes, Sam had an idea. 

"Sarah, I need you to listen very carefully." Sarah stopped crying and looked at her. "I need you to go get the med kit form across the room. I saw it on the other side of Jake and Cherry. Can you do that?" Sarah shook her head.

"Sam," she said, tears staining her eyes. "I's useless. I-I can't save her. She'll die of blood loss. I-"

"SARAH!" She yelled as she shook her friend. "I can save her. You can heal them, I can save humans. I'm a medical student. That's what I do. Now, go!" Sarah nodded and took off, her wings shining brightly with determination. Sam went to work quickly. She carefully took out the splinter in her mother's neck, used the bottom of her shirt as a bandage, and held it there until Sarah got back. 

When Sarah returned, she took the antiseptic, and poured it over the wound. Then, she took the butterfly stitches, and applied them. Lastly, she made her mother breathe, and the two rejoiced as Charde sat up, not coherent, but not dead. 

Jake's fury rose, and his wings made Cherry squint as he attacked again and again, determined to cut her down. Cherry had to put all her effort into staying alive, but knew she had achieved a small victory by hurting those he loved. She parried and blocked his blows, all the while remaining angry. It would do no good to be scared now. Apparently, Charde was smarter than she had thought. The twin was the equivalent of Cherry in every way. 

The battle raged on, EJ and LJ were so upset at themselves for not intercepting the fireball, that they cut down everything and anything around them. Their wings made a shield for Sarah and the humans. They were not going to turn back now. They would not let Charde get hurt. 

Mike, Jim, and Luke all worked together to slaughter the last of the cossacks and Stags. More had poured in after the initial attack, and Luke had found their entrance point. The three Seraphim stood there, side by side, cutting down everything that came against them. They didn't worry about any smaller ones that got past them, Sarah, EJ, and LJ would rip them apart. 

Jake parried and blocked with all his might, never taking his eyes off of Cherry. She was strong, but he was determined to make her pay for hurting him again. Jak was dead. And now Sam, and Charde might be too. Cherry had gotten lucky a few times, finding soft spots in his armor, but he stood strong. Nothing impaired his fury of attacks or his determination. Cherry was now bleeding from both shoulders, her sword arm, and was slowing. He smiled, and she looked nervous for a split second, not knowing why. 

The battle went on, the eight bystanders moving to avoid injury. Cherry and Jake fought in a loose circle, but made sure to do damage. Cuts decorated Cherry, and Jake's armor was full of nicks. Jake attacked with a slew of challenging and dangerous moves, kicking out and swinging harshly. Cherry placed a strong kick in the middle of his chest, and Jake fell backward. She then swung her sword, cutting a deep gash in his throat. He now had mere minutes. 

Sam yelled in horror and took Jake's sword. cherry easily sped around her amateur guard and stabbed her heart. The five male Seraphim immediately took her on all at once. She fell shortly. Jake, with his last bit of consciousness crawled to Sam and kissed her gently. Sarah kept trying to turn him over so she could get to his wound, but he pushed her away and focused on Sam. Sarah's plead faded into the background as he used his final hidden power. 

They all watched with surprised looks-except Charde, who knew of that power-as Sam's eyes turned to a blazing fire. Jake pulled Sarah's hand to Sam's heart and watched the woman he loved live again. As Sam gained consciousness, Jake gave her one last long kiss before dying. His bright blue eyes at peace as he lay next to her. 

Sam stood up quickly, feeling overheated. She felt like she could take on the world. "Jake!" She called out, and Luke pointed to the body on the floor. She dropped to her knees and held his lifeless head. "Jake! Please! Don't leave me! Jake! I need you, wake up!" EJ and LJ pulled her away and spun her into Charde's arms. She cried as she grew wings, and they turned a brilliant blue. She lost him. somewhere, in another life, she remembered hearing an old man explain the way humans bled out in seconds. 

He had saved her, and was unable to save himself. She turned to Sarah, who shook her head, hiding sadness. Sam stood in the middle of the circle of six Seraphim and one human, staring at the body of Jake. "He redeemed himself." Her mother said. 

"He had nothing to redeem himself of, mother." She explained. Her mother walked up to her and gave her a hug. 

"Sammy, Jake held a weight that nobody could bear. He should have turned chaotic, but he didn't. There were originally seven Seraphim. Cherry killed her troop. She was no longer a Seraphim. So, I made eight, to outnumber her. But she knew the problem with that, two would be identical. Seven to spread the power equally. Seven to keep the peace. There must always be seven Seraphim." 

Greif took Sam, and She sobbed uncontrollably. she fed her grief into anger, and the six watched, helpless, as her vibrant blue wings began to turn black.