Once Upon A Dream

Chapter 25 - Gone

Ch. 25

Everything went silent for Aesc. He did not hear the screaming around him as people ran away. A few crowded, and one phoned the police. But what could they do? She was gone. 

Gone. 

All his senses seemed to fail him as he physically went numb. His emotions, on the other hand, flip-flopped, did somersaults, and blew up. 

Aesc stared, shocked and incredulous, at the limp body. The red liquid pooling around her head, staining what had once been a perfect crown of orange satin. 

As he walked over to her body, he mentally willed Kate to get up. His mind screamed. Whoever said demons could not feel was a bastard in Aesc's eyes. He knelt down next to her, not caring for the blood. She was gone, just gone. 

Ravus saw the denial and pain in Aesc's blue eyes as his expression displayed shock. "Prince Aesc, return before more creatures-spiritual and earthly-end up like this. If the war is lost, this is all that will be left: death." 

But Aesc was smarter than Ravus expected. He knew the demon ways before than anyone or anything. His father was the Devil, after all. Aesc knew Ravus was a master manipulator and master assassin. She was a liar, told people what they wanted to hear. She told them they would enjoy life if this or that happened, and thus they wanted this or that to happen. They caved in. 

Aesc's eyes began smolder once more, and the smoldering grew until they gleamed with hatred and rage. A hatred and rage not fueled by greed and envy like his father's but of love and agony like the human's. 

Aesc spun around, snatched the gun out of Ravus' hands, and shot her point blank. She had been to stunned and surprised to react in time. Before she could even cry out, Ravus turned to nothing but dust that was carried away by the chilling night wind.

Aesc promised himself that when he returned to Hell, her soul would be the first thing he'd see. He would make sure she regretted killing-something hard to do unless the right strings are pulled. And Aesc knew exactly which strings to pull. 

Aesc heard running, pounding feet enter the hallway followed by a shriek. Danielle wandered closer, looking with dubiety. Lea screamed and sobbed harder than ever. Faellan could only stare as Lea clung to him. He put his free hand against the brick wall to steady himself. 

Suddenly, Lea darted forward. "Kate! Kate, I'm so sorry. Katie," she said between cries. Faellan stumbled forward to pull Lea away from the body. 

Danielle watched Aesc, Lea, and Faellan. They were torn apart; Aesc seemed to be almost literally he was in such a terrible state. He knelt next to the bleeding young flawed yet talented woman. A woman who could have had the perfect future. Instead, she chose to love a demon. 

~ 

Danielle had finally peeled them away when the police arrive. They had to get Lea to the cathedral where she would be safe before any other demons came in pursuit. There was no need for another death. Aesc, Danielle, Faellan, and Lea hurried towards the cathedral. Though the hurrying consisted more of stumbling and crying than hastened moves. 

Aesc's mind was elsewhere. So, was Faellan's and Lea's, but Aesc was so much further, so beyond. They were at least aware of their surroundings. Aesc was completely numb, tripping over his own feet every few steps. Danielle had to hold onto his arm and guide the shocked, silent prince. 

Aesc thought about how he was the Prince of Evil, not a Grim Reaper. Reapers were not (and are not) merciful beings-no matter where they took the soul (Hell, Heaven, Purgatory, it was all the same) or what conditions the soul was separated from the body. So, they would rather enjoy ripping Kate's life from the Prince's, especially from the Prince's. 

Not even Ravus had the power to take a soul from a Reaper-and it was debated for centuries who was more powerful, Aesc or Faellan, Of course, the answer depended on whose side you were on. Faellan had said Aesc once, but if you asked any of Ravus' henchmen, they would say the she-demon is the greatest, second to Satan. 

Aesc worried where her soul was taken to. Was his dear Kate good enough for Purgatory where she could wait until her soul was cleansed and it was her time for Heaven? Or would she go straight to Hell for loving a demon-and not just any demon? 

* You probably hate that ending for poor Kate. What can I say? My bad?? Anyways, I hope you enjoyed what's happened so far - it's not over yet!! The other Biblical quote that made me think of Kate and Aesc was John 1:5 (more so than Isaiah 40:7) so I had to make it into something for this story, of course! *