Fallen

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

Raziel

She appeared so young and innocent curled up on her side, her dark hair a direct contrast to the white sheets of the bed. Sheets that were now being stained with her flowing blood. He had to act fast in order to save her. She was fading fast, he could feel it. He could see the aura surrounding her flickering, the light in it slowly leaving, the color fading bit by bit. Gently as possible, he rolled her to lie on her stomach. Pulling her dress down and away from her shoulders, he then pulled the top sheet up to cover her lower half. Once he had swept her hair up in a loose knot in order to keep it out of the way, he moved to the fireplace that was burning on the other side of the small room.

Everything in him was screaming. Screaming at him not to do this. Not to bring her this pain. But he knew that if he didn't do this that she would die. And he would rather cause her momentary pain if it caused her to live, rather than not hurt her and watch her die. He wouldn't allow that. She wouldn't die, not on his watch. He didn't know who she was or what she had done, but he somehow knew that she didn't deserve this, death wasn't her destiny.

With his mind made up and his will determined, he pulled the knife out of the burning coals. Without leaving room for hesitation, he made his way to her side. Bringing the knife to the first wound he laid it flat side down. The smell of burning flesh immediately flooded his senses, filling his nostrils. And then came the scream. It was filled to the brim with pain. With his free hand, he held her down, inhibiting her from moving. Once he was sure that the wound was properly sealed, he removed the knife. He stroked her head, his fingers making a path from her hairline to the crown of her head. Her raven hair felt as silky as it appeared. He savored the feel, gliding his fingers through that black silk until her scream had faded away and she was simply whimpering softly.

With great reluctance, he got up and retrieved the second knife.

"This has to be done," he told himself.

Getting it over with, he repeated his actions on the second wound. Another short scream escaped her mouth and he again tried to still her squirming. In the struggle clouded violet eyes snapped open and onto him. He got the feeling they were open and yet unseeing. At that his own eyes filled with tears. It killed him to see her in this great amount of pain. He didn't know her and yet something in him had made a connection with her. It was almost like he could feel her pain, feel every second that the burning knife was against her skin, effectively sealing the wound shut. He removed the knife and threw it to the floor, thankful that task was over. Once again Raziel soothingly stroked his fingers through her hair until her whimpers slowed.

Her face was contorted in pain, her brows drawn together in a grimace, dark lashes wet from the tears of pain she had shed. And those pale pink lips were pulled down in a frown. Seeing her like this moved him in a strange way that he had never felt before. Another stray tear made it's way down his cheek and he didn't bother to wipe it away. Sliding his hand down through her hair, he moved to cup her jaw. He stared at that face, trying to find a hint, anything that would tell him what was so special about this one small angel that gave her this much power over his emotions.

"Who are you?" He swept a thumb over her cheekbone and caught a tear in the process. But no answer came for she had faded back into that sleep world. And he was glad of it, he wanted her to escape the pain for as long as she could. Sighing he rose to his feet and moved to retrieve the bandages he had left lying on the table nearby. Slipping one hand underneath her to place it on her lower stomach, he lifted her torso off the bed slightly so he could maneuver the bandage properly. He wrapped it around and around, careful to avoid the newly cauterized wounds as well as her breasts until it covered the whole of her upper back. He tied off the bandage and began to slip her into one of his spare shirts. It nearly swallowed her petite frame, completely and efficiently covering the essential parts of her body.