Our First Fall (Melizabeth)

2. Healing Hearts

Elizabeth POV:

My heart still raced, not from the close call with Ludociel's attack, but from finding a kindred soul. Someone with the same goal...

He wanted to end the war!

A bubble of relief welled inside, washing me clean of the nagging loneliness which had been a constant companion of mine for so long. Someone heard me and, more than that, agreed! How many circles had I talked myself into with Ludociel and the others? With every Goddess that would listen, to all the fighters, supporters, and to the council themselves and none of them expressed wanting to end this pointless fight.

A demon... my ally is a demon. It still rattled me to my core.

The war waged on. Screams were cut short and metal on metal rang through the air. Creatures of the woods had long abandoned this place. The designated war ground for the head-on battle royale. Countless challenges had been set and matched here, to the point where anything alive in these woods had long since abandoned their home.

With a few adjustments to my flying course, I found a tree with a branch to step on, holding on to another as I tried to see the fighting. The demon had told me to leave; so had Ludociel, but this was something I had to do... The only thing I could do.

I revived the fallen, those so close to death neither side bothered with their tattered bodies. The Goddess clan seemed to exhaust all their energy in the battle, they must not have enough to heal those they felt were too far gone, and the demons seemed to only cart back the ones they knew would survive the wounds. If all I can do is undo a fraction of the damage done, then that will be my burden.

The sun set and the air chilled; wind blew at my long silver locks and dress. Tears streamed down my cheeks as the cries died down to low grunts and exhausted final efforts. I didn't bother trying to wipe them away; they would last as long as the fighting did. The end was nigh. Worry plagued me, for both sides, although more heavily for the people I knew. It was only natural, but guilt settled in as if a twisted thorn jabbed at my insides.

Was that demon a leader? He was the one at the helm of his ambush party. Was his hair always that messy? At least he wore clothes, unlike that lady demon in his party. His demon tendrils had covered some of his skin though, so perhaps that black sleeveless vest was not true fabric. I shook my head, trying to expel the thoughts.

He probably wouldn't even show up. If I was him, or if he had told me a location, I would think it was a trap. Or just scope it out from a distance and never actually go. I cursed myself. Heaven's theater had been a neutral zone when there had been peace among the clans, and it had long since been abandoned. It was my safe place, where I could escape from all the failed expectations of my people. Now I'd always think of him when I go there seeking a reprieve.

My mind blanks as the battle draws my attention.

Was that him? A mass of dark crashed over the tree line with a huge ark and the explosion blew the leaves back from the trees. I held on, sticks and debris from the forest kicked up and assaulted me. Instinctively I shielded my face. With a hit like that he wouldn't escape unscathed. I found myself moving toward the chaos. Bystander death wasn't unheard of, although drastically reduced now that the fights raged here.

Villages on both sides were no longer decimated from the ambushes and attacks. It's like we found ways to kill each other more honorably while ignoring the fact that killing could never be. I would never understand how it came so easy to hurt another. Just the thought made me ache.

I found him among the fighting bodies, flying after the Goddess warriors with lightning speed deflections. Why didn't anyone get close to him? Were they all afraid? He didn't seem to attack, just deflect whatever was thrown at him... just like that move he did with that Ark.