War of Hearts

21 - Ashes and fire

When Elizabeth stepped out of the darkness of the alley, Michael could see what his ears were telling him already. She was limping. Her ponytail was ragged, loose hair falling over her features that contorted with effort. On her feet were only socks and her eyes were soaked with tears. Michael ran over to her, careful not to tread on her feet with his heavy boots.

Elizabeth's tank top was stained with blood and gashed in several places. Red hot tears ran down her face.

Peter and La walked closer to Michael and Elizabeth. Michael cupped Elizabeth's face with his hands. "Eli, are you alright?"

"Angel Water and Angel Fire died," Elizabeth said and Michael hands dropped from Elizabeth's face.

Peter stared at Elizabeth in horror.

Grief came in waves and threatened to consume Peter and Michael entirely.

Michael backed away from Elizabeth. The emptiness in his heart, the numbness pounding his brain, the salty tears that flowed unchecked from his eyes, the shear nothingness that now took hold of his soul threatened to engulf him entirely. His legs buckled, knees sinking into the sodden earth.

Peter's heart was as barren as the moors on a desolate winter morn. He hugged his brother and wept. Elizabeth wiped the tears falling down from her eyes and knelt, fixing her gaze on Michael. "Mic, we have to go now. The blood drinkers are almost in the palace. Alexander and Cedric won't survive that long."

"We've got the mermaid," Michael said, his gaze moving toward La, who was standing away from them. "Atlas and Basilia have got the werewolf, they on their way to the Capital."

"Did you have any message from Ever? Peter asked.

Elizabeth shook her head. "I fear whether they are in terrible danger."

"Joseph and the others?"

"They are on their way."

"Were their mission successful?" Michael asked, standing up.

Elizabeth bit her lower lip and answered, "There aren't any common angels left. The only ones are us who are in the capital."

* * *

The nausea swirled unrestrained in Ever's empty stomach. Her head swam with half-formed regrets. Her heart felt as if her blood had become tar as it struggled to keep a steady beat. She sat up on the tiled floor of the temple. Her heart ached. The heartache was like a red hot coal placed in her chest, it glowed and burnt her at the same time, but it did not cool quickly like a coal in water, it throbbed and tortured her. What has Roop done to me? Ever thought and stood up, weakly.

Limp extremities creaked and cracked under the pressure of her body. Ever's lifeless body walked out of the temple with grotesque difficulty as she neared the gate of life. She cried out for help, just for a sign someone was there for her, but the whimper was slowly lost in the thinning air. Streaming tears cleansed her red cheeks. She was in pain. When she passed out in the temple she saw a vision in the darkness. Her mother was dead. Julian was dead. Elizabeth was dead. Amota and Cael were soaked with blood. All she saw were ashes and fire.

As Ever cried her bottom lip quivered, the same as a baby pushed past endurance. Her eyes became glacier blue under the sheen of water, constant, yet allowing the tears to flow without pause. In that moment, she saw Cael among the blood drinkers and Mauros (The protectors of Azera). A smile of happiness escaped her lips. What she saw was a delusion, she filled with happiness. She stretched her wings into the air and she flew toward Cael.

Cael forgot he was battling with the deadliest creatures on Angelic, the fire around him disappeared, he looked up at the sky, he saw his Ever coming toward him. Ever held out her hands and created an air ball around her. She landed in front of Cael and Cael stepped into the air ball. The blood drinkers and Mauros tried to break the air ball but they failed, even though they failed to break it they continued beating the air ball with all their might.

Caels eyes were gazing into Ever's. Ever was staring back at his fire red eyes that glimmered like the stars in the sky. He leaned forward; his arms moved around Evers waist and pulled her closer to him. His lips touched hers. They moved together like two dancers sashaying through a melody. His lips were delicate and warm. Ever's were crusty and chapped but she doesn't seem to care because in the moment she felt as if she's floating in space and everything around her has turned to dust. Epiphany and elation percolated into their veins and soon the entire system as he continued to press his lips more impenetrably and rougher onto Ever's lips. His insistent was parting her trembling lips, sending wild tremors along her nerves; inflicting sensations she had never known she was capable of feeling. The kiss was getting deeper, deeper than all galaxies in the world. As she kissed she saw Julian staring at them. He was standing in the edge of forest. She noticed tears in his beautiful eyes.

Sadness flowed through her veins and deadened her mind. It was a poison to a spirit, dulling her killing off her other emotions until it was the only one that remained. It was as if a black mist had settled upon her and refused to shift, and no matter how bright the day was she would feel no sun and hear no bird song. She stopped the kiss and pulled herself away from Cael.

"What happened, darling? Cael asked and noticed her gaze was fixed on Julian.

Ever's eyes radiated a wave of fear when she noticed Mauros were racing toward Julian. Ever turned to face Cael. She entwined her fingers with Cael's and whispered, "Think of the best thing that has ever happened to you."

Ever closed her eyes and Cael smiled. "What are you thinking about?"

"You," she said without opening her eyes.

He smiled with happiness and closed his eyes.

Ever had a picture of Cael Angelo Fire in her mind, tousled blonde hair, fire red eyes, comfortable warmth, smell of sandalwood, warm lips, delicate touches, long fingers and spicy pasta.

Cael imagined his first dream of Ever. He remembered how he felt when she touched him; he remembered how he enjoyed the touch of beautiful lips on him. He remembered how she killed him, he remembered how she laughed when he was bleeding the color of red.

They opened their eyes together; both their eyes were fire red. As they opened their eyes the air ball around them burst out destroying all blood drinkers and Mauros around them. But it wasn't strong enough to destroy the Mauros who were racing toward Julian. Julian was standing still, staring at Ever as if he's lost the most precious thing in his life.

Ever flew up into the air and attacked the Mauros with fire balls. Cael too joined her in the air.

Ever landed on the ground, right in front of Julian.

"Julian," she said. "What are you thinking you're doing? They could have killed you."

He was still staring at Ever.

"Julian," Ever said, placing her hands on Julian's shoulders.

He backed away from Ever, Ever's hands dropped from his shoulders. "It's better to be dead than watching you kiss another man," he hissed and Ever stared at him, amazed and shocked at the same time.

Cael interrupted them, "Ev, shall we get going to the Capital?"

Ever nodded, "Take Julian with you," she said and flew up in the sky.