Vindication - A Heavenly Adventure

Chapter IX - Salvation

STILL IN MACHU PICCHU

...Kai drops to the ground, motionless, blood pouring out of where the axe struck him. Leo makes quick work of the two soldiers that were attacking him, and the group moves to stand together, mouths open in shock. After a split second of pure shock, Leo conjures tendrils of blood drained from the two soldiers' bodies, that constrict the Warchief and bind him to the ground in a violent crunch. Annie, Lucia and Vince join forces to send a powerfull wave of dark magic that sends the remaining soldiers on a rampage slashing at each other with a blind rage until only one soldier stands, stabbing a body of another fallen angel, and Amanthiel throws his spear at him like a lightning bolt the lands with immense force, scattering his limbs around the battleground. Leo falls to his knees next to Kai's motionless figure, and the trapped Warchief addresses the group.

Angel Warchief – How many more of you will have to die until you realize you can't wi –

But he is cut-off mid sentence by Leo, whose eyes are turning red. Not like the other demons, but blood red. And yet, the tears streaming down his cheeks are as crystaline as water.

Leo – YOU THINK I'M GOING TO LET HIM DIE?!?! YOU'RE THE ONE WHO IS GOING TO DIE, AND NO ONE WILL REMEMBER YOU!!!!

Leo casts a spell and reaches into the book, pulling out a ring with a Blood Gem on it. The rest of the group rushes to where they are, but Leo calls out to them before they get to close as he slips the ring in his finger.

Leo – STAND BACK!!

They comply and keep their distance, standing a few feet away from them. Leo rises to his feet and regains his composure, face still wet with tears.

Annie – Leo, what are you –

But Leo ignores her and addresses the Warchief.

Leo – Make no mistake, you brought this upon yourself.

The warchief opens his mouth to reply but chokes as the tendrils of blood that hold him in place dissolve and he starts floating from the ground until he is positioned almost vertically a few feet above it. For a moment, that's all that happens, the warchief struggles to breathe in mid-air as Leo stares down at the man who gave his life to save his. Then he looks from the ground, glaring at the warchief, and suddenly the sound of bones snapping and shattering echo through the montain top along with the screams that the warchief is unable to release, a desperate and continuous gasp in their place. Bones then burst from the angel's skin, ripping through the armor, followed by gyesers of blood that erupt from his body leaving nothing behind but a pile of armor, broken bones and dry flesh. The same blood that left the warchief's body then flows into Kai's lifeless body, mending his wound and returning color to his skin, warmth to his body, and breath to his lungs... Yet... he doesn't wake up.

The group comes closer, and everyone kneels in a circle around Kai, disregarding the mess were the warchief once was. They look expectantly at Kai, but after a moment, Amanthiel turns to Leo, who soundlessly lets tears fall from his eyes as he stares at Kai's rising and falling chest.

Amanthiel – Leo... that was pretty intense... are you okay?

The rest of the group also looks up at Leo. Who struggles to speak clearly.

Leo – I did what I had to do... and I still don't know if it was enough...

Annie – Honey we know, no one is judging, that was baddass!

Lucia – And he had it coming. Any of us would've done something like that if we were in your place.

Leo – But Kai, he... he didn't have to do this... I didn't want him to...