His argument with Lucifer was getting them nowhere whilst the battle raged on around them. Azrael turned away, looking up at where the Darkness was possessing the woman he loved. He knew Alice was still in there watching this play out helplessly. His fists clenched at his side.
“You could’ve ended this a long time ago,” Lucifer said.
“Just shut up. I’m done talking about this.”
There was an ear-splitting scream. Azrael looked over at the source. Daisy was dangling in the grasp of the Darkness. There wasn’t much he could do because there was another commotion next to him. A huge demon had grabbed hold of one of Ella’s wings and was dragging her away.
“Lukas,” she shouted.
Lukas whipped his head around. Rage contorted his features. He strode after the demon, his wings flaring out. Azrael’s eyes narrowed.
“Who is that?” he asked Lucifer.
His brother looked over at the demon.
“Her father.”
“Can you not keep your demons under control?”
§
“Let her go,” Lukas said as he grabbed hold of Ella’s hand after half flying, half striding over to Ella and the demon.
“You are interfering,” the demon said.
“I’m not interested in coming with you,” Ella said.
“I don’t care. It was never meant to be this way.”
“Beleth, let her go,” Lukas said, his eyes glowing blue and red.
The demon chuckled.
“Should you not be battling the Darkness, Lukas?”
“Not without her. You can’t have her. You’re not worthy of your daughter.”
§
Lucifer looked down at his hands.
“That is not my problem,” he said.
Azrael growled. Lucifer was never one to care about anyone else but himself. He’d always been like this. Azrael took two steps forward before he felt something. Something he’d not experienced in centuries. He looked up at the sky. Hundreds of them. His brothers and sisters littered the sky. Their angelic armour glinted in the dying light. It would’ve been a sight to behold if any humans were witness to it.
“Well, that’s just great,” Lucifer exclaimed.
An angel they both knew well landed right next to Ella, Lukas and Beleth.
“I’ve warned you a thousand times. Let go of our daughter.”
Beleth laughed again.
“Your threats are meaningless, Ariel.”
“Her threats may be meaningless, but mine aren’t,” came the commanding tones of an angel Azrael never thought he’d see again.
He turned, finding three angels standing nearby. Their halos shining brightly, swords by their sides and white wings tucked behind their backs.
“And why am I not surprised they’ve turned up?” Lucifer said, rolling his eyes.
“Shut up,” Azrael said.
The three angels turned at the sound of their voices.
Michael. Raphael. Gabriel.
“Brothers,” Michael said, his golden hair glinting even in the dying light.
Azrael had no words.
“Tsk, they’re here to take all the glory,” Lucifer muttered.
“For the last time, why can’t you just behave in a civilised manner?” Azrael said, turning on his brother, green eyes blazing.
“Are you going to fight me again? You know how well that went last time?”
“Honestly, I wish you would just go back to Hell where you belong.”
Azrael stalked away towards his fellow Archangels. They looked the same as they had the day he’d been cast from Heaven.
“What are you doing here?”
“I am here to see my son,” Michael replied.
Azrael’s footsteps faltered.
His son? What?
“And to ensure you fulfil your purpose.”
“It is nice to see you,” Raphael said.
The angel was dark skinned with dark hair, his eyes golden. He smiled at Azrael. He’d never had a problem with Raphael or Gabriel.
“And you,” Azrael replied. “Although the circumstances are less than fortuitous.”
“Agreed, brother. It has been an age.”
Gabriel, tanned with a crown of golden hair to match Michael and hazel eyes, strode towards Azrael before embracing him.
“Brother,” he said.
Azrael stood stiffly for a moment before Gabriel released him. He did not like contact with others. The only person he wished to hold was currently possessed.
“Gabriel,” Azrael replied.
“You look well.”
Small talk amongst Archangels. Typical bullshit.
“What did you mean, your son?” Azrael asked, turning to Michael.
Michael took two steps towards where Beleth was still holding Ella. Ariel looked thunderous and Lukas was barely containing his fury.
“Let her go, Beleth,” Michael said. “I’m sure you’re aware of who I am and what I will do you to if you do not comply.”
Beleth growled but released Ella. He slunk backwards into the shadows before disappearing into the earth again. Michael turned to Lukas, his blue eyes shining with pride. The realisation dawned on Azrael all at once. Even Michael had been involved in the creation of the hybrid angels and demons.
“My son,” Michael said.
Lukas frowned, his arm curling around Ella’s waist.
“Have you never wondered who created you?”
“No. It didn’t seem relevant after… after her.”
Lukas looked down at Ella. It was clear as day, the two hybrids adored each other. Azrael could see their entwined souls burning inside each other. It was undeniable. They were made for each other.
“Allow me to properly introduce myself. I am the Archangel Michael. I am responsible for your existence. Both of you really.”
Ella and Lukas frowned.
“What do you mean?” Lukas asked.
“Ariel could not do any of this alone. She is only a Guardian Angel. There were others, but none quite like the two of you.”
“Wait, the actual Michael?” Ella interjected.
Michael smiled, giving her a slight nod. She nudged Lukas.
“I think you should at least hear him out.”
Lukas gave her a squeeze before letting go and indicating with his head to Michael that they should go talk. The two of them walked off together.
“Who’d have thought pure and innocent Michael would stoop to such levels?” Lucifer muttered.
Azrael turned to his brother, scowling.
“And shouldn’t you be dealing with that?”
Lucifer pointed towards the battle raging on next to them.
“Shouldn’t you?” Azrael retorted.
“As I’ve already theorised, you are the only one who can end this. Here and now. Your feelings for that girl are preventing you from doing so.”
Azrael knew Lucifer was right and it made him hate his brother even more. He turned towards the battle. This was on him. He knew what he had to do. His wings flared out and he took to the skies. He narrowly avoided the wisps of smoke permeating the air, moving ever closer to the Darkness and its vessel.
Demons clashed with smoke people. Werewolves weaved in and out, pouncing on their prey. Vampires flitted one from one place to another. Angels in their shining armour kept the Darkness back. At the very least, this was contained to one place. Azrael could not imagine if the Darkness spread across all of the Earth and what it would do if it razed through Heaven and Hell. But he’d seen it in Alice’s visions. He could not allow that fate to come to pass.
The Darkness whipped its head around at his approach.
“So, the angel comes to claim his prize?” it said.
“Prize? You think this is my prize?”
“You want the girl back, do you not?”
His heart ached at the thought of Alice. He wanted her with every inch of his being. Clenching his fists, he scowled.
“You’re not going to give her to me so what is the use in discussing it?”
The Darkness raised an eyebrow at him. It was disconcerting.
“Then what do you want?”
“To end this once and for all.”
The Darkness smiled at him, black eyes pools of hatred.
“You think that’s possible? You can barely look at me without seeing her. How do you propose you end it? If you kill me, you’ll kill her too.”
The pain in his chest was unlike anything else. He knew what he had to do, but it would cleave his heart in two. This conversation had gone on long enough. He reached out, gripping the Darkness by the arm and pulling it away from the battle. Her eyes widened as he set them down away from everyone else.
“You think this will stop me, angel?” it said.
“I don’t care. I will not allow you to destroy everything.”
His sword appeared. The Darkness smiled again. The next moment, its eyes cleared and there, standing before him, was the woman he loved.
“Az?” she whispered.
He faltered, unable to move. She was standing there with wide eyes.
“Are you… is it you?”
“I can’t move, but yes, it’s me,” Alice replied.
His sword disappeared. He closed the distance, tugging her into his arms. He buried his face in her hair.
“Alice,” he whispered. “My sweet Alice.”
“Az… I know what you have to do.”
“Shh, let me hold you for a moment.”
His heart burnt in his chest. There wasn’t much time left.
“You have to end it. It’s okay. Please. I can’t live like this. I don’t want to watch it burn the world using me.”
He clutched her tighter. Tears threatened to spill out. He didn’t want that for her either. He kissed the top of her head.
“I’m sorry. I know. I won’t make you live like this even if it kills me.”
“I wish we had one more night with each other. I know I can’t ask for forever, but I want you one last time. And yet I can’t even have that. Instead you have to do the unspeakable. How is He this cruel?”
He could feel her tears soaking through into his shirt. Each word she spoke brought a new round of pain. He wanted to shout at his father. She was right. He wasn’t even sure how God could be this cruel. Hadn’t he done enough? Hadn’t he taken everything from Azrael already? When would it be over?
“Look at me,” she whispered.
He pulled away, staring down into her beautiful, tear-filled grey eyes.
“There’s one thing I haven’t told you.”
He brushed her hair from her face.
“I love you, Azrael.”
A single tear slipped down his cheek.
“And I love you, Alice.”
She gave him a watery smile. A white dagger appeared in his hand.
“Now,” she whispered.
Her eyes pooled black again. The Darkness looked at him with an expression he never thought he’d see. Fear. The dagger slipped between her ribs with ease until it connected with her heart. He felt blood trickle down his hand.
The ear-splitting screech emitted from Alice was inhuman. Her head fell back. Smoke billowed out of her, shooting upwards into the sky. Azrael didn’t dare look around. He was staring down at Alice, who’s eyes opened. They were grey again. She coughed twice.
“Goodbye,” she said.
He dropped to his knees, clutching her to him as he pulled the dagger free. Tossing it away, he healed the wound.
“No, you can’t leave me,” he whispered.
“I’m sorry.”
She reached up, cupping his face.
“My angel. You saved the world.”
Her eyes closed.
“No.”
He felt it when she died. The pain ripped through his chest. Alice was gone. Tears fell freely. Agony lanced every inch of his body and soul. The woman he belonged to had left him.
“No,” he whispered. “No. I won’t let you go. I won’t let you leave me. Alice. You can’t. I love you. I love you till the end.”
There was nothing left for him without her. There were footsteps behind him. If someone was here to talk to him, he didn’t want to hear it. Nothing any of them could say would make this pain disappear.
“Azrael,” Michael said.
“What could you possibly want?” he snapped back.
“Your purpose on Earth. It is done.”
“And that is supposed to make me feel better about killing her?”
Michael was silent. Azrael didn’t look at him. He didn’t care about anything anymore. He picked Alice up. His wings flared out before he took to the skies. If his purpose was done, then there was only one person in this world who could give him Alice back. The higher he flew, the more determined he became. He was responsible for all of this. He had created the Darkness and forced Azrael to murder the woman he loved.
He’d thought about returning to this place many times but seeing the Gates of Heaven again made his head hurt. Nestled in the clouds were two large, white doors. He landed on the cloud before it. They were closed. He knelt down, placing Alice before them.
“Father, if you have any love for me, for your son, give her back to me. Please. I have never asked anything from you. Even when Lucifer and I defied you, it was he who wanted freedom. I wanted to end my suffering. Watching all of them die. It was too much. And yet, even that does not compare to this.”
He rested his hand on Alice’s chest, above her heart.
“You know how we felt about each other. I am hers. Please, I am begging you. Give her back to me. I don’t care if this isn’t what you wanted. You’ve already taken everything from me. Why did it have to be her? Why did you make me kill the woman I love? When will it be enough? When will you allow my suffering to end?”
He could barely get the words out without breaking down and sobbing.
“Please, Father. Please bring her back.”
His wings drooped. His head bowed.
“Please.”
He clasped his hands together in prayer.
“I beg you, Father. Let her live again.”