Dark Angel Ch. 13

***

Anniel had just left Cyneolle's quarters, a smile on her lips when she saw Remi stagger out of the boys playroom. Devon, Seth, Zak, and Rowie appeared rushing toward him.

"Fuck, he's gone mad," Remi blurted.

Anniel ran to join them at the end of the corridor.

"Baby, what happened?" Rowie said cupping his face.

Anniel saw when Devon entered the playroom.

"What's going on?" Anniel asked.

Remi looked at her wide-eyed. "Your reaper has some serious anger issues."

"Remi, just tell us what the hell is going on?" Seth demanded now. "I felt a burst of energy. We're supposed to be keeping a low profile. What is wrong with you?"

Remien scowled, standing straighter. "It wasn't me, stupid. Ashriel got his hands on an old vid-crystal. One of Alpha 7's old logs. It was from when Annie was preg's and in heat."

Anniel felt her face grow cold. "W-what?"

Remien looked at her apologetically. "Sweetheart, there was nothing I could do. It all happened so quick. I don't know how he got it, but he saw you and Luke...he didn't take it too well, you know."

Anniel felt dizzy for a moment. Zak wrapped his arms around her and Seth gripped her hand.

Remi tipped her face to his and stared deep into her eyes.

"W-where is he?" She asked wondering if he hated her now. She should have told him about what happened to her during that first pregnancy. So many things had happened. She'd barely had any time alone with Ashriel, really, and when they had been alone, the newness of their physical relationship kept them from doing anything else other than exploring its rapturous heights of ecstasy.

"He opened a portal." It was Devon. He stepped out of the playroom, his eyes glowing brighter. "He invaded Remi's mind and located Lucien. He opened a portal into Megdoluc and is on his way to slay Lucien. He took a bunch of reapers with him."

Anniel gasped and straightened. "No. We need to stop him."

Devon snorted. "I don't think even the Divine One himself can stop that raging reaper now." Devon grew solemn. "He'll lose his soul if he kills Lucien in the rage he's in now."

Anniel gaped. "What do you mean?"

Devon regarded her closely. "Ashriel and reapers can only kill out of duty. If Ashriel raises his sword to Lucien in a jealous rage, he'll fall from grace. I mean, really fall from grace, like my father did when he killed Gadriel."

Anniel broke free from the others and gripped Devon. "We have to stop him, Devon, please."

Devon nodded. "We need to get to Lucien first, and get him out of there before Ashriel arrives. It'll give him time to simmer down a bit. There's just one problem."

Anniel gripped him tighter. "What?"

"Lucien doesn't want to come back here. He wants to die. He already knows Ashriel is on his way and is waiting practically with open arms."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Remi exclaimed. "We gotta do something."

Devon gestured them to follow him. They raced back down the corridor into an empty unit no one used. Standing before the glass wall that showed the expanse of space, he whispered. The view of space wavered until it became a view of an underground corridor.

"Hurry," Devon said, "Before someone picks up the surge of power and finds the space station."

They raced through the open portal. For a moment, Anniel felt as though she were swimming through gelatin. It was hard for her to breathe and she saw wavering images to either side of her. Just when she would have looked, Devon's arms circled around her, pushing her forward until she stumbled into a cold, foul-smelling corridor.

"Annie, don't ever look to the sides when traversing a portal," Devon told her sternly.

"I can feel them," Seth said next to them.

Devon looked down the corridor, his luminous eyes shining even more. "We're running out of time." He turned to Anniel and held her arms, looking deeply into her eyes. "It's up to you, baby."

"Me?" she asked in confusion.

"Lucien hates men. He won't let any of us near him, but he loves you, Annie."

Anniel looked at Rowie. "I'm taken, bubble-butt," she said apologetically.

"But I'm Ashriel's," Anniel answered in confusion.

"Luke doesn't know that yet," Zak interjected.

Anniel looked at all of their concerned faces. "You want me to...seduce Luke into coming back home?"

Devon shook his head. "No, Annie. Not seduce. Tell him we love him...you love him, and want him back home. Try..." Devon looked the other way, "but hurry. If you don't want to lose Ashriel forever, hurry."

Remi and Rowie walked with her until they reached the entrance of a large chamber. They were only about twenty paces from where Zak, Devon, and Seth stood. They remained behind as she entered the large cathedral-like chamber.

The smell hit her like a punch to the gut. She covered her mouth and nose, wishing she had the respirator she had on Rhylos with her. Fighting the wave of nausea, she walked further, her eyes automatically looking around. The first thing she noticed were the devils. They hung from the vaulted ceiling of the chamber like bats. Their golden eyes followed her movements, their tails and wings twitching nervously. She looked ahead, seeing the large boulders strewn everywhere, but one in particular caught her attention.

There he sat, his back to her. Tattered red wings rested limply over the edges of the big rock. His blond hair hung in a matted, dull mess to the middle of his back. She could clearly see the bones of his spine through his thin skin. Bruises and cuts littered his flesh and his overly long fingernails were black with grime.

"Lucien?" she called out tentatively.

Slowly he turned his head, letting her see his profile. His eyes glowed like Devon's, but they were set deep in an emaciated face, full of cuts and bruises. He began to growl and stir, rising from his perch to stalk slowly toward her.

"Get out," he snarled.

"No," Anniel replied lifting her chin stubbornly. "It's time you stop this nonsense and come back home where you belong."

"I have no home," he spat.

"Baby, yes you do. Your room is right next to mine."

Lucien reached her, his growls growing more fierce. She stared up at him, appalled at how sick he looked. Devon had said he was slowly dying. He looked like he was. It broke her heart and she couldn't help the sob that burst from her lips.

Ignoring when he bared his fangs at her, she cupped his cheeks. "Oh, sweetheart. Just look at you. I want you home where I can get some meat back on those bones. You always did like my cooking."

Lucien stopped growling to look at her in dismay. "Why aren't you afraid of me?"

She stroked his forehead, passed her thumb over his cracked lips. "How can I be afraid of you when I love you so much."

The choked sob that escaped him didn't shock her so much as his falling to his knees to hug her. He cried like a babe against her stomach for about two seconds before he stiffened and backed up to look at her rounded belly.

He recoiled then, turning away from her. "Go away."

"Luke, please—"

The sound of clashing swords had her whirling about. The reapers had arrived. Oh-god, why were they fighting? Would Ashriel really hurt the others?

She turned to beg Lucien to hide. He stood before her, his eyes looking over her head at the entrance of the chamber.

"Ashriel?" He looked at her then, and she could see it in his eyes. They swept down to her stomach before snapping back up to her eyes. "You laid with Ashriel?"

She closed the distance between them and gripped his arms. Trying not to wince at how bony they were she shouted. "He wants to kill you. He saw the vid of when you helped my during my pregnancy with Gareth and lost it. He's raging mad with jealousy, Lucien. Please. You must hide. Open a portal and come back home with me."

Lucien just stared at her before looking back up. "He's jealous of me? Because you love me?"

"Yes, you fool. I love you, and—"

His lips covered hers, tongue sweeping in to taste her. He held her tight against him as he kissed her, and Annie felt herself recoil at the passion he unleashed toward her. It didn't feel right. She loved him, always had. Unfortunately, the love she felt for poor Lucien was not at all similar to what she felt for Ashriel. It never had been...never would be.

She was ripped from Lucien's arms and pressed into Natanael's.

"Hold her," Ashriel said, his voice cold with the promise of death.

His eyes were solid black orbs, his face expressionless. Ashriel was the very essence of a reaper.

Anniel screamed, trying to free herself from Natanael's firm hold. "No, Ashriel, don't. You'll fall from grace. I love you. I don't want to lose you. Don't kill him, please."

***

Through the silence of death, he heard her scream...but it was far off. Ashriel turned, feeling the icy cold grip of his power caress his very essence. His own aura burned, bright like a sun all around him. It stretched out, rays of light, decimating every foul thing in sight. Devils screeched, tried to fly away, but they moved too slow. The power of the divine one lending him the speed necessary to decimate them with only the touch of his aura.

Through the rain of white ash, the dark prince stood, his eyes steady on Ashriel. Those ice-blue eyes spoke of suffering and pain. They held no fear, only acceptance...relief. Lucien opened his arms, his eyes closing as a single tear rolled down his filthy bruised face.

Ashriel lifted his sword for the killing blow. He'd sliced the demon spawn's head first before sending his divine blade through his blackened heart.

Dominatio's appeared, their light almost blinding.

Would you sacrifice an innocent?

The softly whispered words gave him pause. He stood before Lucien, time virtually standing still. The Dominatios crowded closer.

Your sword. It does not glow.

The rage in Ashriel's heart cleared slightly as his eyes shifted to the blade he clutched in his fist. The steel remained bright silver like a mirror.

"He is the dark prince. He fornicated with the woman you love," another voice raged.

Ashriel looked to the boulder behind Lucien. There sat a jet-black devil, spiral curls adorning his head to his shoulders. The creature flashed fangs, his bright yellow eyes narrowing. He opened his bat-like wings, his tail whipping behind him like an angry feline. He pointed to Lucien. "He will take her from you. You heard them declare their love for one another."

Yes. He would. Lucien would return to Alpha 7 and claim Anniel.

His eyes drifted to Lucien again. There was unnatural stillness around him. It was his reaper's power that had slowed everything down, but he could feel time coiling tight. Soon he would lose his hold on it and it would snap back into place.

He loved Anniel, could never hurt her...and if it meant losing her to another...then so be it.

The black devil screeched in rage and then disappeared.

Time fell over him like a sonic wave. His arm continued to rise, Anniel's cries more frantic.

She loved him.

Lucien tipped his neck back, his chest expanding with a deep breath.

Ashriel backhanded him, sending him to the ground face first. His devil's wings spread in surprise. They were a putrid red, practically rotting off his back. Ashriel gripped them with a disgusted sneer.

"You won't be needing these anymore, dark prince."

His blade sliced cleanly through rotted flesh and brittle bone. Lucien screamed in agony, his blond hair reminding Ashriel of the time he done precisely the same to his father, Davariel. Only, Davariel had been so much more than his son. Lucien writhed in agony, blackened blood seeping out of the wings sluggishly. Bright red spewed from Lucien's back. He'd survive, but he'd need to have the remains of the wings removed from his back and spine.

He reached down to yank Lucien back up, but Anniel intercepted him.

"Stop," she screamed. "Don't kill him, Ashriel."

He looked down at her, her skin looked ashen, her eyes wild with terror. He cupped her cheek, wiping away the fine residue of ash that had fallen on her face. She was covered with it. "I wasn't going to, my love."

A flash of white and black caught his eye. Without thinking, he turned and slammed Anniel back into Natanael's arms. That had been Devon teleporting past him...and there was only one reason he'd do that.

Ignoring her cries of alarm, he spun and unleashed his power again.

It was too late though. The twins had already used their powers, Lucien to fling himself into the portal of the realm of shadows, and Devon to block him him.

He caught sight of Devon wrapping his arms around his brother just as they went through.

Ashriel opened his wings and flew. His arms managed to grip both men around their waists before the blast of cold wind hit him full force. He grunted when someone else grabbed him, looking down his body, he saw Remi and Zak holding on, Rowie and Anniel not far behind.

"Nooo," he cried.

Even if Anniel let go now, she'd be sucked into the vortex swirling around them.

Ashriel couldn't believe this was to be their end.

The dragons released their wings and began to flap them, trying to reverse their trajectory. He could see the strain on their faces. The shadows of more wings appeared around the girls. The other reapers were trying to help.

Ashriel opened his wings, the winds of the realm of shadows threatening to rip them off. His eyes leaked tears as his arms tightened harder on the struggling twins. Devon and Lucien were fighting. Lucien reined blows on his brother. Devon returned them.

"Fuck. You ass-hole. Let me go. Think of Angel, you idiot," Lucien screamed.

Ashriel felt Devon wrap his legs tighter around Lucien, One arm was around his back, his fist wound tightly in his brother's golden tresses.

Lucien pulled Devon's hair when punching him in the jaw didn't work.

Ashriel's eyes widened when the shadow of dark wings loomed in front of them. The wind threatened to peel the skin from his dried orbs, making him blink, and then the shadowed wings were gone.

He was seeing things.

Looking down, trying to gage whether the reapers were having any luck pulling them back into the cave, it was hard to tell because the purple mists of the realm of shadows was so thick, like smoke.

The two men in his hold jerked, making Ashriel look back up.

Davariel. His unnaturally big electric-blue eyes staring in wonder at his sons. His hair wiped about his face and body like liquid gold fire and his jet wings roared like thunder behind his back

Ashriel felt his heart almost stop. He was alive. Davariel was still alive.

The angel of destruction smiled at Devon and Lucien, and then turned. "Hold onto me, my love," he said.

Luciel. She'd grabbed his hair and was using it like a rope to pull herself up higher on his body. When she reached his waist, she wrapped her arms tightly around him. His billowing hair practically hid her from view then.

Once again, Davariel turned to Lucien and Devon and began pushing. He bared his teeth from the strain, his muscled arms bulging. Light began emanating from him—blinding light—until the angel looked like a god.

Ashriel had never felt more terror at Davariel's show of power. It was mind-blowing.

The light engulfed them all. Hundreds of Dominatio appeared, their tiny hands grasping them, until Ashriel felt smothered. He stared into the bright gold eyes of a cherub who smiled at him. Peace, it filled him, elated him. His heart was filled with joy like he'd never known, it made him almost break down and cry.

And ten he was falling to the cave floor.

They were all tangled in a mass of arms and legs.

It took him less than a second to call for Anniel, his hand already reaching out for her.

He'd barely wrapped his arms around his woman when Lucien's hair-raising wail filled the cave.

"Nooo. What did you do? I wanted to go with them."

Ashriel turned to see Devon, Zak, Remi and Seth struggling to subdue the hysterical ex-dark prince. He began to glow, Devon's countenance also limned with power in response. Not knowing what to do, Ashriel reached out to grip Lucien's flailing fist. Before he'd even touched him, Lucien cried out in surprise and then Remien covered his face with his hand.

"Sleep," the red weredragon commanded.

Just like that, the fight went out of Lucien. His eyes rolled back before his lids fluttered shut and his body went limp.

Remien Fyre grinned down at his mate. "Smart move, biting him."

Ashriel turned his head to gape at Rowie, blood dripping down her chin as she licked her lips. Lucien had two tiny holes on the inside of his thigh.

Ashriel frowned in dismay when he realized the man also had more marks of abuse all over his flesh.

"Let's get him back home," Devon declared.

Ashriel turned to look at the portal. Hundreds of Dominatio blocked it, but he could still hear the force of the winds within the portal.

At once he knew they would not allow him or anyone else to destroy the portal Dava himself had opened.

Davariel would return. The Dominatio would see to that...but when? And why?

***

Four days later, Anniel stood before the glass cylinder that held Lucien in stasis. Dr. Quinn had done a remarkable job removing all traces of the poisonous roots of the devil's wings that had been imbedded into his back. Remi had healed the bruises and open sores. A tube containing nutrients had been inserted into side of his neck and another to remove waste was at his groin.

Devon had held him the first night, like a babe in his lap, while silent tears rolled down his cheeks. The second night he called a meeting with the male Alpha Angels, including Ashriel and a few hours later they'd departed to the LOS.

Anniel hadn't had the opportunity to speak with Ashriel at all, but she knew there were very pressing matters at hand he needed to tend to if they were all going to remain safe.

She leaned against the glass with a sigh.

"So glad you're back home, sweetie. Everything's gonna be okay," she whispered, pushing her feelings of love and comfort into Lucien's slumbering mind. He stirred, a whimper sighing from his lips.

His lips moved, a slight twitch, as if he tried to speak, but his golden lashes remained over newly pinkened cheeks.

He was still so skinny, mere flesh pulled over bone. He'd had such a glorious body. To see him so emaciated brought tears to her eyes

"He'll recuperate, Annie."

Anniel turned to regard Rowie as she stepped up next to her. Rowie grinned before looking down at Lucien's unconscious form. "Once his system is strong enough, Remi's going to work at building his muscle tone back up."

Anniel looked back down at him, her eyes going over his naked body. The sight of so many scars, and bite marks made her shudder. Rowie put her arm around her, her head resting on her shoulder. Anniel slipped her arm around her sister's waist also. They both remained silent, concentrating on surrounding Lucien with their vibes of love.

***

Five day cycles, by Seraphian standards, similar to Edenia. Ashriel was anxious to return to Alpha 7, and Anniel.

Speaking at the LOS, didn't lessen the number of Master Guardians out to kill all of them, but at least the bounty had been removed. The LOS washed its hands of their fate, declaring they could not become involved in their problems.

The Vildminorian council demanded Devon turn over the babes born to Rowie, proclaiming them an evil abomination that could not be allowed to live.

Remi had almost shifted in his rage, but Devon managed to control him—just barely.

Even stating the babies were weredragons, not vampires, the Vildminorian council still demanded to have the twins handed over.

Again, the LOS declined becoming involved in this matter. It was of no importance to the safety of the galaxy.