Sin

"It was a mistake, I shouldn't have been there," Estielle began tearing up, "it was my-"

"No it bloody wasn't!" growled Patricia, "how could it possibly be your fault?"

"I don't look like the other angels."

"And?" sighed Patricia, "I don't exactly look like many other women, does that make what happened to me OK?"

"I.... No... No it doesn't," Estielle sobbed, "It.... It was... Vlad."

Patricia listened in horror, hearing the story of being fed chocolate, before being beaten half unconscious and raped by the Archangel of Knowledge under the guise of, an experiment, before having her stripped of her wings with hot saw blades, branded and cast from heaven. By the time she had finished her story, Patricia was sobbing herself.

"You don't need to tell Darren," she said, "but please, understand he's not like that, he'd never hurt you."

Estielle smiled slightly at that, before pulling Patricia into a tight hug. It felt good having someone to talk too.

"Fallen angel huh?" said a voice behind them.

Patricia turned to face the voice, only to see a young man, wearing jeans, and a white singlet with black boots, he looked like a homeless young person, but she could tell he was most definitely a demon.

"Who are you?" Patricia demanded.

"Me? Who the fuck are you bitch?!" he yelled, storming over, he back handed her hard enough she collapsed.

Darren woke with a start... What was this feeling... This overwhelming sense of dread, he reached out his consciousness, trying to find the source, before his mind homed in.... Patricia is hurt... Patricia is with Estielle!

Patricia was laying on the ground, unconscious but still breathing, this demon was stalking around Estielle. She was terrified, if she had her power, she could defend herself, but after being exiled, and her wounds, she was heavily outmatched by this healthy demon before her. He snarled, lashing out and hitting her in the base of her ribs, the impact causing Estielle to lift from the ground. Collapsing to the ground, she tried to roll away, trying desperately to escape, If only Darren was here...

She looked up at the demon approaching her, and something caught her eye, a leaf drifting down between them, as it fell, is became unnaturally slow, before coming to a stop in front of her face, she could see the tiny hairs across the leaf, holding tiny beads of condensation, and looking at the demon before her, he noticed it too, looking around nothing was moving, there was no sound.

"The fuck is this?" he mused, "This you bitch?" he turned towards Estielle, kicking her brutally in the ribs.

Estielle gasped in pain, pulling her eyes shut, she wanted for it to end... When she felt a warm burst of wind, she thought it was over, until she heard that same THUD from earlier. Opening her eyes she could see look of horror on the young demons face.

"Hey no fair, this one's mine, I found her first, you can fuck right-"

Darren caught him mid sentence, pushing his hand into the young demons chest, he grabbed his very soul and ripped it clean out of his body. The young demon simply collapsed, his corpse releasing another soul.

"Bastard," muttered Darren.

He reached out, catching the second soul, he now had one in each hand, they resembled glowing blue orbs, with tiny tentacles appearing and disappearing along it's surface.

"Are you OK Estielle?" Darren asked without looking at her.

"I'm fine, I think Patricia is hurt though."

Darren nodded, lifting the second soul to his mouth, Estielle was about to say something when Darren sniffed it a couple times.

"Innocent," he said, releasing the soul into the sky.

Bringing up the second, he sniffed it too, frowning he walked over to Patricia, crushing the soul into his hand, he smeared the blue residue across her chest, it glowed brightly for a moment, before fading into nothing. Patricia gasped, quickly sitting up.

"Oh God..." she stammered, "Thank you Darren."

He didn't answer, simply picking her up in his arms, he carried her back to Estielle. Bending down, he took one of Estielle's hands in his own, and with a flash of purple flames, all three found themselves back in the dining room of Darren's home. Estielle was terrified of being burned, but found the flames to be tickling and warm as they dissipated.

"You can put me down now," said Patricia.

"Sorry," he chuckled, putting her down immediately, "I need to rest."

Turning to leave he suddenly felt a soft hand grab his, he stopped in his tracks at that familiar electric feeling jumped between them, not unpleasant at all. He turned, trying to mask his shock, Estielle was standing there, one hand on his, one hand wrapped around her middle, staring at the floor, she took a step closer to him, before slowly letting go of his hand. She gently leaned against his chest, lightly pulling both her arms around him.

"Thank you Darren," she said softly.

He was speechless, but took her in his arms as well, holding her for a few moments, before feeling her shift, and taking that as a sign, immediately released her. Estielle then walked past him, heading off in the direction of her room, Darren just watched her go, staring with his mouth open, before turning back towards Patricia.

"Come on then, you keep the good scotch locked in your room, and we both need a drink," she said, "and close your damn mouth, you look like one of those clown machines from the fair."

Half an hour later, Patricia and Darren were on their third glass of scotch, Darren was sitting in a lounge chair by the bar, and Patricia had kicked off her shoes and was laying horizontally across his bed.

"So..." Patricia mused, "you gonna tell me what's going on?"

"What's there to tell?" Darren groaned.

"You like her don't you," she said, with a smile.

"I like you, what of it?"

Patricia laughed, "Don't fuck with me, come on."

Darren drank the rest of his scotch and started pouring another, "You know better than most," he said, "I can have anything I want, whenever I want, however I want... but I've tried to change that."

"Yeah, I know romeo," Patricia chuckled, "you wouldn't even try it on me."

"Oh honey," Darren mocked her, "you couldn't handle this..." he said, gyrating his hips.

Patricia burst out laughing for a few moments, "don't change the subject you cocky bastard," she said, "what does the Sin of Lust want with a fallen angel?"

Darren stared at the floor, thinking for a few moments, "did I even tell you about my sister?"

"You told me she was the one who would slap you around when you fucked up," Patricia grinned at him, "spose that's me these days."

Darren grinned, "yeah, that's about right," he stood, refilling his glass again, "she made friends everywhere she went, she didn't even have to use her power... She was... Innocent."

"You mean like Estielle?" asked Patricia, sipping on her scotch.

"...No... Yes... Fuck, I don't know..." Darren sat back down, propping his forehead up with his empty hand, "the moment I saw her eyes, I dunno, I just couldn't help but feel she was just as innocent..."

"What happened to your sister Darren?" Patricia sat up, watching him carefully.

Darren sat for a few moments, a drop of blood fell from his face, leaving a red stain on the carpet, "In the last war... she was caught behind enemy lines trying to save her friends," Darren began to shake, "The Archangel... Michael... was taking human souls... turning them into angels, forcing humans to fight."

"I'm sorry," Patricia started, "you don't have to tell me."

Darren looked up at her, red lines running down his face, "I tried to save her... they realised who she was when I showed up myself, they..." Darren sobbed out loud, "I hated angels for so long... I killed so many... I was so consumed by rage even Satan feared me."

Darren felt arms wrap around him, he leaned into Patricia's embrace.

"Two hundred years of burning hatred... and the moment she opened her eyes... I wanted to protect that innocence... I wanted to save her", Darren quietly sobbed.

CHAPTER FIVE

Estielle sat on the bed, she was amazed that this one seemed even more comfortable than the last. It was the perfect balance of soft, yet surprisingly firm. She stood up, walking into the bathroom, remembering to pull the plug and drain the bath, turning to face herself in the mirror, it was the first time she really tried to look at herself. The heart shaped scar on her cheek was the first thing she noticed, bastard... turning around slightly, she pulled down the back of her top, looking at the red scarred back, the marks where her wings were, I'm so ugly without my wings.... she shook her head, maybe that was the reason Darren hadn't touched her, all these scars probably disgusted him, at least I'm safe here...

She walked slowly back to the bed, pulling off her clothes and slipping under the sheets, she lay quietly watching the sun set through her window, what was that feeling when I touched him... Estielle shook her head, but she couldn't displace that feeling of wanting that... safe... feeling when he put his arms around her, God what does it mean?...

The next few days were a blur of activity, Darren was behind in his work, so he left a credit card with Patricia to purchase anything they wanted. He quashed a small cult established by demons in order to lure souls to damnation, he brokered a peace agreement with Abbadon, Lord of Sloth, allowing him access to the Earth, in return for an oath of fealty in case of holy war, he even acquired a new multinational corporation, furthering his grip on human healthcare, Not for profit, but for greater good...

It was a strange feeling when he arrived back home at the end of a particularly hard Friday, to the sound of Palchelbel's Cannon in D, played as a duet with with both a flute and harp. He followed the sound, upstairs and into the lounge, where he spotted Estielle sitting on a stool, facing away from him, gently plucking a harp made of dark wood, beside her stood Patricia, playing the flute, My god... Darren quietly entered the room, sitting comfortably on a lounge, closing his eyes and losing himself to the music. As the song came to it's end, he sat in silence waiting to hear more when.

"It seems we have an audience," chuckled Patricia.

"Oh!" cried Estielle, snapping her head around, spotting Darren.

"Please, don't stop on my accord," Darren said quickly, "It's been a long time since I've listened to live music."

And so the evening continued, the ladies continuing to play, everything from Mozart and Beethoven, to more modern works. Darren couldn't help but have pizza delivered, much to Estielle's delight, she was excited to try all the different flavours. The evening was filled with laughter, food, good music and better company, Darren found himself drawn even more to Estielle, admiring the curve of her lips, the grace of her every movement, the strength of her composure. Every now and then he met her eyes, those perfect sapphire orbs, filled with happiness, it made him giddy.

Darren lay in bed that night, unable to stop his stupid grin, such a perfect end to such a horrible week, it felt good to laugh again. It didn't even both him the harp Estielle was playing cost him twenty grand, charged straight to his credit card, walking a fine line Patricia... He couldn't help but chuckle, it's not as if he didn't have the money, his corporate investments made him one of the wealthiest men... Well... Demons, in the nation.

As he lay, something caught his eye, a single white flash, sitting up with a groan, he peered into the night, off in the trees surrounding his home, he could make out a white glow, Fuck is that?... quickly leaving his room, he made his way downstairs, exiting the garage and approached the source of light, he hoped it was just some campers getting a little close, it happens... but he was concerned about the possibility of an attack, reasoning, not even demons knew where he lived, perhaps they needed a slight education as to why coming near his home would be a bad idea...

As he approached, he slowed to a stop, shit..... shit shit shit.... There was a small wooden chair in an open pocket surrounded by trees, in it sat an old man, blonde, with brown eyes, staring intently at a book cradled in his lap.

"Asmodeus," nodded the figure, closing the book and looking up.

"It's Darren thank you," he growled, "may I ask who it is I have the pleasure of addressing?"

"... Call me Vlad," he said, flashing a smile, "I have a proposition for you."

"Oh?" Darren said coldly, "you couldn't make an appointment with my secretary?"

"Oh come new Asmodeus," he chided, "I doubt your secretary could point me in the direction of a fallen angel soul."

Darren was glaring daggers now, "choose your words carefully."

Vlad held his hands up in mock surrender, "I mean no disrespect, I merely have information and a request."

"Speak then," growled Darren.

"That angel, you're helping for whatever reason," Vlad smiled, "was the one who captured your sister."

Darren was speechless, his heart twisting painfully in his chest, "how do you know this?"

"My boy, I was there to witness," Vlad said cooly, "I seek an exchange."

"What kind?" Darren shot

"A soul for a soul," Vlad smiled, "Kill the angel, bring me her soul, and I'll return you to your sister"

Darren rushed in, intending to cleave this abhorrent creature in half, only to bounce off an invisible barrier.

"Fight me you fucking coward," screamed Darren, the forest shook with the strength of his voice.

"Now that's no way to treat a guest," said Vlad standing up, "how would your dear sister react to this kind of outburst?"

"You know nothing!" yelled Darren.

"On the contrary," said Vlad, "as the Archangel of Knowledge, it is my business to know... everything."

Darren took a step back, he couldn't believe his ears, but even as he pondered his next move, the Archangels wings came into view, great black wings, pure white light cloaked his body, eliminating all shadows.

"What guarantee do I have you'll return my sister?" growled Darren.

"I suppose you'll have to trust me," Vlad smiled, dropping a knife on the ground, he lifted into the air, "I'll know when you've done your work."

A white flash blinded Darren for a second, but Vlad was gone, the only trace of his existence, the polished silver knife on the ground. Darren reached out, grasping the hilt, turning to walk back to the house. He walked in silence, the house slowly coming into view, by the treeline was Patricia, she was staring, wide eyed with shock as Darren came into view.

"What was that Darren?" she asked, clearly concerned.

Darren ignored her, walking past in silence, Estielle had followed outside and paused as he approached her. She spotted the knife, her lip quivered, this is it... Darren stopped arms length from the angel.

"I had a sister once," he started, "she was all the good things I wasn't."

Estielle was frozen with fear, she didn't know what to say.

"In the last holy war, she was caught behind enemy lines, helping human friends of hers escape the wrath of a so called Archangel Michael, who was using humans to create more angels."

Estielle's eyes went wide.

"I was fighting to get her out safely, when she was captured," Darren said, his anger rising, "when they began to torture her, I tried to pull her mind from her body, to shield her from the pain..."

"Darren... I-"

Darren cut her off, "I was still connected to her mind when they killed her", he was crying now, "her last words to me, was to say she loved me, and to forgive the one that helped her."

"Darren.... Please.... I couldn't-"

"The Archangel of Knowledge just made me an offer," Darren continued, "your soul for hers."

Darren held up the knife, he heard Patricia screaming at him to stop, but he ignored everything else, staring deep into Estielle's eyes, those big sapphire orbs, they were filled with pain, sadness and as she blinked, her expression changed to one of acceptance and... something else...

"But that's not true is it," Darren growled, wiping his tears with the sleeve of his jacket, "once the soul has passed, there's no coming back is there?"

"No... None to my knowledge," Estielle said, "but if there's a chance," she closed her eyes and held out her hands, "I wouldn't be alive without you anyway," she sniffed, tears rolling down her cheeks.

Darren raised the knife as high as he could, Patricia threw herself between the two of them, screaming in Darren's face, he couldn't make out the words, everything fell silent. He funnelled energy into the knife, heating it in seconds to a glowing orange, he could feel Patricia beating his chest now, but he casually pushed her aside with his free hand.

Darren lowered the blade to eye level, admiring it's slight curve, simple yet elegant, designed to cleanly cut through flesh without resistance. He grabbed the blade with his free hand and with a small grunt he bent the blade around in an arc, squeezing the knife into a useless hunk of metal, he turned, hurling the lump back into the forest, hearing a clang as it ricochet of a tree.

Darren turned back to Estielle, she gasped as he wrapped his arms around her, sobbing quietly into her shoulder.

"Thank you," he said, "thank you for helping my sister."

She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pulling him in tight against her body.

"You could have brought her back," she whispered, "I'm not worth it."

Darren growled, "Don't you say that... Don't ever say that... There was a fucking war going on and you disobeyed orders to help an enemy save innocents... You're as worth it as she was!"

Estielle cried now, holding one another for comfort, they mourned for Darren's sister.

"Her name was Bianca," Darren said, "I live to honour her memory, and I promise, I will protect you for as long as I live."

Estielle puled away, Darren loosened his grip, only to find himself an inch from her face, she stared at him with confusion, those sapphire eyes of hers boring into his very soul. She lent forwards for a moment, their lips brushed together, Darren jumped and Estielle looked scared for a moment. Darren quickly realised his mistake, leaning forwards again, he kissed her properly, tasting the sweetness of her lips, the saltiness of her tears, breathing in the aroma of her flesh, reaching up he ran his fingers through her hair, he could hear her heartbeat rise in the moment, before slowly pulling away. Estielle stared silently at him.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that," he said quickly.

Estielle pulled him closer, planting several soft kisses on his lips, before lowering her head into the crook of his neck, still refusing to let go of him. Darren just held her, taking in the scent of her hair, the slow rise and fall of her breathing, the way her hands trembled.

"You scared me you fucker," said Patricia, jabbing him in the shoulder with a finger.

"Sorry Doctor Grey", he said quickly, "let's get inside, I'm sure we could all do with a hot drink."

CHAPTER SIX

Standing in the kitchen with both Patricia and Estielle, Darren's mind was racing, all he could find was coffee and hot chocolate, he was about to make another suggestion when Estielle leaned forwards, sniffing the chocolate powder,

"It's OK," she said quietly, "if it comes from you... I know I'll be safe."

"Are you sure?" Darren said, watching her slightly nod, "Because it really does taste good if it's done right."

Ten minutes later, the three of them were sitting in the lounge room, soft music was playing, Patricia had set herself up on a pile of cushions and Darren had taken a seat on one of his couches, to his delight, Estielle had taken a seat beside him.