Divinity: The Gathering: Book One (72 page)

“No!” I screamed loudly
, even though my throat was already raw and swollen from having screamed so loud before. I took off as fast as my legs could move — towards them.

             
I felt like I had been running through both water and quicksand. The muscles in my legs were taut, feeling as if they were straining to push me onward in my terror. I hadn’t seen the flash of white power emanating from Cam’s fingers shoot out to stop the downward arc of Drake’s blade, until I had gotten there. Cam was getting up already, but I was furious and already determined to do something to get Drake away from him, or hurt him or something!

Drake growled and attempted a sideways swipe just as Cam stood up
, and just as I had reached them both.

I dove
at and flung myself at Drake — to put myself in front of Cam.

“Star no!” I heard Cam scream out
, and I felt his fingers brush past my hair… missing my shirt.

The arc of the bla
de had swung across so swiftly, I didn’t even see it — and I surely didn’t even feel it until both Cam and Drake cried out in shocked anguish.

“No!!” Drake said in horror with wide eyes upon realizing what he had just done
, but he had swung way too hard and way too fast to stop even if he had realized that I was in front of him.

“No!! Forgive me Elo…!” He dropped his sword, fell to his knees and began to shriek in pain
, as holes of fiery white light began to punch through and break apart his flesh. He began to burn, his skin smoking, charring and finally exploding with the haunting lingering sound of his howls and pleas of pain, defeat and forgiveness.

             
Drake finally winked out like a flash bulb in the darkness, as if he had never been there to begin with. Somewhere in the distance, another deafening roar from a dark being howled in fury and anger, and the ground seemed to rumble like an earthquake for a few seconds and then stopped.

             
I clutched my middle, it was wet and sticky, and it burned like nothing that I’d ever felt before. The pain was excruciating and the smell of blood was strong in my nose and my throat as it rose and bubbled into my mouth and dribbled down my chin.

             
My knees gave out and I collapsed, but before I could hit the ground Cam caught me and hugged me to him.

His face appeared anguished
, as if he was crying but he wasn’t.

He stroked my hair, cradling me in his arms.

“Why did you do that?” He whispered.

             
I was already feeling lethargic and cold. The sting of the cut across my entire torso had been tortuously painful, but it was already beginning to go numb…like the rest of me, slowly. My blood had already soaked the entire front of my shirt and pants.

I gave a weak smile, unable to really speak as blood continued to drool from the corner of my mouth.

“It…was…supposed to happen, wasn’t it?” I managed an air of a whisper.

He sighed and rocked me, holding me close against his chest with my head cradled in his arm.

“I figured it out. Each, time they made me bleed…they either disappeared or — died.” I then whispered.

“What were you thinking?” he scolded me in a whisper as he stroked my hair.

              I spit up more blood in my attempt to answer him.

He rested his forehead to mine and closed his eyes, “You still shouldn’t have done that. I’m not
ready…” He bit his lip, his words trailing off.

Devastation masked his face
, and it hurt me to see it.

“You…saved me.
I had to save you,” I then whispered.

He pulled back a bit and smiled painfully down at me, wiping the blood from my chin and lips.

“You’ve already saved me a long time ago Star. I love you, no matter what happens and if at all possible…please always remember that,” He then whispered and then pressed his warm lips against my own. I closed my eyes momentarily, trying to savor the feel of his soft, warm lips on mine — awaiting death to come, finally.

When he pulled away, I slowly fluttered my eyes open
, no longer able to feel my feet or my legs. He was putting something in my hair, behind my ear and I wasn’t sure what it was at first until the sweet, fragrant smell reached my nose, overpowering the iron, sweet smell of blood.

It felt like a flower…a lily. It tickled the side of my temple as he secured it in place and then stroked my cheek.

I managed another weak smile.

“Did…I kill him? Satan
?” I breathed.

He pursed his lips and smiled at me.

“No, but you definitely pissed him off. What was that sphere?” He then asked with confusion on his face.

“I don’t….know.” I whispered.

I slowly raised a weak, shaky and bloody hand to caress his face. He held my fingers against his soft, warm lips and kissed them.

I was getting so sleepy
, and my teeth began to chatter now.

“I will never forget you Starling. I love you. My true given name is Cam`ael,” He whispered.

I managed another smile. I didn’t care that he called me Starling.

I liked hearing him say it.

“I love you, Cam`ael.” I whispered seeing the pain in his beautiful eyes as he hugged me to him, and kissed me softly once again.

The warmth of his lips lingered until I could no longer feel them or anything else anymore.

EXODUS: Cam`ael:

M
y original plan to take and kill her myself, in order to save her from both Drakael and Morning Star — and finally end my own existence in the process, had failed. I couldn’t do it…I didn’t want to do it. When Morning Star had shown up, I knew there’d be no hope or way around keeping her safe, especially with Drakael on our heels as well. I still could not get over what had become of him, and the near battle that could have become epic, instantly.

             
A thousand tears of anguish filled me, as I held her fragile, cold and dying body in my arms, and knowing that this would be the last time I’d be with her. The taste and scent of her blood was still strong on my own lips when I had kissed her, and I savored it — savored both her life and her essence. It was enough for me, to be able to keep and feel the most sanctified part of her flowing through my own being, for however much longer I would exist.

             
She had no idea she was going to die…no idea of what she was going to become, yet she had sacrificed herself in thinking it would save me. The only thing I didn’t anticipate was it being Drakael who would strike the fatal blow.

Or maybe I had.

She had selflessly tried to save me, an already condemned demon without even thinking, despite knowing what I am.

She
stood brave against the ultimate evil of all time, and defied his deceptions to his face. She was truly a divine warrior already to me. Morning Star’s rage would be known and felt all over his domain for a while after this, but that didn’t bother or worry me at all.

I still didn’t understand how, from whom or know where the large dome of divine light that had shielded
her had come from, let alone who illuminated the moon, so that she wouldn’t be afraid in the darkness… though I had a few guesses.

I thanked Elohim silently.

I was glad that it had ended the way it did, because Elohim had taken care of Drakael as I knew he would, once he shed her blood. Morning Stars’ cry and fury over her death was also satisfying enough for me to know that she’d be safe from him as well. Elohim apparently didn’t appreciate him trying to take her without her accepting him willingly, but we both knew that he would never give up. I knew he still wanted her, maybe even more now.

The price had been too high
, because I wasn’t ready to let her go. The short time spent together would be a lost memory to her, but it would never be that to me.

             
I loved her. I’d never loved anything more in my entire existence, and I would always love her this much. For what good it did, I gave her my true name with a small sense of hope that just maybe…she would remember. Maybe remember enough to kill me and end my suffering if anything.

“I love you Cam`ael,” She had whispered
, and those words alone filled me with a new sense of hope that I’d never had before, not just for myself.

I prayed that her declaration would not condemn her own destiny as a divine warrior
, even though it had meant so much to me to have been able to hear it from her lips.

             
When her cold hand fell away from my face and her heart ceased to beat, I heard and sensed Morning Star somewhere nearby.

Though I didn’t want this confrontation now, having her lifeless body in my arms was all the rage, sorrow, hate, power and determination that I needed to kill him righ
t and save the entire world, but I remained where I was, making no sudden moves or acknowledging where he stood.

In a way, I think I wanted him to kill me if he thought he could. I wouldn’t have fought back or tried to defend myself either.

“I thought you were a better fighter than that! How could you let him do this? You stood by and let him kill her! I know better —you did this on purpose! I thought you loved her!” He raged.

I did, that’s why you will never have her now, I
wanted to say to him but I remained silent.

“This…this isn’t over Cam`ael. It has just begun! I hope that she destroys you in the worst way possible and cuts your heart out literally, in fact…I know she will one day now,” He angrily hissed in a warning tone and then laughed.

The growing animosity and possible war between us, which had always been there, had just been escalated. The feeling was mutual, though I didn’t respond. In fact, I didn’t move or look up at him at all, still kneeling and cradling her to me as he ghosted away in his frustrated anger to which, I could care less. I hoped she would kill me too, I then thought as his last words echoed in my ears.

In the
next moment, I felt the presence of Edanai, Rahab Ryziel and Macai approaching me, and they moved in to form a semi-circle around me. Three flickering super, reflective mirrored lights in the distance were coming towards us. We knew who they were and what it would mean. They were coming for her, which meant I hadn’t tainted her after all — she was going to be rebirthed. That alone gave me both sadness and a renewed hope.

She was special
, but I had long since known that.

“Why didn’t you summon us?” Rahab was angry with me.

I was too devastated to even think of an answer right away, even though I had my reasons.

“Damn, could he be any more fucking psycho
tic?” Ry commented to lighten the mood, referring to Morning Star.

His humor didn’t work for me at the moment.

“We would have all come, every single one of us,” Ry then said to me.

“Cam, I
’m sorry.” Rahab said, hanging his head down low.

He was just as sorrowful as I was.

“Me too.” Edanai whispered.

“We’ll wait with you.” Ry then said. Even I had never seen
him this emotional and serious.

             
I continued to cradle her lifeless body in my arms protectively. The glow of the moonlight and shadows played softly against the curves of her beautiful face. Her eyes were closed as if she were merely at peace and sleeping, and it would have appeared that way if it weren’t for her blood spattered face and blood soaked clothing.

I inhaled her scent, touching her face softly again.

“No, you guys don’t have to. I’ll see you back home.” I whispered.

They knew what I meant when I said back home.

The spirit realm.

I had had enough of the mortal realm for a while. Once she was gone, I no longer wanted to be or spend time here for a long while.

“Well, I know it’s probably not going to make you feel better but at least she isn’t dead.” Ryziel then said.

Edanai sighed and Rahab remained with his head bowed
, as if showing respect.

             
The three glimmering light orbs of glory landed a few feet away. Three seraphim soldiers from Elohim’s army stood in wait, to take Star.

I hoped they would tell me that I would receive another reward for keeping her from Morning Star and Drakael…like letting her live a little longer for me
, but they said nothing.