Nikolai’s blood boiled within her veins.

Who was this worthless pile of flesh to tell her what she could and could not do? A dung beetle before a queen. An insignificant speck before God herself. Her fingers itched with desire, desire to set the entire boat aflame and spread this man’s charred guts across the deck. She lifted her hand, heat rising at the center of her palm, and in response the man pulled his sword closer towards him, perfectly still pointed at her.

But a sudden noise away from either of them made them turn their heads. They saw a crying child in the arms of his mother as she gently rocked him back and forth, trying to calm him down. A simple moment of kindness that was enough to give both pause.

If I torch this boat now, it might delay me enough that I’ll lose her in Gausville… Nikolai thought to herself. I suppose this means I have to play nicely, for now…

She turned back to the stranger, stepping forward. A twitch in his eyes made her stop. He stared at her, and Nikolai could see his gaze was filled with a strange emptiness. A sensation she felt often when she stared at herself in a mirror. She tilted her head to the side and smiled.

“Listen, you don’t want this fight.” She said, her voice now soothing and calm. “You see that kid over there? You’re not gonna harm me at all, you’re just going to make him an orphan, or worse dead.”

The man just stared back at her silently, briefly looking over to the woman and her child.

“Come now, you’re smart.” Nikolai lied. “You know that the second you strike towards me you’ve doomed every person on this boat. Make no mistake, I will incinerate every soul alive here if you piss me off.”

Silence, followed by a swing from his sword as he placed it in a scabbard on his back. A grin crawled across Nikolai’s face at the success of her words.

“Alright then.” He finally said, shaking his head. ”I hate to admit, but you are right. Trying to fight you here would just lead to me destroying this boat.”

You…? Who do you think you are you son of a bi- Nikolai held herself back before continuing. “You’re nothing more than a kid. What is your name?”

“Don’t mistake my hesitation for kindness, witch.” He spat, finger pointing towards her. “I’m... delaying your death for the sake of the people here.”

Nikolai raised her eyebrows with an exasperated expression on her face. Witch… how dare you...

“My death huh… on what charges? Who are you to decide when God lives or dies?”

“You murdered that man in cold blood. Should we ask him the same question?”

“He…” Nikolai leaned forward, feeling a vein twitch in her neck. “...Was scum. Unworthy of either life nor a proper death. I get to decide when scum like him lives or dies.” She circled around the man and he followed her with an unwavering gaze. “I am the reincarnation of the Almighty Fire, my purpose is pure, and just. Are you a religious man… uh…”

“Laurence.”

“...Laurence?”

“Yes.” He said quietly. “I am, and you don’t strike me as particularly holy if you don't mind me saying. What is your name?”

“Is it the mask?” Nikolai asked, taking off the hood of her cloak and revealing her white and gray hair. The rain fell down upon her, washing her hair. “My name is Nikolai.”

“More the murder. Thou shalt not kill and all that. I would say a pleasure to meet you but...”

She laughed. “You clearly don't know your own God, Laurence. Across history he’s killed more than anything in existence!”

Except maybe death itself…

“I don’t care. A murderer like you has no right spouting off nonsense about being God and supreme judge.”

“I HAVE EVERY RIGHT.” She screamed, as a flash of fire shot from her left eye under her mask. “I was chosen by Heaven, I went through Hell itself to be given the powers that course through me.”

“Bullshit.” Laurence exclaimed, stepping back.

“You think you’re better than me? What have you done? Hmm? Found a fancy sword in some cave and now you’re all high and mighty? Please.” Nikolai paced around Laurence some more, mockingly laughing at him.

“If you must know, I was gifted this blade by an angel, with the sole purpose of slaying evil, like you.”

Nikolai stared at him confused before a powerful laughter shook her body. She laughed and laughed, leaning on a nearby handrail for support. “Hah, oh man. You’re killing me. I haven’t laughed like that in years…”

“Are you mocking me?” Laurence angrily shouted.

“Yes? God you’re even stupider than you look. You claim to be some angel-chosen savior but you’re as blind and stupid as a bag of bricks. You haven’t even noticed.”

“Notice-?” Laurence looked down rapidly, but it was too late. A trail of black ashes wet from the rain circled round and around him. The moment he broke his scrutinous staring, Nikolai stomped her left foot down, sending sparks flying from her sandals onto the ashes. She threw her hand upwards fueling the embers instantly into a raging inferno. Walls of fire surrounded Laurence, flooding him with smoke and scorching heat.

Nikolai gleefully watched as the flames battered and flickered upwards. Soon, the fire alarm began to ring and people rushed out onto the deck from below and some moved towards the blaze.

Good luck putting that fire out.

“Sorry Darling, but this is my stop. Hope you have a nice roast.” Nikolai laughed maniacally as she walked away, blending in with the crowd that quickly gathered.

She made her way to the front deck and looked up the river. The Gausville harbor was less than a few minutes away. Steam escaped from her hair as water rained down on her, before she covered herself with her cloak once more. Her eyes turned back to the other side of the boat, as the men still fruitlessly tried putting out the wild flames.

Her smirk faded instantly as the entire deck collapsed under her feet. A black blade that tore and bent the shadows themselves stabbed towards her neck as she fell. With quick thinking, she unleashed a torrent of fire down. The sheer force flung her out of harm’s way but painfully slammed her into the metal side of the ship.

She stumbled back up to her feet. Her eyes went wide and the rage she suppressed earlier was unleashed upon seeing Laurence before her. His blade was pointed towards her once again. Nikolai’s hand grabbed her cloak, tossing it off her body and revealing the one armed dress underneath. As she let go of the cloth, her flames flowed through it turning it into ashes.

“You bastard… How did you...” She said, her voice coursing with anger. “Alright then. No more playing nice.”

He ignored her, rushing forward to strike but Nikolai’s power was overwhelming. It surged through her hand and exploded outward, engulfing the entire lower level into a red hot layer of molten flame. Laurence was blasted back into the walls of the ship, leaving a huge dent in them.

Nikolai rushed him, slamming his head into the wall once more and following that with kicks and punches. Her flames sparked off of him with every swing. Her hits were wild and unfocused but left searing marks every time they landed. The assault stopped when she noticed Laurence reaching for his blade, jumping back at the perfect moment to avoid his swing. A black wailing mark sliced the air and remained suspended. He swung again. And again. Nikolai barely avoided each time he stabbed towards her, causing another shadowy line to be drawn into the air itself.

Feeling herself get close to the wall, Nikolai unleashed a blazing pillar from her hand and stopped Laurence’s ceaseless onslaught. Despite him blocking it with his sword, it was a direct hit that knocked him back into a bench which was destroyed under him.

Nikolai saw her chance. Her left hand slowly got hotter and hotter, the scars on her skin turning from a deep red to a bright white as she coalesced her energy. The iron railings besides her slowly began liquefying as her fingers grazed past them, whistling and releasing steam. Laurence looked up through hazy eyes, the scorching heat causing him to sweat even at that distance.

Before she could release, however, the boat slammed into the harbor and knocked her off her feet. She stumbled forward, quickly regaining her balance. This caused her body to pass through the lines of darkness cut by Laurence’s blade, and his weary scowl turned into a smug smile. The shimmering shadows slashed once again, dark echoes of his previous swings. They ripped and tore Nikolai’s skin and flesh, on her chest, her back, her arms and her head. Blood gushed in torrents from her wounds as she screamed in pain. Every surface it spattered on began to melt and dissolve. She collapsed on her arms and knees. Her left hand sunk through the wooden floor almost immediately causing all the heat to dissipate.

“YOU BASTARD!” She yelled, gasping for breath. Smoke began to seep from her body as her blood turned into bright flames that slowly cauterized her wounds. Her left eye was alight with fire, spewing upwards and out from behind her mask. “DO I NOT HAVE ENOUGH SCARS? YOU WANT TO GIVE ME MORE?” She kept shouting in a maddened frenzy.

Nikolai pulled her hand out of the smoking charred wood. Blind in her craze, she ignited her hands with her unholy strength. She was ready to set the ferry ablaze further, but Laurence was nowhere to be seen. What she saw instead was a massive chunk of wall sliced away in the side of the ship. She rushed forward and noticed large portions of metal and debris that simply floated in the air outside of the ship. Carefully grabbing one, she noticed that it was cleanly cut, with the same shimmering darkness shining on its edge.

His blade...? It must be…

Her fatigued eyes scoured the dark waters for any sign of life. The lack of any filled her with fury even further. Her arm shot forward, unleashing a piercing bolt of flame down into the river. And then came another. And another. Her flames were untouched by the water or the rain and steam surged upwards. All while accompanied by a maddened laughter.

“Laurence, Laurence! I expected more from you! How dare you run from me?” Nikolai shouted to herself as she kept flinging fireballs into the river. “What sort of valiant fighter are you? You are nothing but a fucking coward. I want to tear you apart limb from limb for what you did! I want to hear your skin singe and boil under my flames! I will make you scream my name!”

Another massive log of burning wood fell behind her, and she turned to look at it. The entire boat had docked and was now nothing but a smoldering amalgamation of fire, wood, and steel.

He’s gone… Son of a bitch… I should get into the city before this ship crumbles completely.

Slowly, she limped back towards the other center side and walked up a flight of stairs to the main deck of the ship. Most of the people had evacuated, with some still on the verge of getting off. Nikolai paused, looking down at her dress. Luckily it was still in decent condition with only mild cuts along its sleeve and somewhat charred from her inferno. Anger flooded her mind, and anger fueled her fires, closing her wounds shut.

She shook herself off and took one last quick gander to where she started the fire, and saw a roundish block of wood hovering above a hole in the deck. Confirming her suspicions, she sauntered off the ship and onto the harbor as a crowd watched her with bated breath. No point in hiding any longer. With a wave of her hand as she walked further up the pier she revealed her flames. The crowd dispersed and fled at her display. Nikolai walked further into the city until she was stopped by police cars, ambulances and fire trucks that were gathered in a parking lot outside of the port harbor.

“Stop where you are! If you take another step we will use deadly force against you.” A loud voice boomed through a megaphone behind one of the cars. Nikolai’s eye scanned the area, and saw dozens of cops and firefighters cowering behind cars and trucks. Annoyed, she stretched her arms up and to the side, hearing her bones crack. Without a cloak to shield her there was a constant steam emanating from her body as the rain hit her.

“You guys got here awfully fast…” She said. “Did someone on the boat tell you I was coming or what?”

“I said stop, woman! We will shoot!” The cop continued to bark.

“You know, I had a terrible trip here and I have a splitting headache… I wouldn’t try and annoy me further.” She said, her right eye glowing with demented zeal while her left eye flashed another wave of fire from behind her mask.

No one could tell where the first bullet was fired from, perhaps the hands of an anxious rookie or a fearful elderly officer that tried to fire a warning shot past the threat, but Nikolai felt it long before it hit her. Her hand reached out towards it, embracing its heat, feeling the radiating force behind it coalesce with hers. She moved her hand around her, almost pulling the bullet towards her. The now molten slag began to rapidly spin around and around her body, like a small firefly trailing light as it flew.

“How dare you… how dare all of you raise a single finger against me?” She said, the bullet now spinning down her arm like a coil picking up speed and growing slightly. “I came here peacefully, I was going to pass through this town just doing my task, but I see now.” She continued, with the bullet now in her palm, and trailing down to her finger. “You are all sinful, you all must be cleansed! REJOICE, FOR YOUR SOULS SHALL BE PURIFIED!” Nikolai shouted, flicking her finger and shooting the ball of metal and flame out towards the cars.

The projectile cut through the air with abnormal speed, like a bolt of lightning straight into the head of the man with the megaphone. His entire upper body exploded into a shower of fiery blood and brain matter. Everyone stared in shock as his limp body fell off the hood of the car down onto the street with a squelch. Immediately there was shouting from every direction with people calling for reinforcements on their radios and orders being given.

“You’re welcome!” Nikolai giggled to herself, before wave after wave of gunfire rained down upon her.

Her arm painted a barrier of scarlet and amber on the air surrounding herself. Their weapons were useless against her. The bullets were harmless upon hitting her shield, like gnats falling into a raging river. Then they swarmed her, a swathe of trailing lights orbiting around her as Nikolai spun in response. She thrust her arms and legs outwards, sending orb after orb of liquid death through the air bombarding her opposition. Her deadly gentle dance continued as cars, people and even the nearby buildings exploded into a fiery demise. When the entire boulevard was thoroughly destroyed and the people were either dead or fleeing, Nikolai stopped and bowed.

“REJOICE! YOU ARE NOW FREE!”

----------------------------------------

Constantine woke up enraptured by a sensation of fear. He rubbed his eyes as he made his way to the bathroom for some washing up. They’d been in this place for a few weeks now, and aside from a couple quick trips outside for some food, Insect had insisted that he and Uriel best stay inside. It was difficult to adjust to normalcy after so long. Not that much of his circumstances could be considered normal, but after the past few weeks, it was definitely different enough.

His schedule mainly consisted of eating food, sleeping, teaching Uriel about table pool, and watching TV. The news, presented by some local stations in Gausville, was grim. A lot of cities and towns across the continent had been razed to the ground by hordes of wights and other unknown monsters. Some areas however, had been avoided entirely so far. Those lucky enough to avoid death fled to these safe places. Communication with the outside was scarce but there was talk of some military resistance building up in these refugee cities.

This was enough to give Constantine hope that the mess Katherine caused could somehow be fixed. His mind lingered on Katherine for a moment longer, a skip in his heartbeat still aching over her betrayal, his face aching in memory of the thorough beating she gave him.

Have you fled? Hidden yourself somewhere in shame, or did the Devil himself come and drag you to hell where you deserve to live out your days?

He took a long look at himself in the mirror, sighing. Constantine dared not think about her any longer, everytime he did his mind went back to Nikolai and he simply could not bear that. He focused on himself instead. Most of his bruises and cuts had healed up somewhat. Some wounds still remained, such as the massive claw marks on his neck.

Hey, at least it matches my tiger scar… He laughed to himself as he looked over his shoulder at the older red scars that ran down his back. By the end of this I’m gonna look like jerky…

A sudden realization struck his mind. All of his wounds seemed to heal fast, a bit too fast. Constantine looked down at his left thigh where he got shot and sure enough, nothing more than a small round scar. He hadn’t noticed it while being constantly on the run, but now it became apparent.

Is this because of the dagger? He questioned. Uriel? Something… else?

“God I hope not.” He said to himself. “I gotta deal with enough freaky shit already.” He paused, taking a deep breath.

Calm down idiot, its probably some side effect of that holy dagger right? Gotta be. If its healing you then its fine no? What’s the worst that could happen…

He turned to leave before a recent memory flashed before his eyes. “Nothing bad… except those creepy Pale Shadows from the other week, that definitely qualifies as a worst-case scenario right? God damn it Constantine you’re talking to yourself, have you lost your marbles? Its too early in the morning for this… let's just get breakfast... me.“

Constantine finished up and then made his way to the common kitchen, where he was greeted by Insect as was their daily routine.

“Anything new today?” He said. As usual, she only shook her head without even looking at him. She drank her black tea and continued reading a little book with a white-teal cover. Besides her on the table was a notebook and pen she used to communicate more important matters with the two of them.

“Is Uriel up yet?” Constantine asked while getting himself some breakfast.

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

She nodded her head pointing towards the common room. Constantine nodded in acceptance and sat down across from her.

“Soooo, what's that book about? Its a new one it seems. Last you were reading a green cover one…” He tried making conversation as he ate his jam and butter spread toast. After a few seconds of being ignored, he pressed the matter. “Insect?”

She gave him an annoyed glare before scribbling in her notebook: None of your business.

Alright fuckin… sheesh I was just making some conversation... Constantine thought to himself as he leaned back away from her and continued nibbling on his sandwich, defeated. His gaze wandered towards the window where the rain kept pouring as it had ceaselessly for the past days. He got up and stared out the window, pulled by a powerful distant ringing. He saw a cop car drive by in a street in the distance with sirens blaring. Followed by another, and another, and then an envoy of large armored trucks. All gunning off in the distance.

Something’s not right here.

On queue, he heard Uriel’s wings beating as she rushed towards the kitchen. He turned and saw her standing in the doorway, despair written all over her face. Insect put down her book slowly and rose from her chair. Soon, all three were surrounding the TV in the common room, as the anchorman outlined the breaking news.

Constantine watched with horror in his eyes as helicopter footage of Nikolai torching cars, buildings, and people played. She was merciless. The streets themselves were on fire as she made her way deeper into the city. The authorities were desperately trying and failing to evacuate people from the path of her wrath.

“I have to go.” Constantine said when he had enough. He rushed towards his room before Uriel stopped him.

“You’re not going there alone.” Uriel pleaded.

“Uriel, I’m not going to argue this! I have to stop her.” He shouted while aggressively pulling his shoulder away from her hand.

“Constantine LOOK at her!” She shouted back. “There’s an entire armada trying and failing miserably to stop her.”

“Yes, and that's exactly why I must go. No one else can do anything to her. She needs me.”

Uriel stepped back, afraid of further altercation.

“Insect, can you drive me there?” Constantine said.

She shook her head.

“Can I borrow the car then?”

She shook her head again.

“Can you go fuck yourself then?”

Insect glared at him before flipping him off. Constantine stormed off to his room. There, he got dressed and ready. He strapped a couple guns to his belt as well as The Death Rose which he hesitated slightly before equipping. He then tapped his chest, checking for his dagger which he kept in the chest pocket of his long white overcoat. Finally, he reached for the necklace that Mephisto gifted him. He enjoyed the feeling of running his fingers over the cold metal. It seemed to inspire him, fill him with strength. Perhaps it was just placebo, but nonetheless, he placed it around his neck and ran towards the door. Blocking his path was Uriel, anger and sadness all too apparent on her face.

“You... promised you would not leave me behind again.” She began with a trembling echoing voice.

“Uriel, move.” Constantine replied without hesitation.

“I can’t let you go alone. You’re too weak against her.”

“I am not going to risk your safety because of me. I need to see her again… I… need her. Please, try to understand. And move.”

Uriel bit her lip. “Fine, but we’re going together. If you dare try and stop me, I promise to God, I will break your legs.”

Constantine stepped back, surprised by the threat. “I don’t want to fight you Uriel.”

“The sentiment is mutual. You are obsessed. You can’t think straight when its about her.”

“You’re GODDAMN right I’m obsessed! I love her Uriel! I have loved her for as long as I’ve known her. Half my waking thoughts are about her. Do you have any idea what that’s like?”

Uriel stared at him, desperately wanting to scream out, to stop him. But all that came out was silence and a sharp, aching pain in her heart. She fell on her knees, hands clutching her thighs.

Her eyes trembled as the silence grew between them and tears dripped down on her clothing. Despair enveloped her soul and mind. Her wings slumped over her body, hiding her shame.

“I know you love me.” He whispered, just barely loud enough for her to hear. “But I can’t love you back.”

Constantine threw his dagger past Uriel’s wings and pierced through them and then the door behind her. Invoking its holy power, he faded from sight and left behind a faded visage of his form that vanished soon after. To Uriel, it looked like a pallid black mist that passed through her and the door. She saw a teardrop fall gently on her hand, but this one was not her own.

----------------------------------------

Baphomet stepped carefully forward across the barren rooftop of the building. It was a small, ten story condo with a good view of the mayhem taking place on the avenue below. He knew he would find Her here. He paused, taking notice of his cold breath and the biting chill that crawled and coiled around his veins.

“I must say, you must be proper daft to approach me so casually.” A biting frigid voice called out to him.

Baphomet’s eyes scanned the skyline until he spotted Lady Death’s shadow, sitting on a stone gargoyle hanging from the roof. Her legs were daintily dangling in the dusky sky. Her back was turned towards him, a shadowy silhouette, and he saw her cloak wistfully blowing in the rain and wind, like ashes blown away after a cleansing forest fire. But most importantly he saw her holding her scythe besides her, luminous even without light, like a mosaic of shattered glass.

“Well?” She said, drawing out the vowel. “Your presence is unwanted here, tut tut, shoo.”

Baphomet was silent, walking forward. Death’s hand twitched, turning the angle of her reaper blade just a hair. Instantly, a large wound sliced open on Baphomet’s left cheek. The devil paused, bringing his hand to his face and looking at his dripping black blood.

“It’s been several eons since anyone has made me bleed.” He finally said with a hoarse voice.

“You were warned.” She replied cheerfully.

“Hmph. Perhaps you need a warning as well. I do not take insults such as these kindly. You are Death, I am Lord of the Afterlife, You best remember that.” He said, pointing a decrepit finger towards her. “I know your powers, and your limitations. This is but a vision, a mirage, a dream. You cannot touch me in the waking world.”

The wind howled between the two of them, as a single leaf swirled in the air before vanishing. Slowly, Lady Death rose from her seat, her dark shadow spreading unnaturally tall and wide. He realized as she walked towards him that she had been facing him this whole time.

“What do you desire, Wolf Tamer? Why do you seek Death?” She said, voice writhing with hate.

“I demand answers. What is your business with the Angel?”

“That concern is none of yours.”

“Oh but it is.” He said with a bitter tone. “I asked for your help on the assumption that you were not involved in this. Your little fire-wielder says otherwise.”

“You asked for help because the other Silences despise you, and you are alone in this war. I gave you a vessel for your blade did I not? I gave you one of my beautiful pets to use as you wish. You drove Laurence towards the church and made him yours.”

“And then Laurence ran into your other beautiful pet.” He spat out.

“Yes, and before this night is over they shall meet once more.” She prophesied. “The clashing of their powers will tear this place asunder. The angel will-”

“That angel will die tonight!” Baphomet retorted with anger coursing through his voice. “Camael, was meant to be mine. I was defied at the last second, but I took solace knowing that her entire cursed bloodline had been erased from existence. Balance must be restored. Azazel and Baal failed in getting me that abomination. Laurence will not. The Old Man will find out and retaliate eventually!”

Death silently whipped her scythe forward, pointing it towards Baphomet. He paused, staring her down with a raised palm.

“Am I supposed to be intimidated, Lady Death?” He said nonchalantly.

“Do you hear the thunder, Lord Baphomet?” She said. ”This storm is something we agreed to weather together. Do you intend to break that agreement?”

“I have suspicions about your ambition Reaper, but know that no matter what it is, I will not foolishly stand idly by and let you risk upsetting the natural order. Consider our alliance undone.” His words fell like a guillotine.

Death’s blade flashed, cleaving forward with a deafening, roaring sound. An azure void carved through the air before her, glowing faintly before fading into wisps of light. There was nothing but a shadow. Lady death paced around petulantly but it was too late. Baphomet had vanished.

----------------------------------------

Constantine’s legs ran at a grueling pace. The rain and wind battered his face and body, but he could not feel the cold. Only his destination lay before him. He followed the countless cars and trucks that made their way into the heart of the city. Each vehicle was larger and more armored than the previous.

Faster, Constantine, Faster! He said to himself, gritting his teeth.

He ran and ran and he kept running, his lungs bursting in his chest as he weaved in and out on the streets and alleys of the city, between citizens running the other way and cars nearly running him over. Then he heard them. The screams and sounds of destruction and a roaring flame far in the distance. His eyes went wide and his pace quickened. The faster he ran, the louder the harrowing noise became. Likewise, the temperature rose higher and higher and the very air he breathed got heavy with smog and ash.

Sweat and rain dripped from his brow as he turned a corner and there, he saw her. Behind rows after rows of thrashed vehicles and piling smoldering corpses. An army of swat teams and soldiers surrounded her from all sides with riot shields and heavy weaponry trying to beat her down for a chance of evacuating the wounded and fleeing. Nikolai danced at the center of the chaos. Each movement unleashed another redhot wave of flame barrelling towards anything in her vicinity. Constantine finally stopped, panting and watching with wide bulging eyes. His lip quivered in fear and a chill ran up his spine. He was gripped by a frigid cold, despite the scorching heat.

How could this happen? How could the sweet innocent girl I loved so much commit such atrocities? How could she unleash so much merciless death? He thought as he watched with tears in his eyes.

Nikolai just gleefully laughed and waltzed as she purged, uncaring of anything or anyone. But he had to get closer, and so, he forced himself to run once again. A SWAT agent saw him coming and rushed him, shouting at him to stop and escape. Constantine stared him down as he got closer, and in a flash he shot his dagger in the air. Fizzling energy erupted from it as it whizzed past the man’s head and Constantine braced himself for the drowned world to engulf him. His body moved forward, painting afterimages on the void that swallowed all light, except for the dagger that shone like a beacon guiding him forward.

The man watched as a shadow passed through his body, immaterial and screamed in terror tossing his helmet away. Constantine only heard the faint glimmers of his moaning as he continued on his path with determination in his eyes. His hand found the dagger, and his body touched the corporeal ground once more.

A blast of sudden hot air hit him as he found himself in the middle of the intersection surrounded by burning wreckage. Most of all, Nikolai watched him from a short distance. Her hand was still stretched out from her previous movement, but now her entire body was frozen. Her right eye stared back into his. A small trembling pearl stained by the sky next to a large blazing ruby surrounded by unholy flames.

“No…” Nikolai’s voice whispered softly. “Why? Why did you have to come here…” She pulled her hand close and stepped back.

“Nikolai…” Constantine began before he was cut off.

“No, you’re not here.” She said turning around and grabbing her head with her palms. “If I don't see you then you’re not here…”

“Please, look at me. Please Nikolai!”

“NO!” She shouted. “No, you don’t understand. She’ll make me kill you if I do.”

“No Nikolai I don't understand. How can I? Look at this, everything, all this death... for what? You must, you must stop this madness!”

She turned to him slowly. Her eye trembled in fear. “Ahahahahahaha!” She cackled maniacally. “Constantine, you always were an idiot. This is not madness, this is liberation. What you are witnessing is the glorious flame of a Goddess. I am here to cleanse their impure souls, I am setting their minds free from the cage of lies they’re trapped into.”

“You’ve fooled yourself with the mask you’re wearing, but you can’t fool me.” Instinctively Nikolai reached up to the beak of her plague mask. Constantine shook his head. “Not that one. You may have deluded yourself into believing you’re some god. I couldn't care less Nikolai.” He stepped forward towards her, arms positioned non threateningly. “I don’t know what happened to you after you died, but that is not you. You’re not God, you’re my Cherry. And you are hurting, just like back then. Let go of this rage that consumes you. Come back to me.” He said with tears streaming down his face.

Silence dawned between them as Nikolai slowly reached back at her head with shivering hands and took off her mask, tying it around her left wrist.

“You’re still so beautiful.” He said softly.

She looked up at him with watery eyes. Light steam escaped from their corners.

“I’m...“ She began. “I’m scared Constantine. I look at myself in the mirror sometimes and just see this stranger. You mentioned… back then… I can’t remember back then… I can barely remember you. Bits of my soul are all gone, lost deep in the rabbit hole. All this death, it fills me with happiness, it swells me with excitement, it arouses me. I get this joy from watching them scream as my flames melt their flesh. It feels like I’m doing good.” She walked closer to him. “But a part of me is terrified… terrified to even ask myself this question… the fear that doing so will make me shatter like glass. What if… I’m not? ”

Her arm gently reached out to his cheek, hesitating for a long second before she finally touched him. Nikolai closed her eyes and let the sensation of her palm on his face wash over her. It hurt, but she bore through the pain even when Constantine wrapped his hand on top of hers.

“I want you, more than anything, but I can’t… I can’t love you.” She told him.

Her words pierced his heart like a lance, tearing it asunder. He stumbled back for a step, the weight of reality crashing upon him.

“Stay with me just a moment longer Nikolai, please.” He begged.

“I can’t, She wont let me Constantine. Its all because of that God-forsaken angel… Our lives were so simple before her…“ She said, getting angrier and more frustrated. “If I falter any more Death will just discard me. I’ve been given a second chance that I cannot lose. Please… I don’t want to go back, don’t make her take me back please. You can’t make me go back!”

“Calm down Nikolai please, I don’t care about the angel. Not like I do for you.” He said trying to keep up with her as she pulled back away from him.

Nikolai stared back with a defeated expression on her face.

“Who is lying now Constantine?” She whispered. “I’m just a wilted rose. Go away, leave… Please, don’t force me to kill you.”

“Don’t do this to me Nikolai. I swore I would get you back, I refuse to give up on you.” He said, grabbing her by the wrist. She immediately slapped his hand away.

“Don’t. Touch. Me. Again.” Nikolai spat out with rage and disgust. “I won’t let you break my heart again. You abandoned me. You let me fall when I begged you to save me.”

“Nikolai…”

“Leave Constantine. Don’t make me kill you.”

“STAY WITH ME NIKOLAI!” He shouted.

“I! SAID! LEAVE!” She screamed back, exploding with smoke and despair. Her flames erupted straight towards Constantine, sending him flying back into a flaming chunk of asphalt. He slumped to the ground in a daze barely holding himself conscious. His vision trickled back slowly and he saw Nikolai staring at him, panting heavily. A rippling line sliced across the air towards her, before it swelled into a blast of violet darkness. Her flames surrounded her at the last moment but the hit still landed, propelling her back with a tumble.

W-what, what was that? Constantine wondered as his eyes adjusted to the smog and the clinging shadows. A familiar figure formed in the distance in the light of the embers. His mind raced, searching, begging for a name that was sitting there in the back of his throat waiting to be spoken. Laurence?

“L-LAURENCE?” He shouted with a cough. “Whu, what are you doing here?”

He turned to Constantine with an infuriated look on his youthful face. He readied his sword and swung towards Nikolai once more but this time the blast did not have the same effect. A pillar of flame shot towards him from the ashes knocking him off balance. She emerged from the dust with blood pouring out of her mouth. Little shining red droplets hit the ground as they dripped from her hair and face.

“You... You just don’t know when to quit do you? You really want to be a pile of charred bones by the end of today, don't you?” She shouted with a sore, maddened tone in her speech. “You waited until I let my guard down… you make me sick... you filthy scum…”

Laurence did not wait for her to attack and only got back on his feet, swinging with wild abandon. His dark blade sliced through earth, smoke, and air sending shockwaves of dim moonlight straight into Nikolai’s blazing inferno. Constantine watched in stunned silence as the two clashed, the light of their powers sparking out amongst the burning ruined avenue. But soon, another light descended next to him, bathing him in it with its soothing white touch. The powerful beating of wings washed away all the smoke surrounding him.

“Uriel?” He said with a quiet voice. She nodded at him, but he could not see her face clearly as the ashen smoke got thicker and more opaque and quickly flooded the area upon her landing.

“We must get out of here, fast.” Uriel whispered with her echoing voice. Her hands delicately reached around Constantine’s shoulder pulling him up, but a pained groan from him caused her to stop.

“Uriel why did you come? She’s going to see you…”

“I was never going to let you go alone Constantine. You could not have stopped me, and neither could Insect.”

“Uriel... I’m…”

“Save it. Are you hurt?”

Constantine did not respond, instead his eyes kept watching Nikolai in fear. Her battle with Laurence shook the very foundations of the earth, but now they had reached a standstill, the briefest of moments of peace. A single second long enough for Nikolai to turn and see Uriel. Her eyes went wide. Her mannerisms shifted as her glorious purpose lay before her. Newfound strength and hate pumped through her veins as her hair floated upwards and shimmered with golden flames.

“There you are!” She said cheerfully. “There are no words for how badly I want to burn you alive and hear you beg me for mercy. Everything, its all your fault! You, the most impure, unholy abomination that you are. Demon, I will erase every trace of you from this reality.”

Uriel turned defiantly towards her. “Nikolai, I am truly, deeply sorry for all the pain I have caused you. I hope someday you can find the kindness deep within your soul to forgive me. Maybe someday, I can find that same kindness within me. Until then, I cannot undo what has happened to you because of me, but I cannot allow you to go any further. This is not right. You are no longer the Nikolai I briefly knew. You are insane. Diseased, without a cure.”

The heat became unbearable, the ground around Nikolai became a slurry of cement and dirt. Her scars were glowing brighter than any flame that surrounded her. A dark expression settled on her face. Then came another blinding flash from his blade as Laurence screamed towards her: “DON’T IGNORE ME BITCH”

His dark energy stormed through the air, yet not a single wisp of fire rose up to defend Nikolai as before. Instead, she raised her left arm slowly, stopping the blow in the center of her palm.

“Not this time.”

The shockwave reverberated, sending him flying back. The blackened ink swirled in Nikolai’s hand, slowly getting fueled by her blaze. She lifted her arm above her head, coalescing it into a larger and more massive form. Their powers painted a phantasmical sphere of fire and shadows, swirling, surging and radiating into the smoking sky. Uriel and Constantine watched in horror. It was too late to flee now.

“Behold the glory of the true Goddess. Let your putrescence be sundered by this holy Balefire. Let us all falter. Let us all crumble.” She laughed, arms outstretched as she took in the sight of her glorious flame, her eyes dripping bloody tears.

“NIKOLAI STOP THIS MADNESS!” Constantine screamed, still hoping deep within his soul that she would cease, but his words fell on deaf ears. Uriel understood the gravity of her situation, and wrapped her arms and wings around Constantine. A barrier of lightforged swords surrounded them. She closed her eyes, bracing and praying quietly as Nikolai’s hysterical laughter echoed through their souls.

“ASHES! ASHES!...”

“...WE ALL...”

“...FALL...”

“...DOWN!”

That night, the sky became alive with pure sunlight.