The radiant flames danced around Constantine while a billowing inferno erupted around Nikolai.
Constantine’s body was alight with Uriel’s grace. His muscles were fully tensed and the joints in his limbs locked in place. The sheer divine strength that coursed through his veins in that moment was on the verge of ripping his body to shreds. His entire mental capacity was focused on keeping his body from exploding into a shower of flesh and blood.
The same was true for Nikolai, as her scars burned with unholy flames, brighter and more furiously than they ever had before. She had been burning brightly the whole day, and she had never pushed herself as hard as she did now. Despite the intensity of her scorching fire, Nikolai knew her time was running short, maybe even shorter than Uriel and Constantine’s. She felt her scars growing, etching into the small patches of skin she had left on her arm. Curiously, she took her mask off and clipped it on her waist.
Her eyes, Nikolai’s cursed eyes stared back at Constantine. A painful feeling arose in his soul and he felt he might lose himself in the oceans of red and blue. Despite the unnatural energies that violently burst around them, they each saw a deep sadness in the gaze of the other. Each longed only for the other’s embrace, but that opportunity was long past. Their decisions had been made, their wills steeled with their resolve. Nikolai stepped forward, reaching out with her right hand. Constantine steadied himself, grasping his spear, but stopped when he saw that this was not an attack. She merely grabbed one of the petals of soot that floated between them. It crumbled into dust against her nail and he saw a brief moment of contemplation in her eyes.
“Ashes in between us.” She repeated quietly. “I wish I could remember a time where there wasn’t only fire. Nothing but fire and dust.”
He was silent. Just opening his mouth to speak was like being stabbed by a thousand swords in the neck. Constantine however, pushed through the excruciating pain, and said: “You chose this path. As have I. I swear until my dying breath I will turn you back, whether this means killing you or not.”
Nikolai’s serene expression suddenly changed into one of anger. “I did not choose to be brought back!” She shouted. “I did not choose to be Death’s pawn. Its not my fault… not… mine. You let me die… You let me there to rot! She… saved me. Death gave me a chance at salvation. And look around…” She said, arms pointed at the destruction and ruin around her. “Look at all the souls I’ve saved in one day. Quick, painless, their consciousness now freed of their sins. Can you say you’ve chosen a more righteous path than me?”
“You’ve truly lost your mind.” He said.
“No, you still believe that there is anything other than hell that awaits either of you. I’ve seen hell, I’ve felt its cold tormenting abyss. I never want to see it again. With my flames, I’m guaranteeing their redemption. If anything, I'm the only one that’s sane here.” She said with a smirk. Nikolai’s hair then flared out wildly, and the flames in her left eye followed, blazing into an even greater pyre than earlier. “I must say, I find it hilarious. You talk about killing me as if its going to be so easy for you. You should just accept my gift. I’m giving you a courtesy you did not give me. I will cremate your bodies into nothingness, and liberate you from your sins.”
Her left arm arched back and every wisp of fire around Nikolai coalesced into her palm in an instant. Her hand shot forward, releasing a blast of heat and flame of gigantic proportions, rushing towards Constantine with a howling scream. His pale eyes saw her ready her attack, immediately fading into nothingness with the power of his holy lance. The wall of fire was now moving half as fast towards him, giving him ample time to dodge. However, Constantine’s eyes now saw a thin red line floating in the air right before them.
His head snapped back to Nikolai, and he saw a blindingly white bolt of fire rip out of her finger following the trail of the red line, shredding everything in its path. Even in this faded dimension of his dagger, the blast was exceedingly fast. He had dodged exactly as Nikolai had predicted. Unconsciously, Constantine put up his arms to defend and created a shield of light in front of him. It was barely enough to stop the blast from tearing his head off completely, instead, it just smashed into his body, flinging him back and pulling him out of the shardblade’s world.
“Grraagh!” He groaned, clutching his chest and head in pain. God damn it, how did she see me?
“You’re not the only one who learned new tricks, Constantine!” He heard Nikolai laugh. “I was ready for you to vanish with that blade of yours like earlier, haha!” She cackled, proud of her maneuver. She then stumbled back, almost hiding her left arm behind her, stalling.
A faint whisper ringed in his ears. It was a subtle voice that slowly grew in intensity as Constantine lay there writhing.
Who…? He thought to himself before the realization struck. Uriel! Why are you in my head? Where are you?
You just bit into my heart and we merged, body and soul, dumbass! Uriel’s voice loudly proclaimed in his head.
Oh… right. That makes a lot of sense. Sorry I just got blasted by a fucking ten meter firewall and I think I hit my head against a roc-
You don’t have to tell me, I assure you. I currently am feeling the exact same pain you are. Uriel’s voice echoed, with annoyance in its tone.
That's... reassuring.
Listen, your body’s fighting against me, that's why you’re in such pain right now, ignoring the wall of flame. You need to let go, and accept me in control. Separated, our bodies are on the verge of death, but together we can maybe scrounge enough time to defeat her.
That’s… not so reassuring.
I believed in you Constantine, so I need you to believe in me now.
Constantine closed his eyes, and laid back onto the broken ground. He allowed his mind to relinquish control of his limbs and felt himself stand up, slowly.
“I was almost disappointed at how quickly you died there.” Nikolai said followed by a smug smile.
Constantine shot her a mean look, forcing her to flinch.
“Hmm, the look in your eyes changed, is that other bitch in control now?” She asked while her scars lit ablaze once more. “Good, I’ll enjoy torching her first, feather by feather.”
Once again Nikolai arched back and unleashed a devastating torrent of flame from her arm. Uriel however, was ready, jumping off a nearby broken car and launching herself high up in the air barely avoiding the smoke and ash that scattered upwards. She spun around rapidly, bringing her wings close and materializing a volley of blades. Her movement ended, and she scattered the blades with the overwhelming beat of her wings.
Nikolai was nearly knocked down by the force of the wind gust, but she was steady on her feet. She dashed out of the way of the first blade, and then the second, and the next. Each sword shattered the earth, sending a rain of rocks and cement up in the air. Each sword made it harder and harder for Nikolai to dodge the next. Each sword inched closer and closer to her body, until one fell down and sliced her right thigh. A red line of blood dripped down her leg from this gash. The searing pain awoke Nikolai’s senses, and in a sudden invigorating madness, she stopped dodging. Instead, as the final blade thundered down upon her, she gently lifted her left arm.
“EAT THIS!” She screamed with a crazed smile on her face.
A barrage of flame erupted from her palm, engulfing Uriel’s blade and radiating out wildly. Uriel flew high avoiding the blast, and with her mind focused she pushed the blade further down towards Nikolai. But the sheer heat and fury of the flames pushed back against it, and slowly, the blade began to melt. Uriel strained herself, but to no avail. The blade shattered.
“Ha!” Nikolai couldn't help but giggle when she felt the resistance against her flames stop. She didn’t hesitate. She arched her arm back over her right shoulder, and whipped it back letting loose a crescent wave of fire.
Uriel lost altitude with each consecutive firewave she dodged. Nikolai knew this, but her attacks were relentless. She cared not for the pain that coursed through her veins. If she paused for even a moment, she knew her body would break. When Uriel got close enough to the ground, Nikolai took advantage and stamped her right foot down, sending out an enormous serpent of flame through the street. At the end of the path, the serpent erupted into a pillar of smoke, dirt and fire.
The angel pirouetted back in the air, avoiding the brunt of the blow, but it wasn't enough. While Uriel was busy dodging, Nikolai rushed forward towards her. Her claws dug into the path she made earlier and she superheated the debris in her hand as she ran. When Uriel landed, instead of a breath of air, she received a blast of flames, smoke and molten rocks barrelling towards her.
CONSTANTINE, NOW! Uriel screamed in her thoughts.
I GOT IT! Constantine screamed back, taking control of his muscles once again.
Before Nikolai could even blink, Constantine’s blade flared past her head as he threw it. Her attacks smashed against his after image. The flaming debris passed without resistance through his phantom and he saw Nikolai’s expression slowly change into one of shock. Through the hazy veil of the other world, he rushed past her. For a brief moment, let his mind fall into the void giving Uriel control once more. She sliced into Nikolai’s side with her edge of light and then their minds swapped once again.
Constantine stopped once he was far behind her, catching his dagger and letting his body materialize. Nikolai, utterly mad with rage, did not care about her wound. Her eyes followed him as she whipped her body back and shot a blazing column of flame. Before it could reach him however, he threw his dagger past Nikolai’s body, withering out of sight. Nikolai felt the sting of Uriel’s holy swords against her body once more, as blood gushed out of her wounds. She lashed out violently, her outburst torching another nearby chunk of collapsed building, but not Constantine or Uriel.
The holy lance whizzed in the air once more, followed quickly by a blur that cut into her body as it brushed past her. And again, and again, and again. Her body was slashed from every direction, over and over and over again. No matter how fast she retaliated, they were gone by the time her attack landed. Unable to stand anymore, she collapsed on her knees and arms. Together, Constantine and Uriel had defeated her.
Blood pooled under her, dripping from her head, mouth, and body wounds. Her dress and mask were stained red. Gasping and choking, she looked up, her vision blurry and trembling. But she was able to make out the outline of Constantine down on one knee, panting and gasping for air.
Constantine, our time’s running out. You must finish this now. Uriel’s voice echoed in his mind. The deepest desires of their hearts were opened to the other, and Uriel understood the despair that gripped Constantine. It was rapidly enrapturing her as well. You’re holding back… Her voice continued.
I can’t Uriel, my heart aches... I am… hesitating. I’m sorry, it just… pains me too much to see her like this.
We must end this. The choice is yours, you’re in control. The angel’s voice echoed softly.
Standing up, he grasped his dagger and switched it into its lance form. Uriel felt the sorrow and despair in his heart as he arched his arm back. The brief second of silence seemed to stretch on forever, she trusted him to do the right thing. He looked at Nikolai once more and saw her staring back. Her face, covered by hair, was soaked in blood, but even so he saw her eyes stare back at him. It was as if they were pleading almost. Only a scared little girl playing pretend. Was he any different? With a trembling lip, Constantine opened his mouth and softly uttered the words: “Goodbye, Nikolai.”
In that moment, as the spear tore through the air in a flash of light towards her, Nikolai felt fear. Fear that she had failed yet again, fear that the cold abyss of hell was waiting for her. Fear that she would lose Constantine forever. Her fear surged through her body, turning into a feeling of hatred beyond anything she felt before. Her own blood floated gently upwards before her left eye sparked with infernal vigor. No flame she could consciously conjure could match the fire that erupted from it. It was primal, fueled by the burning desire to live that was etched within her soul.
The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
“No!” Her voice thundered across the battlefield. “I refuse to die!”
The eternal flames in her left eye spiraled into a single luminous point in front of her face. From it, a scorching blast and a deafening scream was unleashed. A staggering wall of dark red and purple flames rapidly rushed towards Constantine and Uriel, obliterating everything in its path. The spear had been caught in the blast. The two of them saw death approaching through the same pair of white eyes. As the flames engulfed them, Constantine felt his body fly back from the sheer force and energy as immeasurable pain swallowed him whole. His ears ringed from the cacophony of flame that devastated everything around him. The howling of a thousand storms as if the very furnace of creation itself had been opened. It carved a wound into the earth itself, stretching on for miles.
Constantine thought he had died almost instantly. But even amongst that chaos, before eventually it finally subsided, he noticed he was still alive. Alive, but changed. Uriel’s mind and body were no longer merged with his. She had jumped forward, protecting them both with her broken wings. Pure sunfire erupted from her forehead, enveloping them both in a halo of light. For the briefest of moments, Constantine saw the true divine strength that Uriel harbored within her.
Perhaps it was the sudden need to protect, or just a natural subconscious desire to live. Whatever the reason, Uriel’s angelic grace was now keeping both of them alive. He saw her body alight with righteous glory and from her head he saw a pair of ethereal horns. Uriel’s hands, bathed in holy white flame, stretched straight out against Nikolai’s fiery dark void. The clash of their blows quaked the very foundations of the earth they stood on. Constantine could do nothing but brace himself against the power of two Goddesses colliding before him.
When he opened his eyes once more, he saw the complete and utter annihilation that surrounded him and Uriel. They stood on the speartip of a cliff surrounded by a precipice on each side. There was simply nothing left in their nearby vicinity. Everything in that direction from Nikolai had been eradicated. No buildings, no debris, no corpses, nothing that had been there earlier. Nothing but ashes floating in the wind.
Constantine lay there in sheer stunned awe before he heard a metallic shink on the ground next to him. It was the spear, embedded into the cement. He quickly reached to grab it, only to immediately take his arm off, shaking it from the sudden burn. But after a moment, he willed himself to grab it and put it inside the holster on his chest. There soon was another noise, a loud thud up ahead.
“U-rgh- Uriel..!” He groaned, seeing her limp body on the ground just in front of him. Dark thick wisps of smoke arose from her wings and skin. He slowly crawled towards her, unable to walk. Each time he stretched his arms out and pulled himself he did so in agony. Every muscle and bone in his body was burning, and pure adrenaline and will was keeping him from dying.
“Uriel, God… are you…?” He said softly, as he placed a hand on her back.
“We…” He heard her say, barely a whisper. “...Can’t beat her… She’s just… too powerful.”
Tears streamed down Constantine’s face. He gently placed the back of his finger on Uriel’s cheek. Her face, burnt, bloodied, and bruised, was still so utterly beautiful.
“You have to run. I’ll distract her somehow…”
“My legs and wings are broken. I can barely breathe. I can’t… I’m… We’re going to die here Constantine…”
“No… no no no! You can’t! I...” He shouted, pulling himself up against her, and cradling her head in his arm. His warm tears dripped on her chest. “I’m sorry... I’m so sorry I couldn’t protect you.” He turned up towards the broken sky, and shouted in anguish and pain.
Constantine opened his teary eyes and saw the twisted unnatural colors of earlier had faded. Although it was still night, the sky was not as dark anymore. A sudden droplet fell on the bridge of his nose, evaporating almost instantly. It was quickly followed by another, and another. Soon, the rain began to pour. The cool waters against their aching skin was a desperate respite they both needed. Constantin let the rain wash away his sadness. He then saw a brief shimmer of light piercing the still rainclouds. A blueish pillar, carving its way down to the ground. A single ray of hope shining through the dark. A ray that grew as the clouds parted.
“Have you ever seen a moon so beautiful?” He said as the celestial body revealed itself from behind the clouds, bathing what was left of the city in its cold light.
Uriel looked up with one eye, and saw the moon through the rain, smiling. She blinked, and her smile faded, but her eyes were renewed with vigor.
“So beautiful a moon… a moon... The moon!” She mumbled, her voice betraying a tinge of possibility. The light of the moon had relit the spark within her. “Please, help me up.” She asked, as Constantine obliged. “We might not be able to kill her, but… I think we can buy us just enough time to get out of here.”
“How?” Constantine asked, his eyes lightened up with hope.
“One final desperate move.” She said weakly. “I’ll need your help.”
“Anything I can still do, I will.”
Without hesitation, she reached up, placed an arm behind his head, and kissed him deeply. Their lips locked as their minds and hearts once again connected as they had earlier for only the shortest of moments. Constantine let the suddenness wash over him, and let himself enjoy Uriel’s soft lips, before gently breaking the kiss.
“I saved your life again tonight, you owed me.” Uriel then kissed him again, this time more rapidly. “That one is just in case I die trying.“ She said with a cheeky smile.
Constantine couldn’t help but smile softly back. Uriel then tried standing up, but collapsed back on her knees when she noticed her wooden leg had melted completely.
“This will have to do then.” She said quietly, defiantly staring across the chasm.
Nikolai had one arm clutching at the left side of her face. Her entire skull felt like it might shatter any moment. She panted, gasping for air. Each attempt at breathing caused her to writhe in pain. Every slight movement amplified the aching that coursed through her. But the worst pain she felt in the deepest pit of her soul, just by watching them. However, this was not the end for her. She could not move for now, but comparatively, she was still alive, not teetering on the edge of death. In addition, the pouring rain was cooling her molten scars, soothing her just a little bit. Her next attack would be simple, and final.
Uriel braced her hands together, her body glowing in the light of the moon. She whispered something that Constantine could not understand. The words she said sent chills down his spine still. It was a dark prayer that filled him with dread and at the same time, awe. He looked up once more as the edges of the world began to fade. He saw the moon grow brighter and brighter as Uriel continued her prayer. He looked on in awe as a physical darkness swallowed everything but the moon.
This is… like when I use my dagger. Constantine thought. Uriel what in God’s name are you doing?
His eyes moved from the moon that towered far away behind the darkening sky down towards Nikolai. He saw her looking up as well, distraught. Despite her standing still, she seemed to get farther and farther away from him. He looked up once more, and a realization struck him. The same understanding that struck Nikolai moments earlier: the moon was growing in size.
“Uriel!” He shouted, his voice sounding distorted and broken. “What is this?”
There was no response. Instead, Constantine heard a low, growing rumble. Sweat dripped down his forehead as he stared up at the rapidly approaching moon, glowing brightly like a falling star. As it approached, he saw a singular gigantic iris on the celestial body, like the eye of a snake. He looked at Nikolai one final time, before the night sky crashed down upon her in a blinding flash of light. The earth quaked and trembled as the ethereal moon fell down upon it. The sounds of an endless storm of shattering glass filled his ears.
He screamed out, trying to drown out the noise, but it was no use as he felt his very soul dragged into the vortex. Before he was pulled in completely however, an arm reached out and took him back. Constantine opened his eyes, and found himself back on the cliff, Uriel staring back at him. Her eyes were blood-red pools against a dark black shell. Her skin began to crack and crumble. She smiled, before collapsing. But Constantine lunged forward, grabbing her before she hit the ground. She was still alive, through some miracle.
“Its over…” He said quietly. He gazed over the precipice once more, and saw Nikolai’s body motionless against the ground. He averted his eyes, unable to look anymore. “Let's get you someplace safe.”
Constantine took his dagger in his right hand before picking up Uriel’s still body. He used it to jump over the yawning chasm and make his way down into the part of the city that was not in the path of Nikolai’s blast. He dragged himself slowly between the empty buildings, defeated, beaten, and beyond exhausted. Everything was burning. The more he walked, the more he saw the scale of what had transpired. The more he walked, the more the destruction lessened, but more and more corpses began to litter the ruined streets. Civilians who tried to flee the ruination, but were unable to make it out. Still, he steeled his will and kept on walking through the smoke and desolation. He did not know for how many hours he walked while carrying Uriel’s body, but eventually, salvation was near. His vision went blurry, and on the verge of collapsing, he heard the sounds of people in the distance. He tried to scream for them, but was unable to.
I’m… not going to make it… He thought, as he tried to quicken his pace, but his body could not go forward anymore. I’m sorry…
Just then, he saw a massive blue van drive towards him. The tires screeched to a halt right besides him, and the doors swung open, revealing Sean, Insect and a few others inside. There were no words required, their expressions of concern yet relief said it all. Constantine began crying tears of joy as they all pulled the two of them inside, placing them on two side by side beds. Immediately both were hooked up with IVs and other medical devices Constantine did not recognize.
“Am I… glad to see your face, Insect.” He said weakly followed by a wide grin. She couldn't help but smile
“You really should be thanking her.” Sean interjected as he sat beside him. “We’ve been helping ambulances, police and the military all night. Tending to whatever wounded we could reach but eventually they closed off large areas of the city for risk of further collapse. If she didn’t see you two way out in the distance, we wouldn’t have reached you in time. And by the looks of it…” He spoke softly, his voice brimming with fatigue. “...Neither of you had much time left.”
“Hahahahah-cough-hah!” Constantine laughed uncontrollably. He was in complete agony, but somehow, he was still alive. The thought of it alone seemed so impossible that he couldn't help but laugh. “You have no idea.”
“What in God’s name happened out there Constantine?”
“My ex.” He said, laughing once more before he passed out cold.
----------------------------------------
Nikolai’s eyes were wide open. She had gone beyond the sensation of pain, and now she could feel nothing. Complete and utter nothingness. She was still alive, if barely, and some part of her was deeply thankful for that. Every attempt at moving even so much as a finger failed. Her eyes darted from side to side, once again finding herself in a massive crater that day. She could feel that soon she’d be unable to breathe, her body broken as it was, and panic began to set.
Then there came a scratching noise at the edge of the cliff. A rattling of rocks against flesh. Soon, Nikolai saw the charred remains of a person crawl down into the hole. As her eyes darted from side to side, she noticed that more and more of these living corpses gathered towards her. But there was no fear in her eyes. Somehow their presence inspired a feeling of relief inside her. This feeling was confirmed, when one made its way close to her face, and opened its half unhinged fleshy jaw.
“Hello…. My Dear…” It groaned.
Nikolai could only stare at it in response, but she managed to let out a slight groan.
“Hush… now…” Multiple of these cadavers talked as an entire crowd of dead gathered around her. “You’ve done… well… Dear… allow… me… help you.” It cocked its head to the side and continued. “Your body… broken… bones… spine… shattered… worry not...“
Her eyes grew wider as the corpses all began opening their mouths, and slowly, black and red blood began to drip. Gradually, the dripping became a steady stream of fluid. The blood pooled around Nikolai, seeping into the ground beside her, but never fading. Disgust overwhelmed her, but she was in no position to object. Faster and faster, the crater began to fill with blood, and Nikolai’s heart began to throb violently at what was rapidly approaching. The blood filled up past her mouth, and soon it started flowing into her nose.
She closed her eyes, and when she opened them, she saw herself floating in the deep abyss of an ocean of blood. It was dark, and with each passing second she found herself more desperately thrashing for air. She screamed in that dark abyss as blood filled her throat. But death did not come for her.
Instead, a vision passed before her eyes. She dreamt of a bright light. A light that coursed through the heavens. It gently created more lights from itself, filling up the empty void, and Nikolai was struck by its immaculate beauty. But then a sharp darkness pierced the light, and slowly, all other lights began to fade. Soon there was only emptiness.
Nikolai lunged forward, screaming and gasping for air. She gagged and choked on her own blood and spit. Once she had calmed down, she found herself back in the center of the crater. Her body felt renewed, at least renewed enough to be able to move again. She checked all her fingers and limbs, and found profound joy in being able to feel her body once again. Nikolai laughed, and tightly hugged her shoulders.
“Better... Dear?” One of the undead spoke next to her.
Nikolai was startled at first, thinking their earlier presence had been an illusion of some kind, but then she nodded once she realized they were still there.
“Much better… Thank you… Lady Death?” She said, interrogatively.
“Yes… Baphomet… raised these… people you… killed… a great… insult to me… and you alike”
“I saw you two fight. I’m guessing… it did not go well for you either?”
“Listen… Dear… there is… not… much… time for me… anymore…” It continued, its head drooping slightly to the side. “Baphomet… the Wolf Tamer… sealed us both… away… in my… realm… my… prison…”
Nikolai opened her mouth, but as if Lady Death knew her question, she answered:
“Do not… try and… save… me… I… shall… return… in time... Carry on… your… duty… become… a beacon… and cleanse… them… all… like you have… tonight.” The corpse finished talking, and then bowed towards Nikolai with arms splayed, as best as it could. The others followed, and soon, hundreds of undead began worshiping her, grunting a quiet chant. Nikolai smiled and rose from the ground. She grabbed her mask from her waist and placed it on her face.
Her rebirth was complete.