Hours had passed and Azrael huddled in the corner praying that Raden was okay. Her voice had gone hoarse from the constant screaming so there wasn't more to do. She began to nod off when the door swung open.

"I'm going to ask this once and once only... how did he find you," Serkan demanded as he stalked into the room.

Azrael startled and was fully awake. "I... I don't know."

"Don't lie to me." Serkan glared at her with hatred. He walked through the cells and crouched to her level. "I don't take well to lying."

"I'm not," she whispered, "I really don't know how he found me."

Serkan watched her closely trying to find anything telling different. Azrael kept her eyes trained on him never once looking away or coward down. She needed him to believe her.

"You're just lucky then?" Azrael didn't move or answer. Serkan sighed and stood. "One day that luck will run out." Centuries of training had taught Serkan to keep his anger at bay and right now all that training was in use. So badly did he want to strangle that pretty little throat of Azrael's, but he needed her. Instead, he walked away.

"Wait," Azrael called out. Serkan turned his head to the side. "I want to know if Raden is okay."

A fantom smile crept onto Serkan's lips. An idea began forming as he composed himself and whipped back around. "Would you like to see him?"

Azrael nodded frantically. She didn't catch the glint that Serkan held in his eyes or the all-around demeanor change. All that mattered was getting to Raden.

Serkan unlocked the cell and grabbed her by the arm leading her out of the room and through the labyrinth. Azrael's heart rate began to rise with each step. Her breath would hitch as they passed a door. Each time hoping that was where he was being kept. Finally, they stood in front of two guards each holding a sword of the archangels.

"If you two would be so kind and unlock the door for Azrael here."

The room was pitch black and Azrael turned back to Serkan as if this was some kind of joke.

"Oh forgive me." He snapped his fingers and several torches caught fire.

What lie in front of Azrael nearly caused her to faint. Raden beaten, bruised, and burned lay barely breathing. However, the limp wings tossed in the corner were what caught Azrael's attention.

She hurried over to Raden lifting his head into her lap as fresh tears fell. "No no no! No no no!" She gasped for air. "Raden, wake up. wake up for me." The tears fell on his cheeks causing him to slightly move. "Raden," Azrael gasped. "Please wake up."

"Truly a heartbreaking scene," Serkan joked.

Azrael snapped her attention to him. "What did you do!"

"I only went through with my promise. He decided to hunt me down again and I told him I would rip his wings and break his halo." He was completely unfazed by the situation which angered Azrael beyond anything she had felt before.

"Fix him." She demanded. Raden scrunched his face as Azrael continued to yell.

Serkan shook his head. "No can do darling. He chose this and will die for these consequences."

She looked back down and pulled Raden into her lap holding him closely. The blood still flowing from his wounds began seeping through her clothing. Serkan whispered to one of the guards and all three left the room.

"Please be alive Raden."

His head lolled back into her chest. "Azrael?"

Her heart sank as she heard her name. He was barely holding on. "It's me. I'm right here." She tried to hide her sobs but they couldn't be masked. "I'm going to stay with you for a while."

He didn't answer. So Azrael held him tightly and sobbed into his matted hair. She knew this would be the last time they would be together.

"I had a dream about us," Raden weakly said.

Azrael shook her head. "Just rest okay? You don't need to talk."

"It was so real to me," He continued. "We had a son, Nico, he looked just like you..." Raden gasped for air. "We were a family."

Azrael smiled to herself at that thought. "That sounded like a lovely dream."

"It'll be real someday."

Azrael's heart broke a bit more. She tried to level her breathing and crying.

"I'll teach him to fly and you can teach him how to master his magic." With each word, Raden faltered slightly. His grip on reality slipped away and slowly he was fading.

"That'll be lovely." She hugged him tighter. "You'll make a great dad."

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

The door opened again and Azrael looked up to see the two guards ready to take her back to her cell.

"Let me talk to Serkan." They grabbed her roughly and lifted her from behind Raden. She pulled away and leaned down kissing him on the cheek. "May Anéislis greet you in the next life." She was dragged away from the beaten body of the one she loved. Knowing she'd never be able to see him again.

~~~*~~~

Serkan appeared with dinner and new clothes for Azrael hours later. Azrael sat in the corner with her eyes closed remembering all the good times between Raden and her.

He dropped the platter but the sudden noise meant nothing to Azrael. She just rolled her head to the side lazily opening her eyes. "Eat up."

"I'm not hungry."

"Starving yourself won't stop me from using you," Serkan snapped.

Azrael shrugged.

He walked into the cell as he did so many times before, but this time he grabbed her by the throat. "You little whore. I gave you goodbye now I expect you to eat that fucking food and be ready for training tomorrow."

"Or what," Azrael challenged.

Serkan dropped her to the floor and slapped her across the face in rage. "I will get what I want, Azrael."

She held her tears and glared at him. Though he towered over her, she wouldn't let him intimidate her. "Fine." She stood up shakily and met him eye to eye. "Let's make a deal."

He laughed bitterly. "You are in no form to be making deals darling."

"I can drag this out far longer until you either destroy my dead body or drag me out onto the battlefield. Your pick." Azrael dug deep within her anger. She would make it her life mission to drive Serkan into insanity.

He pinned her between his arms and the wall. A strained smile played on his lips. "What tell me is this deal."

"You heal Raden however you see fit and I come with you no questions asked. I'll help you in whatever you want... and I'll take the role of your wife." We were a family. Echoed in her head but she couldn't let the pain overcome her now.

She could see the thoughts racing through Serkan's head. He peered deep into her eyes without expression. Then a smile. "Alright Azrael, you'll get your deal, but know that you will never see your death angel again."

"I know." Her world shattered around her and all she felt was numbness.

Serkan soon left to begin preparations. Azrael ate and dressed in new clothing. If he thought that she was going to help take over the world for him, then Serkan had another thing coming. The world would burn including him for what was done to Raden.

Azrael knew now why the forgotten Gods did what they did.

~~~*~~~

At some point, Azrael had finally dozed off when she was reawakened by a guard. She said nothing but followed him through the maze. The halls were as quiet as the days she would train. Now realizing it wasn't training but breaking her mind down enough for Serkan to control her. Up the spiral staircase, they went and there stood Serkan in battle-ready gear.

"It's a fine night isn't it?"

Azrael stayed silent.

Serkan began quietly speaking with some of the other guards. Azrael noted the hoards that stood before her waiting for their commander to speak.

He finally took a step forward ready to speak to his army. "We have spent years fighting against armies of angels and gods across dimensions. Now we have the key to winning it all. Go with me and I can promise you a world where we can live in peace. Each God will fall before us and will be a sacrifice to our own master." Screams and hollers echoed through the hoards. Serkan turned his smile to Azrael. "Take your pick where we begin."

She looked up at him. Azrael wanted to spare Lorcán for as long as possible and maybe he could evacuate the city once word reached. "King's City in the east."

Serkan nodded. They would travel and devour the rest of the city. The hoards gave one final cry before they all took off. Serkan held out his hand for Azrael to take. Then they were gone.

~~~*~~~

Deep below the surface in the small dark room lay Raden. He had curled up trying to keep what little warmth was left. He tried to imagine Azrael's soft hands in his or what her lips felt like with the first kiss of the morning. However, it was becoming harder and harder to remember. Remembering what her skin felt like, how the wind felt over his wings, or even breathing.

Raden held himself as he drew in a labored breath. How he didn't want to die alone. The guards were gone and no one would allow Azrael in, but Raden didn't want her to see him die. Maybe that bastard mountain guardian would come to stay with him. That's insane though. It wouldn't know where he was. No one else would. Not even... then Raden remembered.

All you have to do is pray to Anéislis and he would answer. Azrael's voice echoed through his mind.

He shifted slightly and in the faintest breath he called out, "Anéislis."

From the shadows, a figure walked forward illuminating the entire room in a soft glow. Anéislis peered down to see the beaten angel seconds from death. He knelt brushing hair from Raden's face. "It is not your time my child," Anéislis spoke softly.

Anéislis placed his hand over the weakly beating heart and began chanting in a long-forgotten language. Raden felt his lungs feel with fresh air from a mountain top and no longer the stale air that stung his lungs. He gasps for the air as it rushed through him like a tidal wave. Anéislis felt his heart strengthen with each pump. The bruises and burns slowly faded away being replaced with new healthy skin that looked untouched by war. As his body healed, his wings began to shift from their mangled web of bone and feather. Attaching once again to their master.

Raden opened his eyes as if he was awakening from a long nap. He slowly sat up looking over his body and then at Anéislis. Anéislis stood and walked over to the pieces of the halo cast across the floor. He carefully placed the pieces together and made them whole again with only a few short words.

He turned to Raden handing him the halo. "I have seen your future and it didn't end tonight in this room."

"I only called you because I never wanted to die alone."

"My dear child you have much to fulfill. I wasn't going to let that go to waste." Anéislis placed his hands together again. "Now we must go. There is a war raging in the world above."

Raden placed his halo in its resting place. "Where will you go?"

"To protect my mountain range and forest. You have more dyer issues to look after it seems and I suggest you go." Anéislis began to walk back through the shadows when Raden stopped him one last time.

"I did not deserve such a blessing. How do I repay you?"

"Save Azrael." Then he vanished.

Raden opened the door with no time to waste and started running through the halls. Twist and turns made no sense. He yelled out in frustration and stopped running. "Come on give me a sign." He whispered to no one. That's when he could hear them. The faint cheers of those above. So he ran again. Following closely as the sound became louder and louder. Stopping every once in a while to make sure he was still going the right way. Soon enough he found himself in front of the spiral staircase. He smiled and shot up the stairs like lightning bursting through the doors above.

He headed back to Ifera to gain an army of archangels. This time would be different.

Because not even death could take Raden.