He wished for death. He wished he could just stop existing, and go wherever the hell he had to go after failing and fucking up so bad.

He had not wanted to kill Uriel, he really did not want to. But he almost ended up doing it. He had betrayed them, even if he had felt for them both, even if he had felt safe, understood. He had wanted to be with them. And he just shoved it all away; he tore their trust to shreds.

Now, he would die at the hands of his demon, like he was supposed to since the very beginning. The world just loved to mess with him. It was almost funny.

A broken, shaky and quiet laugh echoed. The angel brushed his forehead against the ground, as he chuckled bitterly.

It almost is funny… Almost.

Alexis frowned and fell silent. He was tired. He just wished for his devil to arrive. He was sure Uriel would not waste much time with his vengeance. He was sure he would give him a quick death. He just wished it all to stop already.

But it had only begun. His body shook.

Alexis opened his eyes. He felt a sudden shiver, a horrible coldness creep on his skin. He let out a scared gasp, because he felt a horrible pressure and pull on his body. He trembled, because his arms and legs moved suddenly, all by themselves. The unseen grip slowly forced him into a sitting position, onto his knees, in painful jolts. He whimpered and growled, because he saw how his arms outstretched downwards and back. He couldn’t look for long, because the force pulled his head up, while his torso leaned back. He was now kneeling like if he was chained, by something that he could not even see. There was nothing there, but it felt like it; it was a strong and unnatural force.

The same feeling… It was the same force that he felt in that damn hollowed mountain. A horrible and painful yank at his body, like if something grabbed him with a choking hold and strangled him into submission. It was something that was able to make him move, in erratic and forced dashes. Like a puppet.

His mind filled with horror and pure confusion. He could not understand, he was not able to process what was happening to him. Not again. His soul screamed when he heard a voice whisper.

“Finally… Both alone.”

He dared look sideways; he only moved his eyes, because he could not turn his head. It was not easy to see who had spoken from the shadows, but he soon discerned something far too ominous to be part of the darkness of the night. He saw a black silhouette, similar to a beast; it was creeping down from tall rocks, slowly, towards him.

Alexis began to pull and struggle against the unseen force, for his life. He fought with the last bit of strength he had left; he cried with disbelief, fear and impotence. His heart and mind were screaming for him to run, for him to flee, before that thing got to him. He could see sharp claws, with three sharp nails in each. Those claws rested on the humid ground, followed by two big black wings, which helped the beast get closer while it crouched.

It was a demon. A demon that did not look anything like the one he had been expecting to see.

“…! W-why-?!”

“Why?” The thing made the most mocking laugh Alexis had ever heard. It neared slowly, and let itself be seen under the faint moonlight. “I think I won’t enjoy cracking your skull open. It’s empty it seems.”

Alexis’ breath came out in terrified exhales, because he could see the devil better now. He tried to lean away when the demon stepped near him. It was clear that the thing had no eyes on its head. But it did have eyes, red ones, in the claws that were rising towards him, sharp as knifes, sharper than the fangs peeking from the amused and sick smile it was giving him.

He did not manage to free himself in time. The bat rolled its eyes, amused by his resistance. A resistance he dealt with quickly. Alexis huffed and snarled, forced to raise his head even more when one of those claws moved and loomed over his head. It pulled at him like a magnet, without needing to touch him.

His amber eyes stared at its eyeless face and eye with fear. The realization began to sink in his mind. Much more when the bat spoke conceitedly and maliciously.

“It is a shame, really…” The other claw moved. Alexis winced; repulsed by the caress it gave to his shoulders, with feigned condolence. “I would have enjoyed having your wings, even if they were feeble. Yes, you are weak. Had you stabbed him with just a little more force… I would have had you much sooner.”

Uriel would have been disposed of, hindered. He would have been unable to do anything while he died slowly on those sharp rocks. It took a lot to kill a demon. There would have been enough time for him to attack, before the angel had a chance of fleeing, before a strong heart stopped from blood loss. And that hunter, she would have not pursued revenge. She would have not bothered to seek Alexis; she would have assumed he disappeared after murdering Uriel. Yes, he could have consumed the angel without consequences then… But alas, Uriel’s heart was not stricken.

“…You made me-”

Oh, so scared and lost… How beautiful to see the realization and horror in his eyes.

Alexis hissed with hate and pain when a nail lied under his chin. It pulled his face closer to those sharp fangs. It mocked him.

“Oh, I only gave you both a push in the right direction, morsel… You were the one who did the deed; with your own sword! You were so adamant to be at his side; he only wanted to help you. And yet, you did nothing to stop yourself!”

Alexis managed to move his arms; he struggled against the spell, having had more time to fight it. His mind now understood what caused the horrible coldness… and he despised it. He moved his hands in jolts, he screamed angrily as he pushed the beast away. The devil was a little surprised by it; both backed away backwards. The fiend recovered instantly and stood like nothing had happened, while Alexis fell back more harshly, onto his back.

Those red eyes narrowed calmly. They watched how Alexis tried to crawl away from him, how he began to pull himself with his arms on the ground. He was still exhausted from blood loss and the ripping of his wings. He could not run, but he still tried to keep moving. He kept trying to escape, even when he heard the flap of those black wings behind him. He kept crawling weakly, while a shadow loomed more and more over him.

I did not mean it. I did not want to kill Uriel. It wasn’t my fault!

He let out a sudden and hurt heave, because those black wings grabbed him and tugged him up, to then slam him against the ground under their weight. He was pinned and stopped with efficiency. He could only lie still, dazed by that fierce hit, unnerved by that cold breath on the back of his neck.

It was pinning him down with its wings, claws and talons. It leaned, and then whispered a serious warning near his ear.

“I worked too hard to let you get away now, you know? Don’t even try; it will make things easier for both of us. I promise.”

The devil chuckled when he saw the angel squirm and struggle under his weight and grip.

It had been a long time since he did this, since he was able to torment an angel. It made him feel more alive than ever. That feeling grew when he slowly laid his claws on his scars.

That filthy thing should have not bothered!

“Ahh-ah! Aaaargh!”

Alexis felt an agonizing burning on his shoulders, again. He felt how those sharp nails sunk into his skin, and how they clawed down strongly. They opened brutally the wounds that Lykaios had closed.

His fingers curled unbearably against the ground; he was scared, pained… He trembled and whimpered when he felt those nails stop clawing. The bat ran his bloody nails along his maw, and narrowed its eyes with content. The blood poured slowly as the demon took a moment to admire it.

Sweeter than I remember… His bloodcurdling screams only make it better. It is-

“A-aya…” Its ears twitched and moved up, when he heard a choked whisper. “H-h-… H-help m…”

Alexis took a scarce deep breath. He opened his mouth, to scream as loud as he could; he was unable to take this, he was unable to contain his despair. He did not want to die like this. He was innocent.

“A-ayako! Lykaios! Please!” He closed his eyes tightly, dizzy. “U-r-ie-”

“No one can hear you.”

Alexis’ call died out. He felt how his body was forced to move again. His eyes lost all recognition; he stopped trying when the bat made him sit up. Its jaws neared a side of his face from behind, one of its claws loomed in front of him, to be able to look him in the eye. That red eye looked down at him with feigned pity, while it whispered to him. It hid its laughter below its calculated and trailed words.

“No one would want to listen anyway. No one cares.” It shook its head and clicked its tongue, to then clasp the broken angel between its wings. It kept him under a firm grip. One he did not resist. “Maybe he does not even want to see you. Maybe he is so angry, that he is just waiting, hoping for her to kill you.”

The next words made Alexis simply surrender, in mind and soul.

“There is no reason to hurry and die… Yet.”

He did not bother to scream when those sharp fangs dashed down onto him.

———————————–

 

Blood… His.

Uriel let out a long exhale of air, having taken in the scent. He could smell it; it was tangling in the air, from afar.

He was hiding and leaning against some rocks, because he could smell another thing: her cowl. He peeked from the dark; he glanced wearily at the golden flickers in the distance. His heart skipped a beat when he saw Ayako ahead. She was walking away, with those wings thrown over her shoulder. She was carrying them with a deep tired frown. Her eyes were fixed on the ground while she walked calmly, back southeast, towards the forest and her home.

Uriel raised a claw quickly to his chest, confused. Alexis was still alive, he could feel it. Ayako had cut off his wings, but he was still breathing.

He huffed and looked away from her.

He should feel satisfied. But somehow, while seeing those wings lay limp, dead, bloody, ripped, and lacking some of that beautiful golden color…

He shook his head with a silent growl. He did not want to keep thinking on how torn they looked.

It was not enough. He wouldn’t feel tranquility in his heart until the traitor laid dead. Lykaios had to be busy right now. He would be dead soon.

That was what he told himself. And still, he avoided glancing at her, to the wings she carried. Her eyes; her beautiful icy eyes looked sorrowful. Her steps were slow and tired.

She looks so-

Uriel gasped and hid more, because he heard strong steps, which were nearing her. He saw Lykaios advance from the shadows and slow down at her side. He kept hiding while she inquired the lynx; he did not miss how her voice had doubt.

“Is he…?”

The big demon looked back towards the coast, his ears dropped down. She found his slow answer strange, but she never doubted her friend.

“He won’t be a problem anymore.”

Ayako looked away, and then gave a small nod.

“Good.”

Lykaios did not lie. He did not give away that Alexis was not dead either. He just walked behind her, grateful that she was not looking at him, able to frown with anger. He had too many questions that needed to be answered. But he needed to see to which extent her mind had been seized first. He had to make sure her mind had not been damaged. So he followed her away, only thinking about her. For now.

Uriel watched from the shadows, he waited for them to disappear behind the uneven hills. Then, he looked towards the coast, from where the smell of blood came.

Lykaios has not killed him.

He moved off his hiding spot and stood pridefully to glare at the horizon.

There was a lot of blood. And even then… it seemed he would have the chance to see him. He decided he would be the last thing Alexis would see.

He began to walk calmly towards the coast, and every step made the scent stronger. The ache in his heart should have loosened, but it only increased with every step he took. Uncertainty sank deep, between his conflicted emotions.

Ayako had cried. Lykaios knew as well. He had not been able to erase everything from her mind, it seemed.

He snarled and fastened his steps. He refused to welcome the guilt that flowed in his heart.

I did nothing wrong. I had no other choice, Alexis is guilty. I could not let her feel for him. She will not cry again, I will make sure of it.

He was near. Very near.

Uriel jumped easily on top of some rocks, to take height and see over them. The coastline was formed by uneven rocky ledges and fissures. He could feel the ache fade; Alexis had to be right ahead, hiding between them. The smell of blood could not get any stronger. So he readied his claws and tensed his feet, ready to dash and confront his angel.

He had been sensing the scent of another demon. He thought and assumed it was Lykaios’. It was not easy to pinpoint it with the smell of the sea. Nothing would have prepared him for what he would find.

Uriel bolted around some rocks and stood tall as ever. His eyes glared down with a furious scowl, his tail whipped onto the ground to announce his presence to the angel… But he froze, he dropped his offensive stance and his tail lowered. He could only stare mouth agape, because he saw Alexis, indeed. A huge bat was holding him down. Two sharp fangs were sunk into his neck; a claw was running its sharp nails along his left arm, while the other loomed over his head. Alexis was limp, his eyes were closed, forced up to allow a bite.

The angel let out a blind whimper when the jaws of the demon released his neck. The claw over his head moved away, and finally let him lean forward with his head bowed. The bat let go of him slightly when it saw Uriel; its bloody eyes blinked with shock and anger. Uriel tensed, after recovering from his bafflement. He clenched his fists; he felt a sudden sense of fury flowing in his veins. His voice was growled, angered and feral.

“That’s MY angel…”

Alexis cracked one eye open; he blinked weakly when he heard Uriel’s voice. He did not seem to be able to think though.

Uriel glared at the other demon while it waved his free claw in feigned surprise.

“Yours?!” He let Alexis dangle a little more between his wings, and looked at Uriel in the eye with a smile that hid his maliciousness. “Oh my! I did not know such thing, how rude of me! I found him here… alone. And I just thought-”

“Think again.” Uriel took one step closer and glared holes through both. “We are bound. He is mine. Move along, I have unfinished business with him.”

…Uriel?

Alexis tried to breathe, he tried to think. His vision was foggy; his body was cold, sore and numb.

The bat smiled more and tried to bargain. He felt satisfaction, because he saw no recognition in Uriel’s eyes.

“Ohh… You wish to kill him?” Uriel gave a firm nod; he was slowly losing his patience. He did not like the other demon. “I see. I could do it for you! Easy!”

The devil laid a sharp nail on Alexis’s neck, knowing he couldn’t let him live for much longer. Not if he wanted to avoid angering Uriel.

“You could share him! We could-”

It had to stop when Uriel let out a loud growl and made fire blast around him for a moment.

“Don’t you dare.”

The bat moved away the claw from Alexis’ neck with a forced smile, while he cursed Uriel silently. Uriel pointed a finger and showed his fangs as he demanded.

“You can have his corpse all for yourself, I do not care. But I won’t lower myself to such disgusting acts!” He huffed, firm. “You can have his flesh, but his life… is mine to take. Only I can hear and see his last breath. Step away.”

Uriel… is…

“Very well!”

Uriel watched baffled as the bat let Alexis drop down fully. It let him fall to the ground, to then stand behind him. It raised its claws over him and its red irises sharpened. Uriel’s violet eyes filled with pity when he saw Alexis be forced to stand up slowly, like a marionette. All his body was limp and motionless, only hanging by the devil’s will.

Uriel could swear that his heart burned, now having a better look of how Alexis was. Ayako had cut his wings efficiently. The wounds would be bad to look at on their own, but this bastard had taken his chance to claw at them, making them bigger and worse. It had as well bitten his neck; there were two piercing marks on it, which still bled slightly. The angel’s eyes were half lidded; he was staring down at the ground tiredly, with dried tears. He seemed to be fighting to keep himself awake, if he was at all. Uriel laid a hand onto his own chest. He could remember his own pain with only glancing at Alexis.

This did not feel right. Something about this unnerved him. But he attributed his anxiousness to the burning in his veins, the rage in him. He blamed his instincts, which emerged by seeing another demon near his objective. All this made him sick, even more when the bat made an elegant bow and motioned him to the angel at his side.

“Here you go! Stab, burn, strangle, cut him open, or rip him to pieces! I will hold him up for you…”

Its voice tangled with amusement, a sweet but vile tone.

Alexis finally regained himself a little while Uriel spoke again, this time with a hidden tone of compassion.

“Let him go. He can’t run. I don’t need your help.”

The bat snarled and clicked its tongue, clearly disappointed. It glared with a smile, unaware of how the angel was now trembling under its claws and spell.

“But I can hold him down! I can make him stand up; prevent him of crumbling while you hit him. Who would pass that chance? Angels deserve to-”

“U-ur-”

When Alexis looked up and tried to speak, the bat gasped and waved a claw quickly. Uriel blinked at that, seeing Alexis wince and writhe suddenly. The angel opened his mouth like if he wanted to breathe, but he couldn’t easily. His hands were shaking, like if he was trying to move them up to his neck, weakly, unable to do so. The line was crossed when Alexis looked at his eyes, with pain. He gave Uriel a desperate look, as if trying to tell him everything, without words.

Something was not right. Uriel began to suspect, more than he had suspected right away when he saw this other demon. His tail began to whip behind him as he neared both of them wearily.

“Let him speak.” His frame leaned a little, his teeth clenched. “I need to hear him before I end his life.”

His suspicion only grew, immensely, because the bat stepped backwards with a nervous smile and dragged Alexis along with him, without needing to touch him. It was keeping him under a choke, something that Alexis was desperately fighting; his whole body was jolting.

“Let him? No, that would be foolish. You know how angels are. They only-”

“You are not letting him speak. Why?”

Curse this insolent demon…. I should have waited a little longer. I thought I had enough time to devour the angel, that I could blame that smelly cat after. I have gotten carried away.

“Why?! Young devil, can’t you see that speaking would give him a chance to win time?! Time to try to kill you! Angels can summon their spells with their voice alone! Kill him before-”

Its words turned into an exasperated and furious growl, because the angel pulled and twisted strongly, he fought to free himself from the cold spell. Its left claw lost its hold on him for a moment, the invisible grasp broke off. Alexis panted when he managed to lean his right side forward and away from the devil. He looked up to Uriel and called with urgency.

“P-please, Uriel! It wasn’t-!”

Silence…!

Uriel’s eyes widened when he saw the claw move again, fast to rise, intending to stab downwards and pierce through the angel.

The bat tried to kill Alexis before he could speak more. But it did not pierce through his back, because the angel was pushed away strongly, in just a second. Someone took his place.

Uriel growled deeply. He was holding fiercely a claw, which was now scraping at his chest, almost piercing it. The bat lost his cheerfulness, its jaws clenched in a furious scowl. It growled as well, and then pulled to try to free its wrist from Uriel’s grip. Uriel did not let go of him though. He glared holes through him, with a flaming stare. His voice was barely a whisper, but it rumbled like a huge fire.

“He did not speak either when I fell.”

The bat laughed quietly; it leaned its head and looked up defiantly at his eyes.

“I don’t know what you mean…”

Uriel whipped his head back to look behind him, to his angel. Alexis was right there on the ground, panting, trying to sit up to return his glance. When he managed, he tried to speak, and the devil began to struggle to free itself, wanting to pounce and silence him.

“I- I did not… w-want- He was th-”

Uriel did not see in time how the beast waved its free claw. Gravity pushed Alexis down against the ground. He did not move again. Uriel roared back at the devil with horror and rage, and ignited some furious flames around him.

“You..!. You were-!”

That black claw moved again; Uriel snarled and heaved, when it slammed onto his chest and pushed him back. The bat huffed and chuckled proudly, and then stood tall while Uriel stumbled backwards. His unnatural force was not only for the angel.

“Took you long enough… numskull.”

Uriel regained his balance, but his feet almost stepped onto Alexis. He looked at the bat again, with angry tears. Understanding stabbed into his heart like a million knifes. He remembered all those moments in which he had felt watched. He recalled that book thrown on the road, how he did not hear Alexis speak behind him on that ledge, but how he did hear a faint wheeze, similar to the ones he let out under the hold of this monster. This beast had the ability to control others. He could smell the decrepit scent of those caverns on his fur, muffled by the sea’s briny scent.

This thing had been around all along. It had waited all this time, to create the perfect lie. He tried to kill him that night, with a slow and painful death. Or at least fool him into a blind chase for revenge.

All to reach…

Uriel trembled and feared when the bat licked its fangs, without leaving its eyes off Alexis. He kept himself in between prey and predator, raising his arms at his sides to shield the exhausted angel. Alexis could not move; he was just lying on the ground, trying to keep himself awake. He was trying to keep breathing.

Uriel had no time to regret and mourn, to dwell on what he had done. Not when the bat was pacing around them, with its claws outstretched fully. It was batting its wings angrily; it was stepping on the ground strongly, while its clawed feet twisted like the ones of an animal ready to pounce. Its inhuman voice echoed, and showed how much obsession and sickly determination it felt.

“I really hate to expose myself, Uriel. You would have been much happier without knowing the truth. No spell, no ache, no worries for such a useless being. You would have been released of this useless burden! But no, you had to think, care. You could have been free to be with her, the only good thing he has brought to your life… your lonely and miserable existence.” Uriel took a defensive stance and readied his fists, because the bat growled… and then lunged with a feral shriek. “You had to be weak!”

Uriel let out a huff, with his arms raised in front of him. He raised them just in time to block the slashes of the other’s claws. The bat began to pressure down with its nails, both with psychical and unnatural force. But Uriel did not yield under its efforts or stabs; he pushed too, barely faced by the nails sinking on his skin. His violet eyes lost their horror, to fill with pure fury instead. His frame trembled with ire; he seemed to grow in size as he showed his own fangs. His breath came out in scorching exhales, while his own nails sharpened. He let out his own instincts, but not like the beast. He controlled his blood lust, and focused to accomplish what he wished: shield his angel at all costs.

The bat hissed angrily when Uriel’s arms blazed in flames, forcing him to let go. Both backed away slightly, at a preventive distance. The bat did not seem to care about the slight burns on his claws. Those bloody eyes were still open wide, full of psychosis and anger.

I will not let this monster kill my angel…

Uriel cursed mentally and corrected his thought angrily.

No… Not his angel. Alexis. He was not his. He would not allow himself to even think of him as something, something to control and use. He was not like this bastard.

His eyes filled with sorrow, a pang of guilt pierced his heart. Perhaps he was, after what he had let happen.

Uriel was ready when he was attacked again. The points of those wings were sharp and deadly; one slashed the air where he had been before dodging. He kept jumping out of reach with each slash. The bat was now onto its four, leaping at him continually, without surrendering.

“You are not a demon!” Its jaws almost tore his tail with a bite. He countered, but one of its claws blocked his flaming punch. “You let yourself feel, like an insignificant human!”

Uriel whipped one of his legs and kicked the beast on the stomach, taking advantage of his stupid monologue. He could not avoid smirking when he saw it recoil and hold himself with a pained hiss. He boasted, taunting with his arms up.

“Well… Look what this insignificant human just did!”

Derisive urchin…

He really had not wanted to fight Uriel. He had not liked the idea. Even if young, by devil’s standards, he was powerful. But still, he swore he would not lose against a pathetic youngster.

“It will be the last thing you will manage… before I tear you both apart.”

Uriel yelped when the bat tackled him fiercely. Both rolled along the ground. Uriel screamed; because one claw slashed open the scar on his jaw. The bat growled loudly, because Uriel’s tail tangled around one of his wings and made it crack under its pressure.

Their roll eventually ended. The bat laughed loudly after managing to pin Uriel below him. Both were lying at the edge of the coast. There were sharp rocks below, where the waves struck strongly as they followed the pull of the moon.

Uriel panted, he felt the cold crawl over his skin. The bat had slammed its claws around his neck; it kept him against the ground, thanks to the wing it had against his chest. He tried to move while he was slowly choked, slowly asphyxiated by the claws and the strange cold spell. The devil did not let go as it leaned down, its fangs showed while it smiled at his face. It had no eyes on his face, but it still could give him a look full of disdain and hate. It clarified its murderous intentions when it hissed at him.

“I won’t let a fool stand between me and my prey.” Uriel managed to raise a hand, and then clutch one of the claws that pierced his neck. “If I have to rip through you to have it…So be it!”

He tried to pull and make the bat let go, but it had a deadly grip on his throat. His tail pressured, and another loud crack came from the wing; yet the devil only laughed and raised its ears, unfazed.

It was lost in his hunger. It only wished for blood. Its veins were burning; its fangs were shivering. It needed more of that sweet blood. It had to tear that flesh, claw every trace of the angel, and bite down until no more tears were shed. It was everything it wanted. And it would stop at nothing to have it.

Uriel’s vision began to blacken a little, his eyes narrowed foggily, because his gasps were cut short by the claws around his throat; he was barely breathing. But he could still hear. He heard the bat whisper, mock him.

“I will show him how a true demon should be. I will amend your shameful behavior! You should have just killed him. Fast, with less pain… For I will rip him apart inside out, I will keep him alive while I devour his flesh. I will do what you should have done, since the day he fell!”

Uriel wept, he jolted with his desperate cry.

“A-alex-”

I… can’t…

The bat scowled, because the hand that held its wrist began to blaze. The flames tangled on his claw and arm in a matter of seconds, Uriel grabbed him more fiercely and yanked at him. Both demons hissed. The bat tried to keep strangling him, while Uriel managed to take a few breaths, because his fire loosened its grip on him.

The thought was clear now. He couldn’t let him hurt Alexis.

Uriel’s heart was beating fast. With a beat far stronger and far more painful than if he was worlds away from his angel. Anger flowed deep in his eyes, his violet irises sharpened. He managed to lean up and push against the devil.

“Arghh!”

The bat howled in pain, because Uriel gave a fierce yank with his hand and broke its arm and claw under his fist. Uriel swung onto a side when he felt that the bat let go of him a little. He leaned up, and at the same time pulled at the devil sideways with his tail. Then, he slammed him down to the ground with a ferocious head-butt; he hit his horns against his snout, brutally.

Uriel panted for air, fists clenched at his sides while the bastard cowered backwards. It was dazed by the hits and the fire that grew around it. As he closed in, he saw how it halted at the edge of the cliff, unable to back away more. Its fangs were clenched in a furious and pained scowl, angered by the fact that its wing dangled broken at its side, like one of its arms.

The young demon stepped closer and cornered the older even more, darkly. His eyes only showed pure hatred, disgust and flaming rage. He did not care for his own wounds anymore.

This thing; this thing had wanted to… Had almost…

It made him hurt Alexis.

The flames grew when Uriel dashed down. He grabbed the beast by its neck, and then raised it up a little from the ground to look at its eyeless face. The bat’s ears dropped, its red eyes widened with fear, because Uriel leaned him backwards. Its face showed panic without eyes; Uriel was the one to mock this time.

“Let’s see you fly now, shall we?” His fingers uncurled, and he let it drop over the edge. “Fall, fucker.”

Uriel stood tall; he raised his head proudly while he glared down, to see the beast plummet down. Its figure trashed in the air while it fell, because only one wing could move. The other was dangling up as the air rushed past it. Like that night, there was a loud bloody rip. Uriel did not look away; he did not want to miss how it squirmed on the sharp rocks after the hit. He slammed his tail onto the ground, with every wave that crushed the bat under.

One…

The beast tried to hold on onto the rocks; it trembled and whimpered in a panic, realizing it would be pulled away by the waves.

Two.

Its claw let go. It let out a pained and scared growl when the current dragged it into the water. A strong wave pulled it under and away.

Three.

One of its arms was the only thing that Uriel could still see; it was raised over the current. Its red eye looked up at him with hate and despair… only to end up sinking under another fierce wave. Its figure finally disappeared in the dark waters, never to emerge.

Uriel let out multiple heavy breaths, exhausted. His eyes were still fixed on the water that had taken away the monster. He was disbelieving of the fact that he had won.

I have gotten carried away. I’ve never felt this rage. Not even for-

His eyes opened fully, because he remembered. He bolted away from the rocks, while his heart skipped a beat. A single word and name echoed in his mind.

Alexis.

Uriel let himself drop onto his knees at the angel’s side. He raised his claws towards him, worried and scared. But instead of reaching for him, he froze. His eyes opened more, with pure shame and guilt. Alexis had flinched and cowered when his fingers had brushed his shoulder. His angel was holding fearfully his wounds, flinching without looking at him. He could not stand, he did not run, but it was clear he wanted to move away from him.

“Alexis, I…”

The angel was not looking at him. Uriel let his claws drop, able to take a good look. His amber eyes were fixed on the ground, he was crying, but without emotion on his face. There was no recognition in his eyes. His arms were around his frame, reaching for where his wings had been.

The demon opened his mouth to speak, but no words would come out. He could only let himself sit at his side, and watch how his own tears mixed with his.

Alexis did not move or react when Uriel managed to whisper, with a choked tone.

“I- I am so… so sorry. I did n-not know that…”

I should have known.

There was no answer. Alexis was broken; his breathing was weak, and he was still bleeding. His eyes only showed a horrible impassivity. Both shared one single thought.

He had lost his wings. He had made her cut them… for nothing.

Alexis would not answer. He could not. He just closed his eyes, slowly. He did not struggle against his tiredness; he let himself fall unconscious, because he realized that Uriel was not making a move to end him. It was too much; uncertainty was still stabbing his heart.

Uriel buried his face on his claws; his shoulders began to tremble, reflecting his shame and sorrow. He was unable to accept what he had done.

Only the waves broke the silence, because both cried breathlessly.