Fallen Angel

Part 18

Mark tried to keep Sean in the kiss. Keep him distracted. Only when Sean pulled away to catch his breath this time, his eyes drifted to Mark's arm. Sean's eyes widened and he grabbed his arm, asking perplexed. "Mark?! What is this?" Mark shook his head, trying to pull Sean into another kiss, but Sean leaned away examining his arm now. Mark sighed heavily. It was impossible to hide now. He cursed taking his shirt off when he had. Sean's fingers traced up the black vein, his voice becoming low and full of worry as he said mostly to himself. "Anti did this..." Mark lifted Sean's chin to force him to look up at him, answering tenderly. "He didn't mean too. It... It was an accident, I'm sure." Sean shook his head, tears welling up in his eyes. Mark gave Sean a brief kiss, whispering to him lovingly. "Sean, I'm alright. Let's just finish what we were doing?" Sean staggered up onto his feet, hugging himself as he muttered out. "No... I need to figure out how to fix this... I... I can't loose you." 

Mark grabbed his jeans with a slight groan. Slipping them on, he told Sean bluntly. "You're not going to loose me. We'll figure something out. Right now, can't we just have some fun?" Sean wasn't listening to him. At least, not entirely. Sean was starting to pace, nibbling on his thumb as he mumbled out loud. "Maybe if I brought Anti back out somehow... I could convince him to fix this. He has feelings for you too. If he did this by accident, he can fix it." Mark stepped into Sean's path to grab his shoulders, telling him gently. "Sean, listen to me. I've been thinking about this whole Anti thing. Eros said that I had to find a way to merge you. He said that when he tried to merge you two together in the first place that something went wrong... I think I understand why it didn't work. Which is why-" Mark was cut off by a loud sharp scraping noise that filled the meadow.

Both their hands shot up to cover their ears and as Mark glanced around to find the source his heart fell into his gut. Eros was thrown in through the large cut made into the barrier veil. Eros hit the dirt, coughing up blood that he spit across the ground. Eros's bleeding eyes looked up at his for a brief moment to yell out to him. "RUN!" Mark lowered his hands just as another form emerged from the veil. A man with large white wings, wearing a gold inlayed toga and wielding a large golden sword. Sean moved closer to Mark protectively, muttering out under his breath. "Michael... What have you done to Eros?"  Michael pointed to Eros with his sword, growling out. "I did what was necessary. I told him to isolate you. Not to let you play house with a human." Sean shot a nervous glance at Mark, expanding out his wing to hide him. Mark was upset at first, until he realized what Sean was doing. His arm was clearly infected! He had to hide it!

Turning to fetch his shirt, he went to pick it up and gasped as pain shot through his temple. Jerking his head, he cracked his neck and hissed through his teeth. Snatching his shirt up, he rubbed his stiff shoulder as Michael snapped out coldly. "Don't bother trying to hide him. I can sense demons a mile away. Luckily for the others from Pax, I managed to purify them before their infection went too far. You, on the other hand, continue to be a real pain in my ass and it ends here." Sean raised his hands, telling Michael calmly. "You have a cure? Please, save him! I'll do anything!" Eros rose up on all fours stiffly, snapping out to Sean. "Damn it, Sean! RUN! He's not here to make a deal! He's here to-" Michael kicked Eros in the ribs so hard that Eros spewed more blood and toppled back to the ground.

Sean lowered his hands, stating out in sudden understanding. "You're here to kill him, aren't you?" Michael menacingly moved closer, retorting coldly. "His infection is beyond the help of the purification water. So, I'm here to do what you can't. Cut out the infection to save this planet and then... I'm going to lock your ass away in a cage where you, Sean, will never see the light of day again. You are too unstable to be free." Eros staggered up onto his feet, materializing his bow and snapping out to Michael. "You Arch-angel prick!" Eros pulled back his bow string, but Michael simply pointed his sword at Eros and Eros's bow snapped in half. Sean swallowed hard. Michael was the strongest Arch-angel in the garrison. There was no fighting him. Mark placed a hand on Sean's shoulder, weakly uttering out. "Sean... Let me go. I think he's right." Sean shook his head furiously, snapping out. "NO!"

Mark rubbed his arm, showing everyone present that his arm was turning grey. The black vein was spreading faster now. It had branched out over his shoulder now and while a few strands were heading for his throat, the rest was branching off across his chest. A tear rolled down Sean's cheek, before his eyes blazed a bright green and he yelled out louder. "NO! I can fix this!" Mark's eyes widened in slight hope. His theory wasn't wrong. He could see it in Sean's eyes. Michael suddenly shot forward with his sword raised. The golden blade came within inches of Mark's throat, but to Mark's calm surprise... Sean's black trident had caught the blade faster than his eyes could register. Michael even looked surprised that Sean had stopped the blade. Mark stared at Sean's eyes and swallowed. Sean's eyes were a solid black now, but his body was glowing a bright white.

Sean's voice was distorted as he snarled out to Michael through clenched teeth. "Kill him and I'll tear out everyone single one of your fucking feathers before cutting your wings off!" Sean shoved Michael back, stepping back between Mark and Michael. Michael gripped his sword tighter, asking Sean curiously. "You think you can go toe to toe with an Arch-angel? You must really have fallen from grace... and sanity." Sean spun his trident one handed and pointed it at Michael, defiantly replying. "I'm an Angel of death. I never had grace and I am not weaker than you!" Michael started to circle Sean, turning his sword in hand as he told Sean seriously. "I'm curious... Who reaps an Angel of death when they die? Shall we find out?" Sean looked so relaxed as he mirrored Michael's steps. Mark guessed that being an Angel of Death meant that you didn't fear death. Mark saw Sean's fingers tighten on his trident, his nails suddenly becoming long and thick black as he answered Michael boldly. "Know this Michael... When I kill you... I won't allow your soul to be reaped. I'll trap it beneath the earth and let you suffer for eternity."

Michael's eyes narrowed on Sean, before they ran at each other. Their weapons clashing and sending a mix of light and black sparks shooting in all directions. Mark weakly sank to the ground, unable to focus. Every time he blinked it was like he saw a different plane of existence. In one, he could see the entire veil around the meadow. In another, he could see the veins of energy running through every living creature and plant. It was messing with his head. Closing his eyes, Mark tried to shake this feeling off. When that same Dark voice from before purred deeply over his shoulder. "Miss me, Mark? You know... I could help him. Just say my name." Mark shook his head, forcing his eyes open to focus. He had to fight it for as long as he could. When he saw Michael flip Sean to the ground and raise his sword over Sean's chest. Without a moments hesitation, Mark dashed across the grass.

He could hear a dark voice laughing eerily behind him as he reached out to punch Michael away. His hand made contact with Michael, causing his vision to ripple and melt in front of his eyes. Revealing to him what he had really done... It was true that Michael had raised his sword to stab Sean, but Sean had blocked it. Only now everyone was frozen in place, staring at the blood that dripped across the grass. Sean's face was covered in blood and his eyes were wide in horror. Mark hadn't punched Michael in the face... He had punched right through his ribcage. Mark pulled his hand back, letting Michael sink to his knees. Michael's wings fell limply across the ground and he dropped his sword. Sean lowered his trident, his eyes turning back to normal as Michael growled out to him. "He's your problem now."

Sean watched Michael fall dead across the ground and looked up at Mark with worry. Mark's eyes were solid black and his skin was almost entirely grey. Mark was looking over his blood stained arm, before he brought his hand to his lips and dragged his tongue across his bloody palm. As Sean watched, Mark licked his lips, savoring the taste of blood. When Mark's soulless eyes met his, he told Sean with the most haunting grin. "I thought he'd be tougher. That is very disappointing." Sean slowly rose to his feet as Eros muttered out scarcely from across the meadow. "Holy shit. He just killed Michael. That's not possible... Michael can't be killed... He was the first Angel ever created!" Mark snorted distastefully, answering Eros casually. "Was he now? I can't say that I'm impressed." Sean took a shaky step toward him, asking hesitantly. "Mark? What's wrong with you?"

Mark reached out to grab Sean's throat firmly in hand, pulling him closer to answer in a deep demonic voice. "Nothing is wrong with me. I'm free... Now where is your better half? Should I call him out... Or should I drag him out by the scruff of his neck?" To Be Continued...