Afterlife Saga: Afterlife Part 45

Draven's body erupted into flames and he used it against the parasites around his feet setting them alight. They squirmed around and their high pitch squealing got deeper and sounded more like howls of pain. Then the flames erupted from his hands coming out in streams, hitting the ones further away, torching their bodies. When every creature was alight he pounded his fiery fist to the ground making it crack and open up as once again the earth shook. This seemed to release lava like hands from the ground as if the tortured souls of h.e.l.l had come to drag the flaming creatures back down to where they belonged.

The hands grasped at the scorched limbs, tearing them from their bodies and the forest was filled by the cries of pain and snapping of bone. I felt sick at the sight of hands full of flesh and body parts being ripped apart by h.e.l.l itself.

The last wave of leeches were coming over the cliff and seeing this ma.s.sacre they took a different approach spreading out from all angles. These were slightly different looking as their bodies were harder, like frozen, blistered stone with blue light coming from their eyes and chapped limbs. It was like the first wave had been the fire and now it was time for the ice!

Draven's body changed at the sight, turning from red flames to a bluish colour. He then let out an almighty cry into the night making his body quiver and his flaming wings open up to their full span. At first I thought Sammael must have done something to him and I nearly ran over but then his cry turned into a roar and his head was back looking up in the sky. The clear night changed quickly, as it was now darkened with thunderous clouds making me jump at each crack of lightening that lit up the forest.

Then I couldn't help but cry out when Draven was struck by lightening, making the flames around his body turn into electricity that travelled around the skin where it belonged. He then used this as he had done the fire. He shot it outwards picking off each creature in sight. One had crawled onto the side of the log cabin wall and I didn't think he was going to see it as he was facing the other way.

It got closer and leaped out at him with its razor teeth that looked like deadly icicles. It leapt off the wall and landed on him, sinking its teeth deep into his flesh. This however had no effect, as soon as its body made contact it spasmed turning into a black charred corpse. This was then taken away by the wind that Draven also controlled, taking the rest of the black lifeless bodies with it. They looked like soot floating away into the stormy night that was now calming down. The clouds also started to evaporate taking the remains with them and now all that was left were the two to battle it out.

"Well Sammael, I have to say that was a little disappointing, I would have thought years of solitude would have taught you more than mere parlour tricks!" Draven said resuming his normal purple energy and his wings went back into their folded, interlocked position.

"Come, come, now Draven...that was just foreplay." Sammael replied, as it was now his time to get ready. His clawed wings opened up from around him and shockingly revealed a muscular body under his withered skin. He didn't look as weak as he first appeared to be and now it looked as though the same power was coursing through his body. Only his was a clear light that was fighting against the h.e.l.lish red veins that were trying to take over. I put this down to him once being a servant of G.o.d who had turned evil for his own powerful gain.

His body started to shake as if trying to control the energy that was building up from his heart. You could see his veins filled with the two liquids that were trying to mix as they moved to his outstretched hand. It was producing a long staff, growing as his power was adding to its size. It was three inches thick and was covered in symbols that glowed with the same energy. It looked alive and for all I knew it was part of him.

At this Draven flamed purple and held both hands out at his sides. I then watched as his power erupted from him, producing weapons of his own. Of of the two, Draven was hands down more equipped as he held two ma.s.sive swords that also looked as if they were part of his body. They came from his arms and grew until they were near the floor. He reminded me of a samurai warrior about to go up against a warlock. My heart was going crazy at the sight, as a human that has spent more years than not seeing the unbelievable...well this was just something else! I didn't want to believe it was real.

Ava had given up trying to get me to follow her as there was no way I was going to miss this. My eyes were glued to the two glowing figures as they moved around each other, as if calculating where to start. Then I knew it would be soon as Sammael spoke in what sounded like Latin and Draven's response sounded deadly.

"Ego te provoco!" ( Means "I provoke you, Used as a challenge, "I dare you" in Latin) Draven growled out which forced Sammael to make the first move, lunging his huge staff towards Draven's head. But Draven was quicker than my eyes could take in and before I knew it he was behind Sammael, taking his own shots. Draven was graceful and moved like a well ch.o.r.eographed fighter. Sammael was heavy handed and swung his staff around above his head making it come crashing down aiming for his opponent. Of course by the time it came down it would only make contact with the ground forming a crater from its impact. Then they seemed to change tactics as now they were fighting at a closer range, making their weapons clash as they connected with each other. Sparks of energy flew out into the dark making it appear as a deadly light show.

At one point I thought Draven had been hit as half his body fell backwards bending at the knees. But I saw the glowing staff swing round and I realised he was just avoiding it as he pushed his torso back upright swinging his swords round in both directions, missing Sammael's throat by inches. Sammael stumbled backwards but regained his footing, which Draven allowed and waited for. I couldn't believe he did this, as I would have used that as my chance to take him by surprise.

"You have learned some more skills since Belphegor's infusion of powers," Draven said seeming impressed and now I understood why he waited for him to regain his stance....it was out of respect for his worthy opponent.

"That DOG got more out of it than I! My reasons were pure and yet you took his side!" Sammael spat out at him and I didn't understand why but he said it with more pain than hate in his voice.

"You broke the rules, he didn't." Draven said calmly as he circled him once again.

"And you! What are you doing that is so different from what I did?"

"She is the ELECTUS! She is different!" (Means 'chosen' in Latin) He shouted, and it was the first time during this fight that he lost his cool.

"Ah, favoured by the G.o.ds, how convenient for you!" Sammael said in an ice cold voice that made me shudder to my feet.

"I do not have to justify myself to you! You had your orders and you chose to deny them for your own gain Sammael" He said regaining his control but this made Sammael's energy turn blood red as his rage doubled.

"I LOVED HER!" He screamed before charging at Draven with his staff held high ready to strike. He ran at him and jumped giving it the extra height for more of an impact but Draven crossed his swords above him counteracting the move making the sky bright with the lightening as the two weapons collided. I couldn't help the little shrieks that came from me as I watched on in horror.

Sammael was getting more frustrated with each attempt at landing a fatal blow on Draven, but he was unstoppable with his flawless technique. Each movement was a dodge followed up by an attack of his own and a lot more got through making Sammael weaker with each strike Draven's swords made. This made Sammael cry out into the night as he had done in the beginning and again I felt the ground vibrate.

More of the same creatures soon appeared and now Draven not only had Sammael to contend with but now a forest floor covered in what they called Gorgan Leeches. Draven's movements got even faster and I could hardly make out the blur of his glowing shape, twisting and slicing through body after body. Sammael looked as though he had something planned as he held out one hand and directed some of the others to try and get past Draven......and straight to ME!

"Electus!" He shouted at them and they whipped their rotating heads round to me and then came scuttling towards me, making their horrible snapping noises as their monstrous teeth ground together. But Draven saw this and reacted before they could get through. He set his blades alight and cut into the ground making a fiery barricade between them and me. This eliminated most, but one made it through just in time and was now closing in on where I stood, shaking in fear! Ava let out a warning cry to Draven, which made him send out a command of his own.

"AVA ANAR!" (Means "GO" in Catalan) Draven shouted, Ava didn't need to be told twice and she took flight in her Demon form. The Lava that flowed through her wings made her move at an incredible rate and she swooped down and picked off the Leech that was coming closer to me. I could just see the bleeding holes in its eyes disappear as she carried it off into the night sky. Ava then threw it up and played with it before ripping its limbs off to devour. I put my head down and gagged as I thought I was going to be sick at the sight of its blood being spilt, spraying out into the night in a red mist.

Meanwhile the fight had become even more intense as I watched Sammael smash down his staff missing Draven, but striking a rock, which then glowed with the same energy from his weapon. It now appeared that it had just erupted from h.e.l.l as it bubbled with molten fire. Draven had caught the staff with his feet, balancing on it then using them to grip it before twisting his body violently thus flinging Sammael flying through the air, smashing into the side of the cabin wall. The wood splintered as if a bulldozer had just taken it down.

Sammael in turn picked up the hot boulder and threw it with his powers at Draven who was quick enough to fly out of its path and land backwards behind the destruction it caused. Draven picked himself of the ground where he landed and straightened up his body before walking over to Sammael. He looked possessed by the Devil himself as he cricked his neck to either side as if getting ready for the next round. Sammael, on the other hand, looked as though he was chanting something I couldn't hear but I could have sworn I saw him touch Morgan's body as it could now be seen amongst the rubble.

Then before my eyes could focus Sammael was transported to the other side, next to the forest edge and he swung his weapon round letting it crash into a huge tree trunk causing it to split and jut out on one side making the other side slam down onto where Draven stood! It barely missed but it made him lose his footing long enough to be caught off guard when the tree was sent hurling into him and knocked both his body and tree off the cliff face.

"NO DRAVEN!" I screamed out as I ran from the tree I was hiding behind and launched myself at the edge. I made it only twenty feet before something caught me around the waist pulling me back and stopping me from getting to him.

"NO!... LET ME GO!" I screamed at who was preventing me from moving but the hands gripped me tighter until my ribs hurt.

"GET OFF, YOU'RE HURTING ME!" I shouted out through tearful eyes.

"I will do a lot more than hurt you if you don't come with me quietly!" That voice! No...it just couldn't be!

"It ...It can't be...NO!" I screamed again as I felt the cold blade of the knife held against my neck once again.

"That's right Catherine...I told you I would be seeing you again soon!" Morgan's voice sliced through my soul making me want to finally give up the fight I no longer had the strength for fighting.

Chapter 49 - Draven finds Death at his hands.

Morgan's hand clamped over my mouth making it impossible for me to cry out to Ava, who I could no longer see in the sky. Then my heart came back to life with the fight inside me as I saw Draven's body fly up from the cliff face and come crashing down at Sammael's with his swords held out. He came down slicing into Sammael's body, crossing over his blades first through his head then crossing them back over again cutting through his arms and torso. When Draven landed on one knee, his swords held behind him, he looked up to see Sammael's body fall in pieces to the ground.

This just left his black soul, which was trying to form again into a body but it kept falling in heaps to the ground as it desperately needed a new host. The Tar was all that was left and he was trying to control it. Meanwhile Draven stood back from him and pounded his swords into the ground sending it cracking open once again releasing the tortured souls to take what was left of Sammael.

While this was happening I got my chance to make my own move. Morgan was moving backwards towards the other side of the cabin but he lost his footing on the rubble making the knife lower from my neck slightly. This was enough for me to stamp down hard on his foot causing his hand to release my mouth.

"DRAVEN HELP!" I screamed until my lungs gave out. Draven turned in anger at the sight of Morgan dragging me away from him. He let out an almighty growl and I couldn't help but feel for Morgan's shaky hands, as he was most likely terrified at the sight of Draven's flaming body coming towards him. But then something happened making Draven's body go crashing into where I had been hiding, causing the forest to shake under the exploding impact!

I screamed under Morgan's hand that clawed to my lips trying to keep me quiet. Sammael had used whatever power he had left and hurled himself onto Draven's body and was now attacking it. The black tar clung onto his skin as if trying to get inside and consume his soul. I could feel the blade cutting my neck slightly as I tried to fight to get away and go over to help him, not really knowing what I would do when I got there. But Morgan was doing everything in his power to try and control me, making my feet bleed where he was dragging me along and tearing the skin on my bare soles.

Meanwhile Draven was fighting Sammael trying desperately to get to me also. His body rolled around and tried to regain control of his own functions as the black ooze was taking over, moving to his front so they were face on. Then Draven seized his opportunity by pounding his fist to the ground making the earth split underneath him once again releasing the tortured hands that reached up to Sammael's body which Draven had suspended over the gap. The hands found the black soul they had come for and pealed it off Draven like meat from the bone. It was like watching the hands of hungry beasts as their claws dug deep into Draven's body, tearing back out handfuls of Sammael's evil black soul.

"Non Omnis Moriar!" ( Means "I shall not die/ Not all of me will Die", a phrase expressing the belief that a part of the speaker will survive beyond death In Latin) Sammael's black form shouted out into the night!

"NO, BUT YOUR SOUL WILL ROT IN h.e.l.l!" Draven shouted back as there wasn't much left of Sammael's infected soul left to be taken. Then Sammael let out a blood curdling laugh as if there was something Draven was missing.

"My soul may be taken but as for your chosen one, well, we will soon see if the G.o.ds favour her mangled body!" Sammael spat out and I could just make out this last threat as I was still in range to hear. Morgan had stopped pulling me as he had reached his destination...the cliff's edge!

"Afterlife Draven! The boy has served me well...shame Is Reputo Is Has Pennae!" (Means "The boy thinks he has wings" In Latin) Sammael said still laced with laughter in his voice as the rest of his soul was sucked down into the underworld.

"NO!" Draven screamed out as the earth closed over Sammael. Draven reacted by flipping his body into the air and flying over, opposite to where Morgan had me held. He landed making the ground shake but it wasn't enough to cause Morgan to lose his footing as he planned. The knife started to dig further in and I cried out in pain, preventing Draven from risking coming closer.

"Stay there or I will KILL HER!" Morgan screamed after proving his point and Draven held up his hands as if to try and reason with him.

"Ok...Ok just watch the edge!" Draven warned and it was the first time I had seen fear in his eyes.

"You can't have her! She belongs to me and this way we will be together forever!" Morgan cried as his voice shook under the strain.

"You don't want to hurt her, not if you love her!" Draven stated but it was no use against Morgan's infected mind, he was too far gone to ever find his way back to the land of reason.

"YOU DON'T GET TO TELL ME WHAT TO DO, RICHARD!" Morgan screamed with his clouded mind consumed by hate. He wasn't looking at Draven...he was looking at Richard and it wasn't me he was holding in his arms........it was his sister Catherine.

"I'm not going to kill her! I am going to take her away so you can't have her, Sammael gave me a gift and I am going to use it!" He said as he dragged me closer to the edge. I could feel the wind blowing up the side of the canyon. I turned to look down at my rocky grave and felt the fresh tears rise.

"Morgan, listen to me, Sammael lied to you, his plan was for you to kill yourself and take the one thing I love with you! You don't have any powers!" He calmly said as he stepped closer but this made things worse putting Morgan into a boiling rage.

"YOU LIE! He said I was doing G.o.d's work. He said if I let you kill me, that G.o.d would bring me back and you would get punished for taking her away from me! Well here I am. And you don't have the powers to enter my mind and stop me!" He ranted on at him making my breathing harder and my heart nearly pounded its way through my chest.

Morgan had one hand held securely around the handle of his blade that he held so close to my throat that my blood trickled down it. His other hand wanted to taunt Draven, who watched as Morgan's fingers invaded the skin on my body as he fumbled to get down below.

"PIG!" I spat out as I twisted away from him making the blade enter my neck more.

"Was she this feisty for you when you plucked her?" He asked laughing making Draven growl and cursed at him.

"Well it looks like I will find out for myself...say goodbye to your Demon lover, my little wh.o.r.e!"

"Dominic no!... I'm sorry!... I will always love you!" I shouted out, as I knew my fate had finally come as he gripped me tightly around the waist and he leaned backwards plunging us both into the deep abyss of the night.

"KEIRA, NO!" Draven's voice echoed, bouncing off the cliff face making it the last sound I would ever hear as I fell to my death.

I knew this was my time. It would soon be all over and I wasn't yet ready to go and face my own...

Afterlife.

Chapter 50 - Time For The Angels.

I could feel Morgan's hands release his hold as now my body was falling independently towards death below. I wasn't as scared as I thought I would have been. No, instead I was covered in a warm blanket of security as my fate came closer to take me. I kept my eyes closed as I wanted the last thing my eyes to see was Draven and I held on to it tightly in my mind as I felt the pressure of the air push my tears back to my hair line.

It was strange to know death was but seconds away. Not anything like the first time. And if I was being brutally honest with myself I had known all along that when I slit my wrists that it wasn't the end but now, well that was oh so different. And the only way to describe it was with one word... peace. Draven was my reason. He was the only thought I held onto, my last link to the world. He was my anchor to the other side. My beacon to follow and I don't know how but I just knew that he would make sure I would arrive to wherever it was the G.o.ds deemed as my fate.

But although I was at peace, there was no mistaking the piece of my heart I left behind on top of the cliff face. Dominic Draven. The man I was obsessed with. The man that had changed me. Not fixed me but made me so much more.

The man, the Angel, the Demon and the Lord.

Dominic Draven. The man I loved.

Always.

Then I could feel it happen, I must have died.

It now felt as if I was floating up to what must be Heaven. I never felt any pain and wondered if this was because of who Draven thought I was...the chosen one. I couldn't help but sob as I thought of his name knowing I would never see him again, it didn't feel heavenly, it felt more like h.e.l.l! I was gasping for the air I no longer needed and the warmth I could feel got closer around my skin. I still didn't want to open my eyes but I was sure I could feel something touching me, gripping on to my body taking it upwards.

Is that what happened? Had the Angels come to take my soul away from Draven's heart? I knew I shouldn't but I couldn't help myself cry out goodbye to my only love.

"I don't want to leave Draven, I want to say goodbye...please let me say goodbye." I couldn't help the plea that escaped. I wanted to remain strong. Strong enough to let go.

"Keira he's gone, he's dead!" A heavenly voice spoke and I burst into tears pushing my face into the body that held me.

"Draven..." I said his name and muscle bound arms pulled my body closer into his own making my skin tingle and flood with warmth.

I was in Draven's arms once more and knew this must be my gift, they were letting me say goodbye.

"I know I mustn't have long but you have to know... I love you and I will always love you...G.o.d knows I don't want to say goodbye Draven, I'm scared. I don't want to leave you!" I was spluttering the words out amongst sobs that I couldn't control. I didn't want this to be the last voice of mine he heard but I couldn't help it...I needed him so badly!

"KEIRA! Keira, listen to me you're not going anywhere! I have you safe and I would never let you fall!" He voice was stern but held a soft edge as he was trying to make me understand.

"I'm not...not dead?" I asked letting myself hope as I have never hoped before!

"NO! Keira I caught you...wings remember!" He said and this made me cry out with relief that I couldn't believe I was allowed to feel. I stupidly opened my eyes but screamed out at the sight of being hundreds of feet up in the air with the black forest below. Draven cradled me in his arms but he shook me a little trying to get me to look back at him.

"KEIRA don't look, close your eyes until I tell you or you really will be sick and that won't be pleasant for either one of us!" He said with a bit of humour in his voice. I did as I was told not having any want to see how high up I was as my fear of heights made me feel nauseous. I could now feel the motion of his wings moving up and down and then catching the current of the wind. Because of the height the wind hit our bodies with a greater force but the heat that coursed through him kept us both warm. I had my arms around his neck and interlocked my fingers to hold on tighter. I nestled my head into his shoulder and the side of his neck, breathing in his intoxicating scent, which was having more than just a calming effect on me.

"I thought I was going to lose you," he said in the saddest voice I had ever heard from his sweet lips.

"I thought I had lost you too and wasn't going to get a chance to say goodbye," I said and my reply was m.u.f.fled as my head was buried safely into his neck.

"Is that what you meant, when you said you didn't want to leave?" He asked and I was shocked, what else could he have thought I meant.

"Yes of course, what else...?"

"I thought you meant Morgan," Draven said, pleased he had it wrong.

"So Morgan's definitely dead then?" I asked holding my breath at the name that just left my lips for the last time!

"OH yes and trust me when I say he is most definitely gone." He said gritting his teeth at the mention of him. I shuddered at the thought of his mangled broken b.l.o.o.d.y corpse on the rocks below.

"So that means I'm free..... I am finally free!" I said lifting my head up seeing his huge wings gracefully moving in the night air catching the moon on his silky black feathers. I also caught a glimpse or what must have been Ava flying close behind us and I smiled at the sight.

"Yes you are, he is never coming to get you again Keira, I promise you that." He said kissing my head as my hair flew around his neck, touching his bareback.

"Now let's get you home." His voice sounded tired from worry and now finally saying this brought closure making the nightmare end. But I just snuggled closer and said in a satisfied voice.

"I am already home...I'm with you." This made him make his own satisfied noise as we descended down through the sky. He held me tighter and my stomach felt as if it was moving up into my throat. The same feeling you get in an aeroplane coming in to land. But unlike a conventional flight, I didn't realise when we were safely back on the ground as his feet came in contact with the balcony outside his bed chamber.

"Keira, you can open your eyes now," he said chuckling softly as he tried to pry my fingers from his neck. He placed my feet on the ground and I couldn't help but cry in pain as the pressure to the cut skin beneath hurt at the slightest touch.

"Sorry!" He said lifting me again, holding me by the waist.