literature

Sacrificing Existence

Deviation Actions

Published: Mar 5, 2015

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Literature Text

     “You cannot kill me,” the angel said as the sword remained going through his chest plate, and out the back of his armor.

     “I know,” the boy replied with a smirk. “Who said I was trying to kill you though? Why should I do that, when I can keep you alive, but completely helpless?” He drew his blade down the armor, creating a large rip through the chest, causing the angel to seemingly go limp, the armor clattering fully to the floor. “Why don’t you come on out, Angel? That shell hardly suits your needs now.”

     The glowing orbs glared at him, and then vanished for a moment. A black vapor seeped out of the visor, and then reformed into a vaguely humanoid shape, the orbs reappearing accurately on the head.

   “Interesting,” the boy purred. “Despite that it was the dragon of mist that created you; you look like something of the night’s cloak. Such a shame your Lord didn’t give you a physical body in the living realm—oh yes, he couldn’t.” He chuckled. “Perhaps I should have given him the chance before our meeting.”

     “Our meeting?” the angel questioned warily.

     “What—you don’t remember?” he asked, feigning offense. “I must not have made the most memorable impression, which is surprising since I efficiently trapped you here with your Lord, and cracked your soul in the process.”

     Cassiel’s eyes widened for a brief moment before narrowing again. “You were the presence my Lord had sensed back then.”

     The boy nodded, leaning on the sword again. “I love leaving souls of such high ranks lost in the dark, and bewildered to the point they run themselves into walls trying to find answers. Though your Lord might as well have paced a rut into these halls with his fretting.”

     “Do not mock him,” the angel warned.

     “I may do as I like with him,” the red eyed boy replied. “He doesn’t have a say on the situation anymore, and neither do you.”

    The angel rose to his full height, glaring down at the boy. “I have more say than you may think.”

    The boy smirked. “Oh…?” he purred. “Do you?”

     “If I must end it here, than I shall, if that’s what it will take to remove you from my Lord’s body.”

     “Ah…you must be talking about the ‘Radiant Light’.” Cassiel stiffened, caught off guard by the boy’s knowledge. The boy turned, walking a few strides away as he spoke. “I know all about that special gift. When the dragons were created, there was a spark left over. Your Lord gave it to you, because, should something happen—should the dimension become so corrupt that it was beyond redemption…you had the reset button. Of course, there are plenty of downsides, which are why you haven’t used it yet.”

     “The first is that once you have used it, it’s gone. Nothing will save the universe should it fall into such corruption again. It is a one-time use. The second downside is of course, the one that would make any being hesitate to use it. After all, something needs to trigger the spark in order to activate the reset…the price to reset the universe…would be a soul.” He chuckled darkly. “Of course, it’s not like sacrificing your life, now is it? No…that would be far too simple. You sacrifice your soul to Oblivion. The universe will be saved, but your soul will be lost forever. You will be no more in every sense of the word.”

     “If that is the sacrifice I must make, than I shall do so,” Cassiel replied. The vapor that formed his body swirled harshly, as if condensing for a moment. Using the Radiant Light was the only ability he had left. Without his armor, he had no other physical ways of halting the demon. The arch-angel wasn’t making a bluff, he was telling the truth, and he was deadly serious. If he had to give up his existence to save his Lord and his universe…then that was what he would do.

     The boy smirked, and then suddenly staggered, the eyes flickering from green to red as a power struggle began. He crashed into the wall with the angel diving forward, hovering, unable to truly assist or interfere. “My Lord!”

     He caught his balance, and then looked up at him, the vibrant green eyes showing, but with a red rim around them trying to encase the original color again. “Cassiel, don’t do it!” the boy cried, fear in his eyes. “Please…I should never have given that to you…” Already the red was conquering back the control. The boy struggled. “Cassiel—” His cry came to an abrupt halt as the black spiraled pupils returned.

     The boy rose, dusting his sleeves off. “Well, that was a violent move,” he said, as the angel quivered with fury. “I think it is rather endearing, that he sees you as a son, and would fight anything to keep you safe.” He chortled. “Too bad though, that he can’t do much else for you, Angel. What’s the matter, Angel? Are you mad at me? Why don’t you use it then? Go on, get rid of me, and spare your Lord all of this suffering.”

     The angel drifted backwards, and then his whole body seemed to tense, his eyes glowing harshly in preparation. No…no Cassiel, don’t do it…Cassiel…CASSIEL!

     He chuckled softly. “Go ahead, cherished Angel, go save your precious Lord, go save your dear Father. Just know you’ll be leaving another soul forever in the darkness when you do so…” The angel jerked to a halt, the glow in his eyes fading as they widened at that. “Don’t you know?” the boy purred.

     “What?” the angel demanded, growing tired of the demon’s pauses to give out answers.

     “All souls have soul mates…even you, ancient angel.” He looked up, grinning like the Cheshire Cat. “Do you realize what you will do to her if you do this? She’ll never know her soul mate’s love, or even know the true feeling of it. You’ll abandon her to the darkness, doomed to live her existence alone, no matter how many lives she lives. She’ll never have a mate, she’ll never be loved, nor shall she have a family. Any children she has would be from sin being thrust upon her, and she shall only know misfortune. Are you willing to put her through that?”

     Silence filled the hall as the boy smirked to the stunned angel, while deep within the boy’s mind, Ryu watched and listened. See, Cassiel? Back down…if not for your sake…then do it for hers…please…don’t do this to yourself; this was a mistake. I don’t want to lose you, my Angel…my child…

     Cassiel sank toward the floor, his head bowed as his body quivered. If he had a literal heart, it would be panging in his chest. He still felt the pain and agony of it though. There was that sorrowful realization that a soul had been wandering her lifetimes, searching for him, and never finding him. Even now, she was likely looking for him, and now…

     The angel slowly looked up, his fiery orbs dimming as he seemingly clenched his fists, before releasing them. “I…trust my Lord to care for her,” he replied. “I know he wouldn’t let her wander the darkness forever, when there’s no longer someone to find.” The words were hard to force out, for he knew what he was losing with his decision to save his Lord.

     He would never know her. Cassiel would never know his soul mate in the slightest. He would never know if she was the type of female that would remind one of a sweet, shy little lamb…or if she had a spit-fire personality like a tiger. He wouldn’t even know what color her soul was…or what she would look like in the lifetime that he would have found her.

     He’d never know her likes or dislikes, her hobbies, her wants, dreams, desires, her fears, her morals, and beliefs. He’d never know her love…or what would have been soft butterfly kisses, and whispers of sweet-nothings under the starlight. He wouldn’t know of what children they could have had…or the life they could have led together. No…Cassiel would know nothing of her…

     And she would never know him.

     Cassiel seemed to shut his eyes momentarily on that realization. Perhaps that would be best. The hurt would be less if she never had the chance to love him…and he could trust his Lord to create another soul for her, so that she wouldn’t be left alone for the rest of eternity. It would hurt while he still existed in his last moments. Someone else would be ‘the one’. It would be someone else sharing her lives with her, it wouldn’t be him.

     It would never be him.

     His eyes opened again, his eyes blazing as he made his choice. I only hope that you’ll understand…and that you will forgive me. As he started to prepare himself, the boy suddenly lunged forward, the sword brushing though his vapor as smoke encased the blade. The sword itself didn’t hurt him, but when the smoke made contact with him; he gasped and veered away from it.

     The angel suddenly found himself swerving about, veering backwards down the hall to keep just out of reach of the boy’s blade; however, he couldn’t focus on using the Radiant Light, and dodging the blade at the same time.

     It was bizarre to think, that just behind those red eyes, was his Lord—his father, struggling beneath the demon’s domination. It also hurt him to know that unless a miracle happened…then they had already had their last conversation. His Lord had pleaded for him not to do this…but they didn’t have much of a choice, and this was the one matter that Cassiel could go against Ryu’s word on. His father…

     Cassiel could still remember his first moments when he came into being, the world around him fading into existence when he was just a small bundle of vapor formed in the heavens by Ryu. Back then, it hadn’t even been called that, and his brother was allowed up into the world of angels. His soul had been formed within a ‘nest’ of clouds, and when his vision came into focus that day, Ryu was the first being he saw.

     The dragon of mist had been lying flat on the clouds to be at eye level with him, but Cassiel could remember how jittery the deity had been. Ryu had honestly been worried as he formed Cassiel’s soul—fearing that it would blow up like most of his others and it was with utter relief that he found Cassiel to be alive and well as he came into being.

     ‘Who are you…? And…who am I?’ That had been the first two things Cassiel had inquired that day. One answer had been his own name. The other…

      ‘Who am I?’ A soft chortle followed that question. ‘I am whatever-and whoever you choose me to be, my child.’

     Cassiel continued swerving the blade, watching the boy as he did so. You may be buried under the demon’s control, he murmured to himself. However, you are still my Lord beneath the demon’s mind. I have faith in you!

     It was then that the angel realized he couldn’t go back any further. He had reached the end of the twisted corridor, and was now trapped between the wall and the boy. The angel tensed as he prepared for the searing pain of the smoke against his body. The boy smirked, coming forward until there were only a few inches of space left to divide them.

     Yet, instead of stabbing him, the boy simply placed his sword in the floor, jabbing it through one of the boards. Then, he stepped back, spreading his arms wide. “What are you waiting for, Angel?” he purred. “Are you afraid of falling into the blackness of Oblivion? Of leaving your mate behind?”

     Back down Cassiel…please, back down now…do it for her, please…

     Cassiel’s eyes narrowed as they blazed, the mockery jabbing at him like a knife. The demon was making a brave bluff. He had caused a delay in hopes of making the angel hesitate on his choice. He wanted the fact that he had a soul mate to sink in, and make the choice harder and more painful to make. Indeed, the demon had succeeded in that task. The choice was agonizing to make, and the demon knew it. He knew the angel’s suffering.

     “Why are you hesitating, Angel? I haven’t got all day.” He folded his arms with a huff. “I’m waiting.”

     No…Cassiel, don’t do it. Cassiel…Cassiel please—CASSIEL!