Crimson Ties

by V L Moon

  ~*~*~*~

  Numb, Arial trembled against the permeating degree of cold saturating the room. He looked up, tears streaming shamelessly down his face. Laziel couldn’t be dead. No way would the Creator allow it, no way in Hell. Not Laziel, not his mighty Seraphim. Anger at all that was Holy surged through Arial. He would not lose Laziel, not like this.

  A sense of justice screamed through his mind. A distant memory of the celestial life he’d been robbed of sent a wave of peace washing over him. The room went quiet. In Lachi’s arms, Destahny hiccupped and turned her huge golden eyes in Arial’s direction. She looked upon him with the innocent eyes of a brand new soul; one born of an angel’s love and grace for the male holding her against the one who bore her.

  “Please, angel. Please don’t leave me. Don’t go. Fight, damn it. Fight, Laziel. If you love me, you’ll fight.” As vehement as his words were, Malachi wasn’t shouting. He whispered, pleading as he cradled Laziel’s still body against him and their beautiful child.

  A hum of energy sent shivers through Arial. His eyes widened. His own tears dripped from his face. The babe watched. Her eyes never left Arial’s stricken ones, as though she sensed the depth of power running through his veins. His hair turned static when the air around them became positively charged.

  Destahny knew—as did Arial.

  As much as he fought and renounced his traitorous parentage, in his heart, he still had faith. It built up inside of him, pressing against his beating chest like a tremendous wave looking for release. His eyes shot to Laziel. This was it. If he’d ever believed in a higher purpose, this was the moment he’d been waiting for his long miserable life. He’d walked the Earth for centuries not knowing what path to take. At that moment, he knew.

  “I suggest you strap in for the ride, big boy,” he said low. “You’re going to need to keep Laziel close. Open up your heart, let everything, and I fucking mean EVERYTHING you feel for him free. And, if you’re wearing panties, pull them up because this shit’s going to sting.” The menace in Arial’s voice dropped so low it resembled a growl.

  Malachi looked up, his lips pressed together firmly and his eyes hard. His countenance mirrored the look of ferocity on Arial’s face. “Don’t let go,” Arial ordered. He went down on to his knees, placing them on either side of Laziel. Shamelessly, he wrapped Malachi, Laziel and their precious bundle of joy into the arc of his torn tattered wings. Arial held tight, drawing Malachi in against him until their foreheads lay pressed against each other.

  He felt Malachi’s breath against his lips; smelled his and Laziel’s scents. Even in death Laziel’s scent reminded Arial of his celestial home. Arial opened up his mind and drew in their combined aroma and caught Destahny’s subtle allure. Her innocent strength coupled with Malachi’s iron clad love for the male in his arms filled Arial’s heart until he could no longer contain the abundant swell of emotion and love.

  He took a giant breath, filling his lungs with every ounce of Malachi’s strength, power, energy and love for Laziel and pushed it along with his own strength into Laziel’s lifeless form. A blast of light surged up from Arial’s heart, tore through his lungs, his throat and out through his mouth. He clasped hold of Laziel and lifted his chin. Gently, he placed his lips over the male’s full open mouth and poured everything he had into Laziel, filling the Seraphim with every single memory ever shared between the vampire king and the Seraphim angel whether together or in private.

  Malachi gave it all. Releasing the hold on his mental walls, the vampire shoved everything he and Laziel had ever shared into Arial. Every lingering kiss or sting of a whip played a vital part of bringing back that which he’d lost. Centuries of adoration, hidden looks, secret angst that held anger, lust, devotion and love came in torrents until the ultimate finale—the two of them holding Destahny wrapped in each other’s arms, cradling the life their love for each other had borne. It sent a final shockwave of light so strong through Laziel it sent Arial flying back against the cold stone floor. And still the vampire held Laziel as his tears flowed freely in a crimson river of warm rich blood.

  ~*~*~*~

  The Heavens opened, and within the blinding light of the Creator’s embrace, Laziel anticipated a hopeful semblance of peace. The fire in his heart had died and turned to dust. He was lost. He balanced upon the precipice of life and death, too scared to take that final step toward his Maker for fear of never seeing Lachi again, or hearing the celestial chime in his daughter’s cry.

  “Destahny. Such a fitting name. A savior’s name.” The image of their daughter cupped within their palms played through his mind. He’d envisioned forever with Lachi, but truth be known, the flames of celestial light that burned inside of him had been slowly diminishing for years.

  He’d hidden it well; yet, the want of Lachi’s love never lessened, not even when he’d finally met his end. At least, Lachi hadn’t died with him. In the months Laziel carried Destahny, he’d poured his essence into their child, tying her to Lachi. He’d bound them together from the threads of his own bond with Lachi and strengthened it with his love for the unborn child and his vampire king, ensuring their survival.

  With his own fate sealed, Laziel drew in a final breath and allowed Lachi’s scent to drown out everything surrounding him. In the grand scheme of things, Laziel’s life had been a blessed one. But, faced with making the choice between Heaven and Earth; he couldn’t seem to do it. Leaving Lachi behind had never been an option before and with Destahny added, Laziel was stumbling while being faced with the finality of it all. He reached out for stability and found nothing. He’d never willingly leave Lachi or their child; he would have walked through the fires of Hell if needed to stay with him. Love him. “Creator, save me. Please, I can’t do this. Say something, anything. I know you can hear me, Father. Please.”

  “My child. My beautiful Heavenly creation, never did I believe you would achieve so much and make such a difference upon the mortal Earth. I have wronged you. Caused you and your Fallen brethren so much pain; yet still you fight to stay,” the Creator responded. “You fight for a love steeped in darkness. I fear for you. Both of you. But even as I stand here with you your Fallen friend and your vampire fight to save you.”

  “He is selfless in his actions; fears not any outcome bar giving you life. His life. Would you do that Laziel? Would you take all that Arial is offering and have him take your place?” The Creator’s words, however soft, were tinged in regret and ire. Heavy with sorrow Laziel, went down on bended knees. His eyes showed no color, only sadness and sorrow.

  However much it pained him, Laziel could not allow Arial to take his place. He knew the Fallen’s heart lay elsewhere and wouldn’t rest until the day he came face to face with Fate. If Laziel allowed Arial to take his place, he’d never face his demon; never know the depths of a love so all-consuming it left you powerless in its wake. Laziel believed Arial deserved such love and was entitled to the warmth after having been so mercilessly cast out by a mother more traitorous than Lucifer himself.

  The answer was easy. “No. Arial stays. He is needed, loved more than he knows. He doesn’t deserve to suffer any more, especially because of me. If he finds even a semblance of the love I have for Lachi, I can rest easy knowing he will have found true happiness.” Laziel said and stood to take the final step in through the gates of Heaven. He came face to face with the Creator’s angry expression.

  Fire danced in the depths of his eyes and the air around him thundered and quaked. “You, the last of your kind hold his life higher than your own? You gave everything to the Creation you bore, gave every last flicker of your celestial light to the one who refused to accept it. He renounced you, made you bleed, and you would give up your soul for them? A Fallen and a…a….” The Creator’s voice faltered. The slight tremor foretold his fight to restrain his ferocious emotions.

  “You would stay to ensure Arial finds love, but what of him, your immortal creation and the life of your young?” The question was intended to hurt, but Laz
iel was unprepared for the depth of grief rearing up inside of him and threatening to swallow him whole.

  “Love is endless. My love for them knows no bounds, no limits. Lachi showed me everything there was to love in life by just a look, a simple touch. I love him with every essence of my being. I would fall to protect him and our young. Do not doubt my sincerity, or my love for them,” Laziel replied softly.

  “As for Arial—you know as well as I, he is no more Fallen than me. Yet, you play him and use him like a pawn in a game where even his own mother is in league against our kind,” Laziel continued. His temper flared.

  “Have you stripped her of her wings? Has she been cursed as Arial has? Of course not. But, you stand on your mighty pedestal before me, one that carried home the entirety of his race from the bowels of Hell and fought your Holy Wars and refuse to find reasoning in my love for them,” Laziel fumed.

  “I don’t rightly care if you condemn me for loving him, because I would choose my Azarian over anyone. But, do not threaten me with taking a life in my place, especially Arial,” Laziel raged. “Now, step aside and let me pass. I hold no tolerance for the petty games played between Heaven and Hell. Not anymore.”

  Laziel’s wings opened to cast a shadow of death over Heaven’s gate. The Creator stepped back when the gates to his kingdom slammed apart. Laziel entered as though he rode Pestilence itself. Refusing to hold back the warrior traits of his Seraphim race, Laziel allowed his breeding to reign.

  On entering the kingdom of his Heavenly domain, Laziel lost any notion of finding the peace he so dearly sought. He expected the balm of Heaven’s caress to appease the ruination of his heart. Instead of peace he felt chaos. In the place of love, anger and pain swelled. Where he once aspired to be the Creator’s Heavenly Seraphim, he felt nothing for his holy affliction.

  When he ascended, Laziel had left behind all that was good in him. Strong hands gripped him and twisted Laziel’s powerful frame until he was face to face with the Creator. He should have felt awe, fell to his knees and thrown himself at the Creator’s mercy, but he couldn’t move. The rage surging through his veins made his skin itch and his wings unfurl until the full width of them spread out around him like a sea of ebony silk.

  “You were never meant for the mortal world, Laziel. The purity of your soul could not possibly survive the turmoil of emotions that dwell there. The sin and depravity of Earth has tainted your thoughts,” his Father lamented. ”Take my side, and I will ease the grief of those you left behind.”

  “The purity of my soul?” Laziel fumed. His rage swelled in his chest. “How easily you condemn me. Tell me, father.” Laziel spat, his eyes taking on an unholy hue of crimson red. “Did you fear for my soul when I lay buried in the ash of my kin? The same kin that fought your holy war and died. Did you fear Lucifer would contaminate your blessed son, take him literally and violate his soul?” Enraged, he stepped closer.

  “Did you ever even ask?” He questioned bitterly. “No. You sat me upon your pedestal like a possession until my loneliness ate at you. Only then did you warrant me with the gift to create.” His eyes flashed fire. “Lachi is everything I am and more. His soul is purer than mine shall ever be. And now, he has Destahny. Did you know of my ability to breed?”

  Laziel scoffed at his own question. “Of course you did. Was that why you permitted me to stay below? So that you could further a race and then sit back and watch as it tore itself apart, tore Lachi apart?” His anger spiked even higher with that thought. “I hope for your sake the apocalyptic seals are kept safe, for I denounce myself as your savior. Go find yourself another white knight. This one’s done.” Laziel’s vehemence turned the Heavenly air stale as he turned his back upon the Creator and tried to take flight.

  He didn’t get far.

  When the Creator spoke, ice chilled Laziel’s veins. Still, he failed to show any remorse or fear. He’d been a pawn in the Creator’s game, used in the war against evil. But, no more. As much as Laziel worshipped his celestial nature, he would not allow Arial, Lachi or Destahny to be used along with him.

  “Why are you so quick to judge Laziel? Do you really believe I am so cruel as to warrant the sadness that dwells in your heart? Forgive me for saying so, but was it not your choice to love without reason? Was it your choice to forge an eternal bond and give the light in your heart to Malachi and consummate your love while in feminine form?” The Creator threw the questions at him.

  “In your time on Earth, you have given him everything, guided him, unceremoniously worshipped him, and given birth to a hope where there was none. Now you want to sacrifice yourself to ensure the race you provided an heir for continues to exist. Your creation has taken everything from you. Everything.” The Creator’s words sounded bitter, cold; uncharacteristic for one so mighty. The Creator’s sympathy and sadness for Laziel was almost palpable.

  If it were not for the cynicism behind the Creator’s heated words, Laziel might have walked away and passed the scornful outburst as worry. But, he faced the Creator, and he didn’t do scorn. Such lowly contempt was beneath him, and so it should be. Why in Lucifer’s name was the big guy choosing now to act up? And furthermore, why hadn’t ceased to exist or crossed over into the light or whatever it was that angels did when they died? What did they do? Laziel idly thought as he stepped back hesitantly and scrutinized the Creator’s virtuous face.

  Amidst his robes of billowing white, the Creator’s power flowed around him. The brilliance of its radiance framed him in an aura of purity so bright it lit up the skies of their Heavenly kingdom. It momentarily blinded Laziel against the veiled pulse of energy it so fervently endeavored to hide. If Laziel had been of any other celestial lineage, the slight trickery might have succeeded in misleading him. But, Laziel was no fool.

  Second only to the Creator himself, Laziel had borne witness to the dawning of time and observed many millennia of evolution under the coveted position of his rank. Drawing back from the Creator’s glare, Laziel mentally pushed against the wall of power pulsing around them. As weak as he was, Laziel refused to accept his awaiting demise until he unmasked the motive behind the Creator’s powerful veil.

  Sparks of energy manifested in the air around them. The prickling bolts of power danced over Laziel’s skin, scorching his flesh as he attempted to push through the Creator’s veil. “What has you so vexed you would attempt to hide it from me? Do you think me so weak I wouldn’t notice? You bargained me for a fool. You bargained wrong,” Laziel fumed as the Creator’s power slammed into him again and again, blasting energy and life into Laziel’s heart like a pummeling fist, forcing it to beat, enticing it to breathe.

  “No!” Laziel roared, beating against the Creator’s chest as tears pooled in his eyes and then raced down his angry, scorched face. “I can’t do this; I won’t do this. I refuse to ascend to the pedestal you placed me upon.” The pulsing increased.

  “I can’t. Please, Father. Let me pass over. Let them live knowing I gave them everything. Don’t force me to have to watch over them knowing I can’t be with them—with him.” Laziel growled, his fury turning the blood in his veins to ice. He wouldn’t allow the Creator to use him as a pawn any more. He had played his part, fought on the side of the Creator. He’d earned the attempt at a life for himself with Lachi. Except, fate threw him a curve ball. It was check and mate. Laziel had played his part in too many games. It was time to throw in the towel. He was tired, tired of fighting for those who refused to fight back.

  With a look of resignation and sadness, Laziel’s body gave up the fight. At his back, the ebony expanse of his satin, black wings smoldered and arced as they opened up along with his heart. Instead of fighting the Creator, Laziel accepted him. He drank in the abundant essence of the Almighty’s power, light and peace and allowed it to fill him. Strong arms wrapped around him. Laziel closed his eyes and imagined himself locked within the embrace of the beautiful, deadly vampire he would always long for.

  “I love you.” Lachi’s words consumed
him. Over and over, he whispered them in return as he mentally lifted the Creator’s veil and shook at the force of power hidden beyond his Father’s enthrall.

  The spool of images, memories and the depth of emotion that crashed into him stole Laziel’s breath away. Centuries of love, brotherhood, loyalties and oaths spilled into him. Laziel’s body seized in pain and slowly began to levitate from the overwhelming surge of power holding him hostage. Arial’s mind gripped him in a mental vice of spiritual peace, one so beautiful it brought a fresh round of tears to Laziel’s eyes. Only the tears weren’t ones filled with sadness and grief, but respect for the mighty Fallen male who had secured himself a place in Laziel’s heart. His brother had found his path, and in doing so, had chosen to fight for Laziel. As the male’s memories filled him, a startling awareness filled Laziel. He bathed in the tide of its radiant warmth. It washed over his skin and ran through his veins.

  Lachi.

  The bond between them flared to life. Amid the thunderous maelstrom of Lachi’s mind, Laziel gloried in the sensation of their bond fusing back together, knitting itself tighter and tighter. It glowed like a supernova as it bound them in a union stronger than ever before. Where once their bond shone a ferocious shade of crimson red, it returned sparkling with the clarity of love. Entwined within its bindings, new threads emerged to forge them together. Destahny’s life glistened with innocence and purity, giving their bond a new thread of celestial light that blazed brilliantly. It wrapped fathers’ own colors, meshing them together with a newly formed strength.

  With Arial’s mind acting as the catalyst for the male he adored, Laziel listened to and felt Lachi pour his soul into Arial’s celestial heart. His whispered, heartbroken pleas rendered Laziel’s desire for a celestial afterlife fruitless. He could never truly leave. His lover wouldn’t allow it. Coiled together within the ties that bound them, Laziel’s love for Lachi and their young immortalized itself. With the knowledge of their fates so dually blended, Lachi reached out, grabbed the threads joining their hearts together in both hands and dragged Laziel back into the expanse of his safe strong arms.