Turning away from Raphaim, he lays a hand on the wall, lighting the prison chamber completely causing it to glow amber. He can see through the transparent walls and what he sees stops his heart. His cell is surrounded by watching eyes. The Fallen have come to witness what will happen to them if they betray their king. His own brothers, standing among the fallen, watch and show no compassion. Varena cowers against the far wall, trying not to be seen.
Standing in the cell with Raphaim, his father begins to speak, "Brothers, once I lived and breathed to please our creator. I was a mindless drone who never questioned my orders. I watched his human pets become more important to him than his legion of angels and I questioned why? Why do we slave for a dictator who does not care for us? Are we not capable of thinking for ourselves? So I made a choice, and I paid the price. I, too, begged and pleaded for forgiveness; hoping for a shred of compassion and understanding. After all, he is a forgiving God, but he gave me none. We were treated like the vermin who live in the shadows of this planet, and now I am glad for it. I am more powerful now than ever, and I promised those who followed that we would be free again!” The roar of approval is deafening. Raising a hand, he gestures to his prisoner, "Today I show you the one who betrayed us all! He chose his own vanity and pleasures over the greater good! I do this so you do not forget the consequence of that choice. Follow me and we shall rule together, free and no longer at his mercy!"
Raphaim struggles to stand on his weak limbs and faces his father as he says, "I shall show you the same mercy I was shown for my free choice, and you shall thank me for it one day!" With a snap of his fingers, four fallen angels enter his cell. With a sneer of disgust, two of them seize his arms and legs while the other two stretch out his fully feathered wings. Pulling a sword his father severs them from his body.
Raphaim does not scream, for he no longer cares if he lives or dies. His eyes never blink nor waiver from his father's. Somewhere deep inside hope, he hears a question whispered "Are you Shadow or Light?"
In a tortured voice Raphaim whispers, "I am Shadow."
“I am Shadow!” he says louder and bolder. Blinking in shock his father steps to the wall, slapping his hand quickly on the surface returning them to darkness.
“Shut up!" enraged that Raphaim would hear from the Maker, he strikes him.
With a roar of rage, Raphaim roars "I Am Shadow!!" as his father leaves the chamber with the fallen angels close behind. He screams alone once more in complete darkness, “I AM SHADOW!” he says to no one.
Varena watches all of this with tears running down her face. She sees the fate of the child she might be carrying and knows she can’t let it happen. How is it possible that she feels compassion for the demon that destroyed her world? In her heart she hears the answer, Tierans voice saying “Have a heart that forgives, Rena.” Holding one hand over her heart, she moves to the wall, calling out to him.
“Come to me, son of the Mocker, Let me ease your pain,” she calls to him. She sends a tiny pulse of power lighting the barrier partially. What she sees burns her soul. He is leaning against the wall, the mask of his beauty gone once more. A wingless, shriveled demon with no hope left looks at her with empty eyes.
“Raphaim,” she pleads on her knees, “Come to me. Let me be your refuge. You are not alone anymore.”
“I Am Shadow,” he moans as he crawls towards her and he reaches with the last of his strength through the wall. Taking her small hand in his own, he pulls her wrist to his mouth pausing a moment to look into her eyes he waits.
“I know. Take what I offer, Shadow,” she tells him. Not wanting to hurt her, he takes his time. The moment his hot tongue flicks her wrist, her body reacts. Startled, she looks at him and finds her gaze trapped by his own. As his teeth sink into her flesh, she moans, feeling the pull of his mouth on her. She sweats as she leans on the wall and finds her body pulled through, now cradled in his strong arms. Reforming from the strength of her blood, he takes what he needs, savoring the feel of her in his arms. He smells her desire, the way her body reacts to him. Hears her heartbeat begin to slow and releases her wrist. Flicking his tongue out he cleans the blood off her wrist and sends her to sleep.
He holds her for a moment longer and makes a promise to himself as he carries her back to her cell. He will free her no matter the cost. Leaning his head to hers, he reads the images of her mind. She has had no pleasure in this life, yet her heart remains pure. The beauty of her soul shames him. He should not savor the feel of her, but he is Shadow, so he holds her for a little longer. When she awakes she will not remember it, and he will be his weak, demonic shell once more. Thank you, Varena, he thinks as he lays her on the floor.
“You’re welcome,” she whispers in his mind. Smiling, he slips back into Hell.
Watching her sleep through the wall, he thinks. With each infusion of blood he retains more of his previous strength. The beauty of it is that no one knows it. He can use this to his advantage.
