waits for them to complete the task.

The Mocker pulling himself from the trench of his impact sees the divine light of the Ketuwah. He is bleeding heavily from a ragged hole in his back. A thought and the torn ruptured meat begins to pull together healing, but leaving a massive red knot of tissue for a scar.

A yell of rage and pain has him spreading the tortured meat and feathers of his wings pulling himself into the smoky, dust filled air to fly with a final rush of power. He lands a short distance in front of Alex and his six remaining sons step behind him facing the Light and his cohort of archangels.

The holy light emanating from Alex shows the Mockers sons for the nightmares that they are. Gone is all semblance of beauty, their eyes glow a deep red as if projected from the bowels of the underworld, their faces and bodies are scarred from thousands of years fighting. Hands have been reformed as talons and claws, mouths are dripping with gore and blood. Their armor has been corroded and distorted from the corruption of their souls. The Mocker looks at his sons and turns to the light, smiling a broken smile.

Elina watches and the noise begins to fade, her heart stutters. There is a ringing in her ears and everything fades to ebony.

Malach pulls her tight to his body and steps into the bright shimmering blue wall of light, giving his life to see her home.

Excruciating pain floods his body as his wings flash into flames, but he does not stop. He holds his scream inside and accepts his fate, for only the Keeper is allowed into the Ketuwah. Releasing her broken body from his burning arms, she floats into the soothing embrace of home.

Her clothes are burned away by the sapphire flame and the tattoos begin to lift. Elina hears each word spoken in the Holy language as they return home. When the final word lifts from her body as she takes her last breath and drifts down to lay in front of Malach.

Malach falls to his knees weeping. The agony from the firestorm surrounding him does not compare to the anguish in his soul. He crawls to her body as his wings drift to ash.

Gently he takes her hand, “It is done, Elina. You did well.” The moment his fingers touch hers a cool azure light leaps from her hand to his. It flows like a river from Elina to Malach, easing over the angel extinguishing his flames, comforting his ravaged body and soul.

Chapter 34

Alex feels the moment when the mighty archangel steps into the Ketuwah with his sister.  Malach does not falter. He carries her broken body home, and Alex feels the pressure growing, burning and surging. The power flooding his body needs a target, “It’s time.”

Alex lifts his hands and sends his power into the orb of light. It explodes outward seeking the demons who walk the earth. Hundreds fall screaming to the ground in agony as they are pinned to the earth and burned to dirty black ash clouds.

The Mocker watches but does not defend them. He simply looks at his six sons and points to the orb. They smile, leaping straight into the sky on wings of leathery sinew and raw muscle.

As the son’s climb into the air, the orb’s burning power coalesces and concentrates into their bodies. They don’t burn as the weaker creatures did. The power is absorbed and corrupted by their combined evil. The energy becomes a tool of evil instead of the righteous fury that created it.

Spreading their arms, they refocus it on to the angels flying and fighting around them. Great blasts of blood red light explode outward striking their targets with horrifying detonations as they are vaporized. A wail from heaven can be heard as their souls return home, burned and broken.

“Ahhh, yes taste the fear sons!” The Mocker laughs and looks down at the boy in front of him.  “Your keeper is dead, this battle is mine! Kill them all!” he screams.

He points at the orb and sends a blast of energy towards it, imploding it and sending fragments of light outward in the aftermath of its destruction.

Inside the Ketuwah, Malach is holding onto Elina’s hand as the soothing fire flows over his body like water, healing all wounds. Trembling with the aftershocks of the pain and Elina’s death, he looks up and his tear soaked face watches in awe as her body is surrounded in a healing sphere. She is curled up floating inside the orb, much like an infant in its mother’s womb. Malach stumbles to his knees, afraid to hope.

The orb spins slowly and begins to glow.

“Well done, Malach. You have protected the keeper and passed the test given to you. But I am afraid I have more to ask of you.”

“I am your servant, my King.” Malach says, bowing to the voice of his creator.

“Very good. You see, Elina’s task is not yet complete. She has more to do and she will need an angel to guide her and teach her yet again.”

The orb glows brighter and Malach is forced to shield his eyes against the brilliance. “Are you this Angel, Malach?”

Malach hangs his head and says in shame, “My King. I am afraid I will jeopardize both of our souls and break the covenant. I love her, Father, too much to risk damning her.”

“Good answer.”

Malach’s wings reform in an instant, strong, beautiful and whole.

The orb flashes silver and explodes outward, sending pearlescent dust everywhere. Elina floats gently to the ground covered in the glistening dust. As it settles she struggles to stand.

Malach watches in awe.

She stands slowly wearing a beautiful silky white robe. She is healed and her turquoise eyes glimmer with unshed tears. Elina gives a shake of her shoulders and her wings unfurl. Large, silky, silvery wings, shimmering with the dust of heaven. With a laugh of delight, she spins

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