Fee's Writings
An Angel's Touch: Chapter Thirteen
Warnings: Violence
It was one of those rare times when Maz moved through the shadows, his sole purpose being to detract attention from himself. The wound on his arm was dripping blood to the ground, since as much as he was trying he only had his hand to stem the flow.
Slipping down a narrow tunnel that he knew led to his... well, 'home'... he found himself faced with the one person he could have really done without seeing right now.
"Well, well. You have got yourself into a state, haven't you?" The voice, and the smirk that came with it, were scathingly mocking.
Maz winced slightly, narrowing his eyes as he looked up into the eyes of his elder brother. "Get out of my way, Azriel." he spat, trying to move around his brother and being blocked. He growled softly. Other days he would have simply knocked the taller yet slighter form out of his way, but today he was in no fit state to be doing that.
"Oh no you don't," Sae said, the smirk still written across his face. "What have you been doing, Zoki?" He chuckled softly, and shook his head. "Dear me, Rennie would be ashamed of you if she could see you now."
Maz's eyes narrowed widened briefly then narrowed, pupils dilating a little as he glared up at his brother. "Leave Renael out of this..." he hissed. Many insults he would take, but none about her.
Renael and he had met long before the Rebellion, when Maz had come in to his powers and was studying under the Archangel Raphael. He had admired her from afar for months before it was finally her who instigated conversation between them. She had been his blonde, blue eyed princess, and a height difference of nearly fifteen inches hadn't stood in the way of him falling completely in love with her. He'd even asked her to marry him, just before the War started, and she had said yes.
It had been fifty years in to the Rebellion - nothing for an immortal - when tragedy had struck. Working on the front line with him, Renael got caught in unexpected crossfire between the two warring sides, and as much as Maz had tried, he hadn't been able to save her. Some would say that that event was the final thing that pushed him over the edge, though it took three more years for him to finally crack.
Sae, of course, knew that his brother's deceased fiancee was his one weakness, and although he knew it was callous and very low, he took the opportunity to bring her up as much as he could.
Slipping down a narrow tunnel that he knew led to his... well, 'home'... he found himself faced with the one person he could have really done without seeing right now.
"Well, well. You have got yourself into a state, haven't you?" The voice, and the smirk that came with it, were scathingly mocking.
Maz winced slightly, narrowing his eyes as he looked up into the eyes of his elder brother. "Get out of my way, Azriel." he spat, trying to move around his brother and being blocked. He growled softly. Other days he would have simply knocked the taller yet slighter form out of his way, but today he was in no fit state to be doing that.
"Oh no you don't," Sae said, the smirk still written across his face. "What have you been doing, Zoki?" He chuckled softly, and shook his head. "Dear me, Rennie would be ashamed of you if she could see you now."
Maz's eyes narrowed widened briefly then narrowed, pupils dilating a little as he glared up at his brother. "Leave Renael out of this..." he hissed. Many insults he would take, but none about her.
Renael and he had met long before the Rebellion, when Maz had come in to his powers and was studying under the Archangel Raphael. He had admired her from afar for months before it was finally her who instigated conversation between them. She had been his blonde, blue eyed princess, and a height difference of nearly fifteen inches hadn't stood in the way of him falling completely in love with her. He'd even asked her to marry him, just before the War started, and she had said yes.
It had been fifty years in to the Rebellion - nothing for an immortal - when tragedy had struck. Working on the front line with him, Renael got caught in unexpected crossfire between the two warring sides, and as much as Maz had tried, he hadn't been able to save her. Some would say that that event was the final thing that pushed him over the edge, though it took three more years for him to finally crack.
Sae, of course, knew that his brother's deceased fiancee was his one weakness, and although he knew it was callous and very low, he took the opportunity to bring her up as much as he could.
What he hadn't counted on was Maz having the guts to say what he did next.
"Oh, and I'm sure that Yirisa would just be thrilled to see how you're acting right now."
Sae's fists clenched. "You don't want to make me angry, Zokiel."
Maz just laughed, now not even caring that his feet were being stained by the blood still running from his arm. "Perhaps I do. Perhaps I want to know if you even can still get angry."
"Don't push it, brother." Was the growled response, yet still he carried on relentlessly.
"I wouldn't be surprised if all these years of denying your own urges have rendered you the weakling that I always thought you were." And then, the final blow. "I don't know what Yirisa ever saw in you, you're pathetic."
He didn't even get time to regret his words. A fist contacting with his jaw sent off an explosion of pain that rattled through his teeth, and a hand gripped his throat, lifting him from the ground and pressing him hard against cold stone, the rough edges jabbing into his back. His fingers scrabbled at the wrist that held him up, to no avail.
Sae was livid, eyes burning a dark crimson, wings flared, nails black and sharp, digging into the skin of Maz's neck. He winced a little as blood was drawn, feeling it running over his shoulder and down to prickle at the gash on his arm. Still, he couldn't resist grinning. It had been a long time since he had seen his brother like this.
"I never want to hear her name pass your lips again, do you understand me?" Sae snarled, his anger sparking flames that flared and rippled over the delicate bone support of his wings.
Maz almost laughed, then he felt the pressure on his neck increase, cutting off his air supply, and his tugging at his brother's arm - which had up until then been half hearted - became real. It was true that the only thing that could kill him was an angelic weapon, or himself, but he had no desire to be choked into a coma. It also forced him to realise that this was no fit of temper. Sae was actually furious, and in this state he was stronger than Maz could ever hope to compete with.
"Do you understand me?" Sae repeated. The younger demon nodded, the only sound he could manage to make being a small, weak sound that was little more than a whine.
He was dropped to the floor, coughing and dry-heaving, one hand going to his neck and finding blood still flowing. The demon panted, flinching as Sae moved as if to kick him, then watching him simply walk away.
Maz shifted feebly, putting his back against the cool stone of the tunnel wall, leaning his head against it and glancing down at the cut on his arm. He closed his eyes.
Hearing footsteps again, one eye opened and his body tensed, ready to fight, only to be greeted by the concerned face of his blonde, kind-hearted lover.
"Maz... Oh, by Lucifer, what happened?"
Grunting softly, Maz batted the other male's hand away as he tried to take his arm. "Who told you I was down here?"
"Sae did... I saw him coming out of the other end of the tunnel. He looked rather distressed. It's so odd to see him worry about you, I thought I should come and check."
So, his brother's conscience had gotten the better of him again. Oh well, he supposed that this time he should be thankful of Sae's angelic tendencies.
Karthetuthari moved to help him stand, and this time he accepted the aid, even leaning a little of his weight on the blonde as he did so. Karthetuthari smiled slightly, lowering his head so Maz couldn't see.
He made it back to his home quickly with Karthetuthari's assistance, and closed the door quickly as he got in. Exhaling slowly, he touched his neck once again, finding the wounds inflicted by his brother already healed. The one on his arm, however...
Karthetuthari was staring at it, the gash on pale skin still pumping blood. Had he been human he would have probably been dead by now. He was a little cold, though. A slight shiver ran through him, and the other male immediately went to him, putting an arm around him as he felt a sudden surge of weakness that nearly forced him to his knees.
"Maz, sit down..." Karthetuthari murmured, taking him to the bed and forcing him to sit down, perching beside him and trying to see how bad the injury was through the blood. "What happened?" He got up and went over to where a small spring ran hot water in to a bowl cut in to the rock of the wall. It was the same system which supplied water to the bath, and to most of the 'homes' nearby. A common occurrence in Hell. Picking up a small wooden bowl from beside the 'sink', he filled it and leaned in to the bathroom, grabbing a couple of towels and returning to the bed.
As he soaked the towel in the water, Maz closed his eyes once again and shuddered. "I was... I was trying to get rid of that mortal. Ameron... I don't know what happened. He used angelic powers..."
Karthetuthari looked up sharply. "But that's impossible!" he exclaimed.
"So I thought... it injured him, though... like a burn, on his hand. It must-" He cut off and flinched as Karthetuthari began clearing some of the blood from his arm. The other demon murmured an apology, and Maz went on. "It must mean that a part of him still has links to Heaven... and my being a danger to that mortal 'friend' of his... triggered it somehow."
Sae's fists clenched. "You don't want to make me angry, Zokiel."
Maz just laughed, now not even caring that his feet were being stained by the blood still running from his arm. "Perhaps I do. Perhaps I want to know if you even can still get angry."
"Don't push it, brother." Was the growled response, yet still he carried on relentlessly.
"I wouldn't be surprised if all these years of denying your own urges have rendered you the weakling that I always thought you were." And then, the final blow. "I don't know what Yirisa ever saw in you, you're pathetic."
He didn't even get time to regret his words. A fist contacting with his jaw sent off an explosion of pain that rattled through his teeth, and a hand gripped his throat, lifting him from the ground and pressing him hard against cold stone, the rough edges jabbing into his back. His fingers scrabbled at the wrist that held him up, to no avail.
Sae was livid, eyes burning a dark crimson, wings flared, nails black and sharp, digging into the skin of Maz's neck. He winced a little as blood was drawn, feeling it running over his shoulder and down to prickle at the gash on his arm. Still, he couldn't resist grinning. It had been a long time since he had seen his brother like this.
"I never want to hear her name pass your lips again, do you understand me?" Sae snarled, his anger sparking flames that flared and rippled over the delicate bone support of his wings.
Maz almost laughed, then he felt the pressure on his neck increase, cutting off his air supply, and his tugging at his brother's arm - which had up until then been half hearted - became real. It was true that the only thing that could kill him was an angelic weapon, or himself, but he had no desire to be choked into a coma. It also forced him to realise that this was no fit of temper. Sae was actually furious, and in this state he was stronger than Maz could ever hope to compete with.
"Do you understand me?" Sae repeated. The younger demon nodded, the only sound he could manage to make being a small, weak sound that was little more than a whine.
He was dropped to the floor, coughing and dry-heaving, one hand going to his neck and finding blood still flowing. The demon panted, flinching as Sae moved as if to kick him, then watching him simply walk away.
Maz shifted feebly, putting his back against the cool stone of the tunnel wall, leaning his head against it and glancing down at the cut on his arm. He closed his eyes.
Hearing footsteps again, one eye opened and his body tensed, ready to fight, only to be greeted by the concerned face of his blonde, kind-hearted lover.
"Maz... Oh, by Lucifer, what happened?"
Grunting softly, Maz batted the other male's hand away as he tried to take his arm. "Who told you I was down here?"
"Sae did... I saw him coming out of the other end of the tunnel. He looked rather distressed. It's so odd to see him worry about you, I thought I should come and check."
So, his brother's conscience had gotten the better of him again. Oh well, he supposed that this time he should be thankful of Sae's angelic tendencies.
Karthetuthari moved to help him stand, and this time he accepted the aid, even leaning a little of his weight on the blonde as he did so. Karthetuthari smiled slightly, lowering his head so Maz couldn't see.
He made it back to his home quickly with Karthetuthari's assistance, and closed the door quickly as he got in. Exhaling slowly, he touched his neck once again, finding the wounds inflicted by his brother already healed. The one on his arm, however...
Karthetuthari was staring at it, the gash on pale skin still pumping blood. Had he been human he would have probably been dead by now. He was a little cold, though. A slight shiver ran through him, and the other male immediately went to him, putting an arm around him as he felt a sudden surge of weakness that nearly forced him to his knees.
"Maz, sit down..." Karthetuthari murmured, taking him to the bed and forcing him to sit down, perching beside him and trying to see how bad the injury was through the blood. "What happened?" He got up and went over to where a small spring ran hot water in to a bowl cut in to the rock of the wall. It was the same system which supplied water to the bath, and to most of the 'homes' nearby. A common occurrence in Hell. Picking up a small wooden bowl from beside the 'sink', he filled it and leaned in to the bathroom, grabbing a couple of towels and returning to the bed.
As he soaked the towel in the water, Maz closed his eyes once again and shuddered. "I was... I was trying to get rid of that mortal. Ameron... I don't know what happened. He used angelic powers..."
Karthetuthari looked up sharply. "But that's impossible!" he exclaimed.
"So I thought... it injured him, though... like a burn, on his hand. It must-" He cut off and flinched as Karthetuthari began clearing some of the blood from his arm. The other demon murmured an apology, and Maz went on. "It must mean that a part of him still has links to Heaven... and my being a danger to that mortal 'friend' of his... triggered it somehow."
This was always the problem with wounds inflicted by angelic powers. They healed at the same rate that a normal wound would on a mortal, and there was no way to speed the process. Some had even lost limbs over infections, and there was always scarring. Thironantha was always too eager to show off where he had been hit during the Rebellion - one wing almost too mangled to fly, and half of his torso covered in long, lash-like scars.
The sound of Karthetuthari ripping the dry towel he had in to strips caught his attention, and he sighed. His little lover had done a good job - the bleeding had almost stopped. Apparently he remembered more of his days as a healer than Maz did.
The sound of Karthetuthari ripping the dry towel he had in to strips caught his attention, and he sighed. His little lover had done a good job - the bleeding had almost stopped. Apparently he remembered more of his days as a healer than Maz did.
"What made you wind him up, Maz? You know you're not a ma-"
Maz growled under his breath, cutting the male off. "I know, I know I'm not a match for him when he's angry. I got carried away."
* * *
Maz growled under his breath, cutting the male off. "I know, I know I'm not a match for him when he's angry. I got carried away."
* * *
'Karthetuthari, my brother is just down that tunnel. Go and help him, please.'
'Sae?'
'Please, just go. Hurry.'
'Yes, of course.'
He was calm now, eyes back to their usual deep hazel, and nails back to normal. He hadn't hidden his wings, but they were folded in to his back, the fire that had coursed over them earlier completely gone.
He couldn't believe he'd lost his temper like that, and over so simple a thing. He had frightened his brother, he knew that much - he'd seen the near-terror in his eyes as he'd been rendered unable to breathe. He had considered beating him as Maz had done to him a couple of weeks previously, but he had found himself to be above such mindless violence, and although it had been difficult, he had left it there.
Running a hand through his hair, he sighed softly. In some way, he supposed, Maz was right. He hadn't spoken to Yirisa in almost two centuries, and he wondered if she even remembered him.
Still, to get that worked up... He looked down at his hands, running his thumbs over his fingernails.
"God..." he mumbled. "Get me out of here or just let me die."
Dramatic, perhaps, but when you consider that one year in the mortal realms was equal to a hundred in Angelic or Demonic reckoning, he had been this way for eons. It was enough to drain anyone of their love for life, but he didn't destroy himself or even attempt to.
He knew what the Choirs thought of him, and he lifted his arm as a long, slender whip materialised in his hand amid wisps of black smoke. Each blade sported stains of long dried blood.
'Sae?'
'Please, just go. Hurry.'
'Yes, of course.'
He was calm now, eyes back to their usual deep hazel, and nails back to normal. He hadn't hidden his wings, but they were folded in to his back, the fire that had coursed over them earlier completely gone.
He couldn't believe he'd lost his temper like that, and over so simple a thing. He had frightened his brother, he knew that much - he'd seen the near-terror in his eyes as he'd been rendered unable to breathe. He had considered beating him as Maz had done to him a couple of weeks previously, but he had found himself to be above such mindless violence, and although it had been difficult, he had left it there.
Running a hand through his hair, he sighed softly. In some way, he supposed, Maz was right. He hadn't spoken to Yirisa in almost two centuries, and he wondered if she even remembered him.
Still, to get that worked up... He looked down at his hands, running his thumbs over his fingernails.
"God..." he mumbled. "Get me out of here or just let me die."
Dramatic, perhaps, but when you consider that one year in the mortal realms was equal to a hundred in Angelic or Demonic reckoning, he had been this way for eons. It was enough to drain anyone of their love for life, but he didn't destroy himself or even attempt to.
He knew what the Choirs thought of him, and he lifted his arm as a long, slender whip materialised in his hand amid wisps of black smoke. Each blade sported stains of long dried blood.
Early on, after the Rebellion, he had used this weapon often to torture mortals and angels alike. Half-insane with the shock of his fall and the anger which had consumed him when his brother had driven him to give in to his weakness, he hadn't spared a thought for those he had preyed upon. The only reason he would use it now was when he was attacked, but situations were always turned to put him at fault, due to his past misdeeds. The only angel he had spoken to apart from his sister (and that being only recently) had been Trysios, some decades ago.
He tapped the whip against his thigh, a small frown on his face. Chewing his lower lip he shook his head and sighed. His grip on the handle of the weapon tightened, and he growled under his breath, throwing it to one side where it skittered across the ground, hitting a wall and disappearing in a puff of smoke.
Getting up from the rock that had been serving as his seat for the past hour since he had left his brother, he flexed his fingers. The urge to brutalise him had gripped Sae so fiercely that thinking of it still gave him shivers. But, he had stopped himself. He was proud of himself for that.
Best not to think about it, he mused, briefly wondering how Abartulai was. He hadn't seen her in weeks...
"Sae?"
He glanced over his shoulder. "Karthetuthari."
As the blonde approached he turned to face him, trying to look calm amid the still confused thoughts causing turmoil in his already tired mind.
"Sae, what happened? I've never seen Maz like that before. I'm worried."
Sae snorted. "Worried? About him? Don't waste your time, Karthetuthari. He'll never appreciate it."
The younger demon's gaze fell to his feet. "I know... but..."
Waving one hand as if to push the issue aside, Sae tilted his head. "I presume you mean how he got that wound on his arm."
A nod.
"I can only assume that he tried to attack Ameron and an angel stopped him. You know full well that one of us would not be capable of inflicting such an injury."
Another nod, and Karthetuthari lifted his eyes back up. "I want to be able to stop him... but he made me promise to help him..."
Sae frowned a little, then sighed and shrugged. "Then help him. I doubt it will affect much in the end of things. After all, if it is in our Father's plan for this to end in a certain way, then I am sure nothing my brother will try can change that."
"But-"
"Do not concern yourself with it. Now, go on. Go and take care of him."
He tapped the whip against his thigh, a small frown on his face. Chewing his lower lip he shook his head and sighed. His grip on the handle of the weapon tightened, and he growled under his breath, throwing it to one side where it skittered across the ground, hitting a wall and disappearing in a puff of smoke.
Getting up from the rock that had been serving as his seat for the past hour since he had left his brother, he flexed his fingers. The urge to brutalise him had gripped Sae so fiercely that thinking of it still gave him shivers. But, he had stopped himself. He was proud of himself for that.
Best not to think about it, he mused, briefly wondering how Abartulai was. He hadn't seen her in weeks...
"Sae?"
He glanced over his shoulder. "Karthetuthari."
As the blonde approached he turned to face him, trying to look calm amid the still confused thoughts causing turmoil in his already tired mind.
"Sae, what happened? I've never seen Maz like that before. I'm worried."
Sae snorted. "Worried? About him? Don't waste your time, Karthetuthari. He'll never appreciate it."
The younger demon's gaze fell to his feet. "I know... but..."
Waving one hand as if to push the issue aside, Sae tilted his head. "I presume you mean how he got that wound on his arm."
A nod.
"I can only assume that he tried to attack Ameron and an angel stopped him. You know full well that one of us would not be capable of inflicting such an injury."
Another nod, and Karthetuthari lifted his eyes back up. "I want to be able to stop him... but he made me promise to help him..."
Sae frowned a little, then sighed and shrugged. "Then help him. I doubt it will affect much in the end of things. After all, if it is in our Father's plan for this to end in a certain way, then I am sure nothing my brother will try can change that."
"But-"
"Do not concern yourself with it. Now, go on. Go and take care of him."