Cassiel
Ash rained down, landing on Cassiel’s face. The smoke-choked sky kept all sunlight at bay, not that he could see it anymore. His body ached. He was used to it now. It was a constant pain rooted deep within the pit inside of him, serving as a daily reminder of why he did this.
“I have surrendered, My King. Please, I have told you everything I know. Spare me, and my Realm will be yours.”
Cassiel’s gaze lowered from the dark skies to Lord Hallel, kneeling at his feet. Soot and blood stained his pallid face and armor, his weapons long broken. It took all winter to track him down. Here, Hallel made his stand with the full force of his army.
And lost.
He was the last Skath warrior on the battleground scattered with feathers and fire. Every soul he had destroyed forever marked the land. Including his own.
“You have misconstrued me, Lord Hallel.” Cassiel’s eyes flamed. “I didn’t come for your surrender.”
Lord Hallel begged him, but Cassiel couldn’t hear his voice anymore. He only saw a reflection of his past. Lord Hallel had been one of his generals, and he had been among those who betrayed him in both lives. He wouldn’t return to do so again.
For Seraph fire destroyed all, includingsouls.
The vivid blue flames fell over the Lord of Skath, and his screams echoed in the field as Cassiel watched him burn. The only thing left was a black husk of ash, his mouth frozen in a scream. The next gust blew it away.
Two Lords down.
Two more to go.
Cassiel felt how the brutality of every death he caused marred his soul further. So many he had consumed with his flame. His heart was no longer stone or glass. It was now charred wood. And pieces of himself continued to fall away, carried off in the wind. He shouldn’t want anything now ... but Cassiel hoped somehow ... they would land wherever he used to belong. Maybe then that dead part of himself would be at peace.
He blinked blearily at the scattered fires. His sins weighed down on his chest like a bolder, compressing his lungs. His body sagged, and he stumbled. Strong arms caught hold of him and held him up.
“Are you all right?”
“No … this weight…” Cassiel pressed on his chest. “It’s so heavy. I’m afraid it will crush me before the end.”
“Turn back. You don’t have to do this.”
Turn back? It was too late for that. Yet an integral part of his being begged him to return to where he had left the other half of his soul. If only he could catch a glimpse of her. Go to where she was and tell her he was sorry.
That he missed her.
But what they had was gone now.
“Yes, I do.” Cassiel straightened up. “I must continue what I started. And you must remain unseen and unheard.” He turned to the male Celestial standing beside him. His black hood hid his face, something Cassiel had commanded him to do. “There is only one purpose for a spy, especially for one who is supposed to serve as my support during this trying time. It’s the reason I called you here, Netanel.”
His spy bowed his head. “I know.”
Netanel was special in that regard. He could move and act in ways the Valkyrie couldn’t. The Realms would be on the lookout for half-breed female warriors, but no one would expect a pureblooded male from Hilos.
“Go,” Cassiel told him. “Return to scouting the skies. Anything you hear on the wind, I want to know.”
Netanel nodded. He crouched and shot into the air with his gleaming white wings, disappearing behind the smoky clouds.
“My King.” Yelrakel and his golden Legion stood behind him.
Their expressions were cautious, careful. Only his general kept her expression blank, but he sensed her concern. Perhaps she disapproved of how he killed Lord Hallel without a trial, or how brutal he was when he wiped out the Vanguard. But he couldn’t take any chances now.
He wouldn’t let history repeat itself.
In his past life, they had won.
But Cassiel had made them a promise of what he would do once he returned. And he had every intention of seeing it through.
