I
As Hell continued to pour down on Earth, the demon Vilnias stood over the limp, weakened body of the Angel Gabriel, and laughed loudly, savoring his victory.
Soon, the Connor Sharpe would be dead. Soon, Gabriel would be dead as well. And once again, all would be right with the world.
A sharp kick to Gabriel’s rips woke the man up, as he groaned and winced in pain.
“Get up Gabriel.” The monster hissed, staring down at the lifeless body of his one-time mentor. “I want you to see your death coming.”
Gabriel looked up and saw chunks of brimstone continuing to fall on the city, a side effect of Vilnias’ most recent attack. Everything hurt, and his peripheral vision was blurry. He rose wearily to his feet, leaning against the ruins of a building and clutching his side. “Why…are you doing this?”
“You betrayed me Gabriel. You left me to rot, to die, to be this twisted thing of a being. When Connor is dead, you will be the last Angel on Earth. And I will twist you, break you, and turn you into me. When I’m done…you’ll be no better than I am. Just another Fallen Angel.”
From the blurry side of his vision, he saw a figure dash through the woods. Victor swung a large piece of wood from one of the wrecked buildings, catching Vilnias off guard and knocking the monster back. He helped Gabriel up to his feet and took off, dashing into the city and darting among the hail of brimstone, away from the demon Vilnias.
II
Victor threw Gabriel against a wall into an alley, where he slumped down, coughing up bright red drops of blood.
“Alright, “ Victor said, blood trickling down his own forehead, his voice weary and flinching, “You know something. What is this? What’s going on?”
“It…doesn’t…concern you, mortal. Leave…now.”
“No!” Victor yelled, mopping blood off his forehead. “That…thing…it was like what attacked the school. How does Connor figure into all this?”
“Connor? …Where is he? Do you know where-“
“Shut up! What the hell is going on here?!”
Sharp claws gripped the neck of Victor, digging into his flesh. Vilnias sneered and lifted him up off the ground.
“Perhaps I can explain…”, the demon snorted.
Victor gasped for breath. The demon tilted back his head and screamed loudly into the air. “Paladin!! I have your ally! Show yourself, or I’ll rip the flesh from his bones!!”
III
Connor and Lea lay huddled in the ruins of the old school, where the demon Eblis’ remains had once been, holding each other closely. It seemed like so far away, almost a lifetime ago, that they had been here, before Connor had found his entire life and destiny changed, ripped apart and twisted. Now, all alone and fearing the worst, he simply wondered if he could just wait out the worst.
It wasn’t an easy task. The awareness he gained caused him to feel the lives of those around him who died. And while it was lessening, he wasn’t sure if it was because of the number of people left in the city was drastically reduced, or if the increased amounts of brimstone in the area had begun blocking his powers.
But as he held her close, feeling her shake with fear, he knew that none of it could matter. He had to protect her.
It was then that he heard the yell.
Connor and Lea both stood up, staring at the sky. He recognized the voice all too well. It was Vilnias…Stefan…whoever the damned thing was, screaming for him, threatening his friends. Connor turned to Lea, his eyes filled with tears. What now? What could he possibly…
Lea leaned up and kissed him, long and deep. “You can’t avoid this any longer. I’ll be fine, no matter what. This is who you are, Connor. Go save them.”
Connor nodded and took off. Victor had to be saved, had to be…
A scream behind him and a whiff of smoke as the monster landed. Vilnias stood there, holding Lea by the neck, the limp body of Victor cast aside.
“Your fear….” Vilnias spoke, his thick accent poking through the raspy demon howl, “…it drips off everything you touch and hold dear.”
In his hand, a wicked dagger formed, its blade sharp and gleaming, coated in brimstone.
“I give you one chance. Surrender, Paladin. Give yourself to me wholly. Submit, bow, pledge your allegiance. Serve me, and I will spare the girl.”
Connor stared in awe. Lea…the one thing that meant anything to him. He had ran to save her, and now she was in the path of death anyway. He was given a chance to save her, though it meant damning his own soul. Was it truly worth it?
He decided it was.
He dropped to his knees, his head hung low in defeat. “If it will save her…then yes. I will do as you ask.”
Vilnias smiled, turning the knife in his hand.
“I don’t believe you, Paladin.”
IV
It was the most frightening thing he had ever witnessed.
The blade sunk in deep, piercing the soft flesh, thin tendrils of steam and smoke from the heated brimstone, which coated the blade, pouring off as it melted flesh, evaporated blood and scorched bone. He heard the loud, wet snap of her ribs cracking and splitting as the blade pierced her heart, digging deep into valves and arteries, blood pouring from her chest and mouth.
But it was the death rattle that stuck with him, the terrible, roaring gurgle in the back of her throat that made him scream.
He leapt forward, his hand outstretched, but he knew it was too damn late. Vilnias disappeared as quickly as he had appeared, taking the blade with him. Blood spurted from the wound in her chest, her clothes soaked through, as Connor got his arms around her. He tried to summon up his power, tried to heal her, but as his mind worked frantically, he found himself unable to focus.
As if she could sense his despair, she reached up, her blood soaked fingers calmly touching his lips.
“Go save them, Connor.”
Her body fell limp in his hand. It felt so wrong, so cold, so dark. It just wasn’t fair.
Her necklace rolled off to the side, brushing against the ground. Hoping it held some memory of her, he grabbed it and pulled it over his own neck, stains of her own blood still on the string which held it. He laid her body down gently, draping his coat over it, and walked off, his power surging around him as he did. Her blood covered by his uniform, his cape flapping violently in the maelstrom of rage that bubbled within him. Damn this world, this destiny, these powers he thought to him self. Its just not worth it.
The mask crept along his face, covering his face, and hiding his tears. His eyes narrowed and burned a hotter white than had ever been seen before.
His name is Connor Sharpe, and he is the Paladin.
And he has vowed to give his life to kill a madman.
TO BE CONTINUED
NEXT IN ORIGINS
ACT XI
REVOLUTION
