ARMAGEDDON
This story was edited on the suggestion of my special lady (now the heroine of the story, as she always will be in my eyes)
Under the orange sky, the last of earth’s angels were fighting a desperate battle in the ruins of a large city. Debris and dead animals lay underfoot everywhere, but were barely noticed by the defenders as their fight for life went desperately onwards. In the thick of the fight was an angel with large, black wings, and his beautiful companion, and fighting side by side the two were cutting down demons at every stroke. Ichor splattered in every direction, and dripped from the swords they fought with further soiling the spoiled pavement. If there had been anyone alive to see, they would have noticed hat beside the strain and exertion on their faces , every so often they glanced at each other and there was a look of love exchanged between them.
Demon bodies were piling up around the angel’s feet as the well entrenched defenders took a heavy toll of the vastly larger enemy force. In a battle that had at first seemed one sided, the angels were winning, but for how long? All had been wounded, some badly, but each fought on, refusing to give in.
The two fought almost in unison, defending each other at the same time as bringing the attack to the screaming throng. Many times each had deflected a fatal blow from the other, and both knew their lives were owed a thousand times over, but except for the occasional glanced, not a word was exchanged, there was no time for talking.
Suddenly there was a scream to the left, and Chenny, the female angel, looking lithe and dangerous, turned her attention there for a few seconds, seeing a large, black angel lying dead on the ground, a tear ran down her cheek for his loss and she killed the surviving demons that had attacked him from the rear, killing him with no chance of defence. Suddenly, from the corner of her eye, she saw the vastly slower, black winged angel she had been fighting beside, stagger as the demons surged against the now lone angel time after time she saw demon weapons pierce his body and blood ran freely from his chest and belly, but he refused to fall. His eyes caught hers for a brief second as she fought to regain her position at his side, and she knew in her heart that he was saying goodbye as he smiled gently. Behind her she heard more and more death screams as the surge threatened to roll over the defenders. She didn’t know what to do, save the others who were desperately embattled behind her or save the life of the one she refused to admit love for, who had hurt her heart so badly with his stupid words that she had tried to forget her love for him? In the end her own heart made the decision for her and she fought on to reach his side before it was too late.
When she at last reached his side, his blows were weaker and slower, and it was obvious that his death was near, but still he refused to fall. She saw his face as he coughed and blood ran down his chin, and she began to fight for them both. He looked at her with terror in his eyes, and she knew it was not the fear of dying, but that of failing her yet again, and then his sword swung, killing a demon ready to impale her, but the effort cost him dearly, his eyes were glazed and finally he fell to the ground and lay still.
Her eyes filled with tears as the remainder of the horde surrounded her, and she began to fight as the last angel, she didn’t notice demons being dragged one by one to the ground behind her. He had woken, and although unable to stand, he was defending her with the last of his strength. The demons he pulled down never rose again.
When at last she had defeated the last of the demons she knew that the war was over that she had won, but had the cost been too high? Turning to find his body, she at last noticed that he had been defending her to the last, as she found his stiffening body not far from where she stood, his fingers locked around a demon’s throat, and she knew that sometimes words wrongly said do not mean withdrawal of love, or an intention to hurt, Even an angel could make mistakes.
The thought came to her mind that he would never say those things again, and the tears flowed down her cheeks without stopping.
