Chapter 17
"We should not do this" Seth whispered against Nova's lips.
Nova said nothing, she pulled back to look him straight in the eyes, one of her hands left his hair and placed itself on his cheek. Her eyes searched his solemnly, feeling his love even if he hadn't told her. She knew he had feelings for her, even if he continued to deny them, they were there for her to see. Watching his eyes devour her face, then meet hers she couldn't help the spark of electricity that traveled to her toes. His arms tightened as he pulled her mouth back to his.
"Seth", she sighed as his kisses that started feather soft, started growing more intense.
Seth's only answer was a growl in the back of his throat, as he pulled her down to the forest floor. He laid her down on a soft blanket of moss. Their kiss only grew as they started pulling at each others clothes, trying to shed in the last obstacle separating them.
"Nova, please help me stop. I..." Seth bent his head to the ground beside Nova's head. He still held her close enough that she felt his heat through the damp ground.
"Seth, we can stop." she tried to will herself, "But I don't want too.." she lifted her head, and whispered in his ear.
Seth groaned at her answer, damn if he didn't want to too. He closed his eyes when her hand started tracing small circles on his back. He sucked in a long suffering breath and tried to fight the urge to take her consequences be damned. But when he opened his eyes to stare into hers, he knew he was lost. He wanted her more than anything in his unnatural life. Maybe he could soak up her goodness, he felt better when he was around her. How could he take this from her? He asked himself as she closed the distance between them to place a gentle kiss on his cheek.
That's what broke through his doubts. That gentle, sweet, loving kiss. No one had ever shown him such love before. He had to make her his. His body forgot everything but what hers felt like. He picked up where they left off, as his mind kept whispering I'm sorry Nova, so sorry.
The trees danced in the wind echoing their sounds of love. Stars twinkled laughingly as if they knew the secrets of the universe. One heart beat for the love she had found, the other for the love that he had never felt. And silently another beat knowing time was at hand, watching from the shadows.
*~*
Seth woke slowly, taking time to smell Nova's hair before he opened his eyes. He gathered her tighter in his arms, loving the way she felt against him. This is happiness he decided, unaware of his surroundings. He blocked everything in the world out to focus on her.
He raised his head and touched his lips to hers reverently. Keeping his eyes closed his trailed kisses all over her face. He loved this woman so much. She was his world, nothing or no one would ever separate them. She was his.
He opened his eyes to see her perfect face. He couldn't wait for her to wake up and look at him. Would the moment be perfect for her as well? He hoped she had no regrets.
She seemed to enjoy his touch as much as he did hers. God she's beautiful, was his only thought as he kissed her again, willing her to wake. But she didn't stir. He frowned as felt her lips. Something was not right.
He watched her closely, she was a deep sleeper he hoped. His mind wouldn't let in any other possibility. He trailed his hand down the length of her back. He loved her skin, so soft and...cold. Wait. Her skin wasn't suppose to be cold. His heart froze, he couldn't take his eyes off her closed ones. Alarm spread through every inch of his body. No! Was he only thought.
"Nova baby, wake up sweetheart. Please baby wake up!" He pleaded as he gently shook her. Oh God, she isn't waking he realized, No! His stomach lurched as great sobs tore through his body. He shook her, pleaded her with every ounce of his soul. He waited. And waited shaking her, calling her anything just to get her up.
"Please God," he prayed, "I know I have done many terrible things in my immortal life, I don't deserve someone as wonderful as her. But she doesn't deserve to die. Please God don't let her die. Take me, Let me end my miserable existence. I don't want it without her, Please.." he sobbed even harder.
Seth was still praying when three souls watched from a nearby tree. The three men looked at each other and walked silently closer to the scene before them. The men stayed silent as their faces reflected the solemness they felt. It is time they whispered in each others minds, listening to Seth's prayer with curiosity.
"Are you praying to God, Samuel?" one of the men asked.
Seth tore his tear streaked face from Nova's lifeless body to strike at his intruder. He seethed with rage as he took in Azrael, Baal-berth and Camael's presence. He was distraught and enraged his mind couldn't form any response at first.
Why? Was his only question that slammed throughout his mind. But it was quickly replaced with flashed of pure unadulterated anger when his mind finally processed the three extremely powerful beings standing before him. Why were they here? Were they here to gloat? How dare those bastards take her from him! He slowly placed Nova's body back on the ground as he prepared to kill the bastards, or die trying. Either way he would win.
"Easy Seth" Camael said softly, trying to sooth him.
Seth lifted himself off the ground, in his full demonic glory. His wings stretched out to their full wingspan as they lifted him three feet off the ground. His entire body was erupted with flames and his eyes mirrored the black hole for their intensity. He didn't even bother with his sword. He was going to kill each and everyone with his bare hands. Nova's death would be the end of these men's games.
The men watched Seth's anger grow fueled by his own guilt. None of them could blame Seth for his anger. They each felt his sorrow, Nova's loss beat at them, making their own emotions tangle with Seth's. We need him to make his decision Azrael, ever the indestructible force trogged on.
"Seth you knew the consequences.." Baal-berth interjected watching Seth hover closer to them, "I told you before that her death would be at your hands."
Camael closed his eyes, fully aware of the impact of the statement. He felt his friends pain with every cell inhis body. He knew how much Seth had conquered being with Nova. He knew the depth of Seth's feelings for the girl. As much as he hated having to put Seth through this agonizing pain, it was for his own good. So he took a step closer to Nova's lifeless body watching Seth warily.
Seth drew up to strike as Camael inched his way down to Nova's side. As he swoop in for the strike an invisible force slammed him into a tree. The force of impact hit so hard, the tree cracked and slammed both creatures to the ground as the tree toppled backward. Seth bellowed with rage as he looked up to fight his attacker.
Azrael loomed over him in his full angelic power. Death dripped off the angel with a tangible odor. His eyes weren't the black hole Seth's had grown, but reflected his boredom. This was the largest angel to be created and whispered to be the most powerful of all, even more so than Camael. No one angered this angel, death was his duty. No one taunted death, no one escaped. Knowing all this didn't stop from conjuring his sword to rear back and strike the angel in the chest with his sword that ate through angels and demons alike.
Azrael was so concentrated on using his powers to calm Seth down he didn't see the sword Seth had conjured, and thrust into his body.
Seth got up quickly, trying to use the angel's distraction to put some distance between them. He took a few cautious steps back, stopping when his back hit a rock.
He watched the grim reaper look down at the sword sticking out of his chest. The angel didn't even bother with anger, or so he thought while the angel slowly drew the sword out of his body. Azrael's eyes stayed glued to the sword as he watched the blood drip off of it. Finally he pulled his memorized eyes off the blood and glared at Seth.
Seth took in his battle stance as he watched the normally emotionless grim reaper face contort in anger and vanish in a ominous cloud of smoke. Seth growled in defiance. His eyes searched the woods surrounding them. The bastard had been the one to take her life. He would not escape unscathed.
Seth's search ended short when Azrael reappeared in front of him and seized his throat and slammed yet again into a large rock behind him. Seth's feet hovered the ground as the angels massive form dominated the space between them. Seth stroke the angel repeatedly trying to loosen Azrael's hold on him. But the angel was an unmovable force.
"I am death. I am the final fate of all. I am one nightmares conjure from! How dare you strike me! Many men have died for less!" he screamed. His eyes lost there beauty as they filled with the deeps of hell. "Do you realize I can kill you with a mere thought? That I can destroy your soul?" he was visibly straining not to do just that. But his body betrayed him when flames lit up his entire arm, greedily eating at Seth's neck.
"You took her!" Seth gasped as Azrael hand caught aflame with the depth of Azrael's power.
"Are you insinuating that her fate was my doing?" he said in a voice so softly that Seth almost didn't know if he heard him correctly. Then just as Azrael's grip tightened around Seth's throat, he was free.
"You are wrong, Seth." Camael interjected as he watched Seth fight for air after he was slammed to the ground. He had risen from Nova's body and waited for Seth's next course of action.
"Seth, only you can change your fate." Camael tried to get Seth's mind off anger. The worst part was that he couldn't bring Nova back to the land of the living. He had the powers to do so, but that would change the course of events. Only Seth could save her. His oath was to guide Seth, not to make it easier for him. Somethings had to be learned the hard way.
Seth slowly lifted himself off the ground, completely ignoring Camael. His gaze was focused on Azrael. He didn't say word. He knew he didn't have to, the angel knew his sins.
"My sins?" the angel laughed.
"You took an innocent life!" he screamed.
"Samuel, you knew our bargain. The deal was that if she sinned that her life would be fore-fitted" Baal-berth reminded Seth.
That brought Seth's attention to the other demon. The truth of those words ate at his heart. He knew Nova's death was of his own doing. He had selfishly token her last night, aware of the consequences. Right now it didn't matter if she was willing. It didn't matter how much he loved her or she him. He had acted with pure lust ignoring what would happen to her. Forgetting the bet, thinking that he would find a way out of the deal. How had he slipped up like that? He killed her.... his mind spun around the realization.
The others listened to Seth's thoughts with a purpose. Seth had pushed past his rage and found the truth. They slowly closed the distance between them. Each demon and Angel was here for a reason. This was the moment of truth, it was the moment for a final deal.
He is ready Azrael decided, mentally to the other two.
"A moment ago you were praying..." Baal-berth stated, "Whom were you praying too? Whom were you offering your life to?"
Seth's mind went numb, with every condemning thought. He listened to what Baal-berth had asked but, his mind couldn't process anything else right now. His heart was screaming in denial, his whole body ached from Azrael's attack. He just wanted to go back to last night and change it. If he hadn't committed fornication with Nova she would still be here. Damn! His mind reeled. He knew what would tempt her into sin, how could he forget?
"Seth!" Camael shouted, trying to shake Seth out of his revery, "Answer him!"
"What do you want me to say Camael?" Seth's voice was raspy, he didn't have the energy to be angry with them anymore. It was his fault, not theirs.
"He wants you to stop dwelling in your self pity and answer to whom you were praying too.." Azrael snapped.
Everyone cut their eyes at the offending angel, as Seth finally answered. "I was praying for Nova... I wanted to save her." he answered, ignoring Azrael's tone.
"You said that you wanted God to end your existence. Is that true?" Baal-berth asked.
"I would not want to be without her."
"Hmm, I believe I can issue a new bargain" Baal-berth's smile grew, as his eyes watched Seth for his reaction.
Seth instant reaction was to lunge at Baal-berth. How could he toy with him like this? He wasn't in on any more games. He just wanted to be left alone. They needed to leave now. As he took a step past them, Camael grabbed his arm. They next thing Seth knew was that they were standing over Nova's body on the ground. His eyes teared up when he saw her beautiful face. God, I love you. Why can't I save you? He wept kneeling once again to her side.
"You can save her Seth" Camael insisted, watching his friend shake his head in denial.
Stop Camael. Azrael ordered, He has to accept this bargain, on his own.
"I think that this will be a bargain that you will find hard to refuse.." Baal-berth trudged on, "You have already offered your life, why not offer it for hers?"
Seth turned to Baal-berth, the demon had succeeded in gaining Seth's full attention.
"Trade my life for hers? But I am undead.." he tried to figure out how he could possibly trade his existence for hers, while he waited for Baal-berth to continue.
"All you have to do is sacrifice your soul up to the devil..." he paused dramatically, "and she would live."
"She would live again? How?" Seth asked unsure.
"They own her soul, based on the agreement of the prior bet." Azrael acknowledged.
"You didn't listen to all the details Seth" Camael shook his head. How could his friend have been so blind?
"I didn't know that she would go to hell Camael!" Seth bellowed at his friend, his anger rekindling.
"She wouldn't have to if you accept my bargain" Baal-berth smoothly replied.
Seth looked over at Azrael, feeling the angel's acceptance of the bargain. Azrael was the one responsible for the taking of life. If he agreed to this, then Baal-berth wasn't tricking him yet again. He would hold to this new bargain.
As Seth's thought through the bargain, he knew his answer. He would do anything to save her. She was the only thing good in his world. He couldn't let her die. Not if he could help it.
He slowly bent down to kiss Nova's cheek, wanting to feel her goodness one last time. As he started to accept the bargain, he realized something. He wasn't the same man he had once been. Nova made him different. He wasn't the demon he thought himself to be, he was the man Nova had chosen to be with. She would not want him to chose hell. He would not leave her in it.
Slowly he faced the opposing demon. Each had heard his decision and had mixed reactions, but were all in agreement to fulfill the ending. Let it be done Azrael commanded.
"I accept the deal." Seth steeled himself, he grew strength from the knowledge that this was for the best. He could survive hell, Nova could not. She deserved a life full of happiness, and he was determined that she live long enough for it.