25 - "I'll See You Later, Little One."

Cold as ice — that's what Ysabelle's temperature felt first when Haien touched her face. She looked like a stone, literally, with her skin the color of gray similar to that of common statues in gardens. Her eyes were closed, but a fresh tear escaped from it oddly. It didn't surprise the demon though, for he knew seconds from now she would breathe.

Three...

Two...

One...

And breathe she did, like a human revived from drowning.

Her skin color changed to normal, her cheeks a rosy blush, and her lips returned to a shy red. The vibrancy of her hair had the same effect; silky and smooth, but the ends were a lot straighter now. She felt her head dizzy, but it was just brief for her focus was diverted into a much overwhelming feeling... the normalcy of her body.

"Wha—t?" she uttered with a measured breath, looking at her hands like it was a new grown body part. "Oh, God. I'm..."

"Mortal, " Haien supplied in a rush. Ysabelle looked up and saw him grinning.

"Ysabelle, good to have you back, " he mocked and leaned close in an attempt to kiss her.

"No!" she flailed her arms quickly, blocking his nearing face, "don't you dare come near me!"

"Get that woman away from here André!" Earl Doubrava bellowed, watching the eldest Rogratiatto son still in shock. "She is all yours, " he added with a dark voice. Of course, since her immortality was transferred to the Cross, she was of no importance to him now.

"With pleasure, " André ran towards the bed without a second wasted.

Haien, in his composed self, only gave her a wink and then climbed out of the mattress with the cross in hand. He walked where the Earl was and handed the glowing object to him just as André neared the mortal woman.

"Don't touch me!" Ysabelle ordered outright when her cousin-in-name tried to embrace her.

"No, Ysabelle, don't do this, " André stated worriedly. "You have to come with me or that man will kill you." He shifted his eyes ever so subtly towards the Earl as a small clue for her. He knew that the head of Sion wouldn't think twice of killing her if she ever causes a ruckus in his front.

"No..." Ysabelle murmured, pain clear in her eyes, "I want Marcus. I want him!"

"That priest is gone! Why do you ask for him?!" André questioned, seething with sudden jealousy.

"Because I love him... I love him!" Ysabelle darted out of the mattress so quickly that it left André clutching air. She rounded the bed and approached where Haien was, but André was quick to catch her in the waist, stopping her tracks. "Marcus! Please..." she shouted, eyes wet with tears, "if you can hear me, please come out!"

André dragged her away from them towards the main door. He had hoped she wouldn't fight, but she did, pulling herself out of his hold with force all the while shouting Marcus' name. Haien and the two older men only watched in amusement.

Right now, in the Earl's mind, nothing would keep him away from his goal anymore. He finally had Ysabelle's immortality in hand. No amount of interruption would distress him. No new trouble would bother him.

However, he hadn't counted the gatecrashers that had arrived in his mansion. He hadn't foreseen that Death was nearby. No, not at all...

Inside the room, a rapid change of atmosphere happened. The air became heavy and cold amidst the warmth provided by the fireplace. From a few feet away of the podium, there was a beginning distortion of space, then it became more visible when a ripple of black water appeared midair, followed by black boots and a pair of lovely female feet in four-inch stilettos.

What emerged from this ripple was a couple. The man was holding the woman by the waist before she released herself from his hold when they stood on ground. He was wearing a black long coat, hiding the dapper clothing he was wearing while she wore skinny jeans and a turtleneck, sleeveless blouse.

"What's all this commotion?" Cirrus asked to no one in particular but he eyed the surprised demon next to the scowling Earl and a gawking conjurer.

André, still in a stern face, looked at the uninvited man with confusion. With this, Ysabelle was able to free herself and dashed all the way back to the bedpost in staggering gait. She hated the feel of André's arms around her and to escape that was a breather.

"Oh, shit!" the conjurer exclaimed, half peeing himself. He took in a prostrated position after seeing who was standing in the middle of the room. He was of course the only man who can feel the demonic aura seeping outside of Death's human form.

"Who is that Perrin?" Earl Doubrava quickly whispered, poking the conjurer's ribs with his foot.

"That's Death himself you idiot!" Monsieur Perrin replied, painstakingly trying to keep his voice down, "Better hide now if you want the Cross of Magdalene and your old butt saved!"

Earl Doubrava assessed Cirrus more thoroughly. This time, he saw a brief golden glow from his eyes and that ultimately raised the hairs in his skin. "Shit, this is not good!" he exclaimed to himself.

Planning to retreat, he quickly turned around the other way and strode towards a closed door.

"Hold on, " Cirrus' voice boomed and the Earl all of a sudden stood like a stone; his movements controlled by an invisible force. "I did not tell you to run away, " he added.

Earl Doubrava's face blanched as a strong wind whirled him around to face the podium. The grip of his hand gave way and it sent the cane dropping to the floor with an insignificant thud. When he saw Death's glare, his voice shrunk and decided not to release a single spiteful word.

The conjurer, in the other hand, almost emptied the contents of his belly due to how his body convulsed out of fear. He too wanted to run away, but chose in the end not to for he didn't want the same fate as that of the Earl's. He continued to prostrate, making himself as invisible like a mouse as possible.

Cirrus then turned to the woman in his side and looked at her lovingly.

"Aurora, Love, could you assist that poor woman to her feet? She's still adjusting on her mortal condition, " he requested and Aurora did so willingly after a nod.

She approached Ysabelle with welcome arms, smiling as she looked at her in the eye. "Hey, I'm Aurora. I'm Marcus' big sis. Come, you are safe with me." She offered an arm for support and Ysabelle, seeing her friendly aura, took it with eagerness.

"Who...is that?" Ysabelle asked in a trembling voice, noticing the silver and red streaks in the man's raven black hair.

"That is Father Azrael, dear, my husband, " Aurora replied with sparkle in her eyes.

"Is he...going to kill them?" Ysabelle grew intensely worried of Marcus inside Haien's dimension.

"No, he is just going to rescue his apprentice, " Aurora answered and Ysabelle just left it at that. She had no inkling as to who these people were except that Marcus had once mentioned about a Father Azrael yesterday night. But at least now, she has someone on her side to help Marcus... to help both of them out in this nasty situation.

*

*

"Haien, you've been busy lately huh?" Cirrus spoke, glaring at the demon. He stepped forward, easily feeling the anxiety in all the human men in the room including André's who wisely chose to watch them near the door.

"Samael, you sure have the nerve to poke your nose in another demon's affairs, " Haien returned the glare with equal lethal depth. He however couldn't control the spasm in his jaw as he felt some degree of distress too.

Nope, he didn't expect this high-class demon would be here at all.

"When you are using my successor's body as an outlet to fill up your belly then that becomes my business too, " Cirrus replied, stopping a meter away from him. "Tell me demon prince, were you having fun?"

"Before you arrived, I did, " Haien spat out, the tattoo in his arms now augmenting out of tension.

"Oh, please, " Death sighed. "Don't stop the fun because of my presence. How about we make things more enjoyable huh?"

Then his eyes glowed in bright gold. His right hand produced a charge of divine electricity, crackling in all directions. It didn't leave his hands, but the electricity connected to Haien's body and that made him groan in pain.

"Shit! Arghhh. Fuck. FUCK!" Haien writhed and dropped down on the floor, kneeling.

Upon seeing this, Earl Doubrava and André's eyes enlarged. Just what is this demon?

The electricity ran through him for a long minute as a simple reminder and a warning, but Haien suddenly blurted out a maniacal laugh as if he was enjoying the fucked up pain enveloping his human body.

"Do it. More! MORE!" he demanded. His eyes darkened as he stared at Death. "You do realize this is Marcus' body you are hurting, right?"

An alarmed gasp escaped from Ysabelle's mouth then. "No!" she cried, attempting to make a step, but Aurora seized her by the arm.

"Easy, now, " Aurora said. She gave her a reassuring smile and shook her head. Luckily, it was enough for Ysabelle to feel calm.

"Cirrus, " Aurora turned to her husband, "Marcus wouldn't be able to handle it."

Death gave her a brief glance, one that Aurora saw countless of times when they were in a tight situation. It meant, trust.

"Worry not, " he said and then returned his attention back to the panting demon. "Now... more fun?"

"Ahhhh! Fuck!" Haien shouted as the electricity increased. His forehead connected to the carpeted floor while his teeth gnashed. The pain was so severe it was enough to erase the tattoo out of Marcus' arms.

"Get out Haien. Your dimension will not be able to protect you, " Cirrus ordered, increasing the joule for one last time.

The whole duration of it, Ysabelle kept her hands on her mouth to stifle her scream. It was painful to watch the demon in that situation knowing that in connection, Marcus would be hurt too, but she kept herself headstrong just as Aurora advised.

When Haien dropped face first on the floor that's when Ysabelle's control broke.

"Marcus!" She rushed to his side and cradled his face in her arms.

Aurora returned to Cirrus' side. She watched the sweet exchange and remained silent. To Cirrus however, he was still on guard for he knew it wasn't the end yet.

What Ysabelle noticed first when she stared at Marcus was the change of heterochromatic eyes to a smoky brown. Next was the color and length of his hair returning to its normal ones. His body temperature changed too from cold to warm, hinting life.

"Ysabelle..." Marcus whispered weakly. He stared into her mortal soul through her wet eyes. Although his heartbeat was still in arrhythmia and his breathing ragged from the decreasing electricity, he straightened to sit and cupped her face. "Hey, don't cry, " he comforted, "I'm here."

"I'm sorry..." was her first words, touching his hand. Joyful tears streamed continuously in her cheeks as they looked at each other. "I'm sorry. I really am sorry."

"Shhh, I know. But all is well right? You're fine?" Marcus brushed her cheeks tenderly with his thumb.

While he was inside Haien's dimension, he was conscious of the events taking place. He knew that Ysabelle was mortal now and for that his worry increased a thousandfold. They were still not safe yet for he knew the demon prince wasn't exorcised nor vanquished by the divine electricity. It only jumped into another host, and speaking of which...

"No, all is not well Marcus, " André declared roughly, his voice creating a second echo that was Haien's.

Cirrus placed an arm forward to cover his wife, while Marcus did the same to Ysabelle.

Standing near the door was André possessed. Although he had his face still, his hair was long and black just like the demon's. A dark aura reeked outside of him as he stood like a predator ready for a kill.

"André..." Marcus voiced out; his smoky brown eyes changed to a glowing amber. The need to protect the woman he loved instantly awakened something inside him just like before back in Haien's dimension. He could feel the same surge of power now; thick and solid, compressed in the form of energy waves enveloping his body. Without the demon parasite, he had complete control of himself and with Death's divine electricity unlocking the angel inside him, he could call his power at will.

"Why don't you release that man from your control H, " Marcus ordered, threat laced in his voice.

"Ha!" Haien bobbed his head back, "That's an absurd request priest considering the lover boy here wants me to use him. He understood the situation you know."

His line of sight sought where Ysabelle was hiding at the back of Marcus and made a sickening grin before his eyes turned a deadly red. "When he and I can't have the woman, we might as well do some damage to both of you!"

"Ysabelle, step back!" Marcus quickly shouted when André launched in the air towards them; sharp claws appeared in its full length poised to taste flesh.

Just in time, Marcus pushed the stunned Ysabelle out of target into a corner.

"Big sis!" he said, whilst summoning an angelic barrier in his front.

Aurora, teleporting in a snap, caught the woman in time by the shoulders. A brief flash of light enveloped the room then when Haien's hellish claws contacted Marcus' holy barrier.

"Cirrus do something!" was Aurora's panicked command by the time he teleported into their side. She looked at him and found him just standing all calm and composed as he always does. "Cirrus!"

"No, " was Death's stern reply, "This is all we can do for him, Love. Let him finish his own battle."

"But—"

"Don't forget, " he glanced at her and smiled, "he is an exorcist priest. He is at par with me. And besides, he has his own power. He'll make it through."

"Power?" Aurora, confused, sought further explanation and so did Ysabelle whose ears listened expectantly.

"Yes, he has the power of an angel. An ability to thwart all powers, " said he to both women, and then returned his attention on the dueling opposing forces, eyes glowing gold.

*

*

Ysabelle heard what Death had said. She watched Marcus covered by the barrier while his opponent tried to break through it.

André looked every inch a mad man on a rampage. He even looked more dangerous with the demon inside him. The malevolence in his eyes could not be denied. It was clear to see that he sought to murder the man in his front.

She hated that she was hopeless. Yes, she wanted to help him too, but with Aurora's hold and Cirrus' words, a ray of hope bloomed inside her — that everything would turn out just fine. She continued to watch the fight, face contorted with worry, but when she saw the change of Marcus' appearance, that's the time when she was thoroughly agape.

She saw the transparent angelic wings sprout in his back, then it disappeared after a minute had passed. She also witnessed Marcus' hair growing into a shoulder length, turning into a shade of golden brown. He had his glowing amber eyes still, and with that as the last clue, her mind finally shouted one ancient name... her long-lost guardian angel's name...

"Aestaroath!"

Oh, God! Her heart cried out.

Fresh, new tears immediately streamed down her cheeks as memories of the past flooded inside her.

"Aestaroath, you came...back..." was her weak, quaky whisper.

Friendship and Love are two different things. Friendship was what she had back when the angel accompanied her in her loneliness. Friendship was what she had when she grew under his protection. Unconditional friendship was what she received from Aestaraoth when he was her guardian angel.

Love, however, was already there in her heart, just there... for him... in the form of a seed, wanting to be nurtured and acknowledged. Love was what she finally realized when he suddenly left, but it was already too late...

Ysabelle, reliving the past, ultimately realized one thing...

No, it is not her immortal loneliness that drove her to her last wish. No, it is not because she is afraid to face the pain of being left alone in the world again and again.

Yes, it is the pain of waiting and waiting and waiting endlessly for her angel... for Aestaroath, who so ever promised —in his parting words — to see her again.

"Marcus..."

She couldn't believe that Aestaraoth and him are one and the same. Each half of one whole that owned her heart dearly.

"Oh, God, Marcus..." Her hands trembling, she sunk on the floor, kneeling as she continued to watch their death match, hoping beyond hope that Marcus would come out at the top in the end.