26 - (End): A Chance of Love

'Angels are spiritual beings that can, to a certain degree, take on physical form at will. But when they descend to Earth as a Fallen Angel, they morph into a solid body, immortal yet dead, waiting for their final judgement to take place. They retain their abilities and powers; to use it for good or evil is their choice, but with the promise of Hell if they do so to hurt humans. Numerous reasons are present why an angel becomes a Fallen, but all of these led straight to their rules. Once broken, a punishment is to be made. It is said that the greatest sin an angel can commit is to love something or someone more than God.'



*~ JMFelic (An overview)*



~ 0 ~



**Heavenly Realm**

**Hundreds of Years Ago**

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"Are you happy now?" Mikha'el queried when they were left alone in the middle of a spacious hall. He was standing in Aestaroath's front, looking down at him in frustration. Around them showed nothing but white; white colossal beams, white clouds hovering mid air, and white stairs going to an elevated altar where a bright, golden throne was.

"I am..." Aestaroath answered with his head bent down. He was half-kneeling on the floor; as an act of respect and not a sign of repentance. His thick, angelic wings were spread about on each side; still a glorious white. Before he receives his punishment, this would be his last time seeing the untainted color in his back.

Again, he felt no remorse when he contemplated on it.

"Aestaroath, why must you become like Aeshma?" Mikha'el spoke, a sad lilt in his voice was noticeable. In his memory, he cultivated a not-so-long event that happened with another colleague of his; the same circumstances with this angel in his front now. For him, it was unfortunate that they both fell in love with their charges.

"I don't think falling in love with a human woman is ever a problem, " Aestaroath replied in a sure voice and smiled to himself lovingly when thoughts of Ysabelle immediately flowed in his mind; all those wonderful times that they had together.

"But you already know the rule, " pointed Mikha'el.

"I do."

"Then why did you yield? Angels don't have the capacity to love. We don't have a heart."

And then Aestaroath released an airy, tiny laugh. "That's where you are wrong Mikha'el. I and Aeshma experience the same. We loved. How will you explain that if we don't have a heart?"

Mikha'el turned pale for a moment. That is one truth he couldn't explain even for an archangel prince who was expected to be knowledgeable of all things.

"Everything...always has a reason, " he started safely, "I however...unfortunately don't know the answer to your question. Love is a complex thing—" But then he stopped. How could he talk about that certain emotion when he himself hadn't felt it towards a human?

He raised his chin and took in a deep breath. "But, with all things considered, so you are willing to join the Adversary's side just like Aeshma?" He wisely changed the subject.

Aestaroath felt he just had a small victory. He wasn't going to let Mikha'el condemn him when he doesn't even understand what he is undergoing right now. "I don't think that selling my own soul to the Other Side is right, " he answered truthfully, "Ysabelle would surely scold me if I do that. I desire her love, not her hate."

"Was it worth it then?" Mikha'el asked straightaway. "Loving her I mean... knowing that when you do, you'll be punished, forbidden to ever see her again."

The latter merely closed his eyes and smiled again. "Yes... it is worth it, " he sounded sure of himself, "It wasn't like I could keep myself from loving her. It wasn't like I could control what these heart of mine implores."

Mikha'el, although a holy angel, couldn't keep himself from scoffing. "Like I said, angels don't have a heart."

"You'll eat your words when you are in my spot, Mikha'el."

"If you are trying to tell me that being assigned to a human changes all that, then newsflash Aestaroath, that's not my job."

"Of course, you are the protector, the mighty warrior and the giver of knowledge, " Aestaroath remarked. He met the archangel prince's deep stare, "You won't be charged with any human, but still... that doesn't mean that you are immune, " and saw the sudden uncertainty in his eyes.

"I will have to deliver your punishment now, Aestaroath, " Mikha'el announced pulling himself out of the hot seat.

"I have always been ready. You know that, " was his gentle reply.

Now that the time has come, his broken heart swelled with inconsolable sadness. He closed his eyes and waited... waited for his senior to strip him out of his angelic status. Who knows what will happen after it. Mayhap the Heavens would teleport him cleanly into Earth's ground and leave him to stay there for all eternity, wallowing in his own sadness and loss.

But for him, he knew what was to come. He had readied himself for it.

"See you on Earth my friend, " Mikha'el stated lifting up his hand in order to suck out all of the angel essence, unbeknownst of the path his friend had taken.

"No, it is goodbye, " replied Aestaroath as he simply smiled and allowed himself get surrounded by his fading holy light.

If there was a thing called ultimate sacrifice, then that's what he had done... for himself... for his poor heart. Loving Ysabelle was never a mistake for him... never, but in his descent from Heaven, he had found one regret that ultimately pounded his heart for good, it was that he should have told Ysabelle that he loves her.

In the boundary between Heaven and Earth, there the Cosmos existed. Aestaroath found himself floating... weightless... surrounded by luminescent, swirling dots.

"Ah, so this is it, " he closed his eyes and commented in his thoughts, "what a chilly place."

With his crying heart, the sea of stars lamented with him. They could hear his regret as it resounded all over the universe.

"Ysabelle..."

Her name was the last word that left his mouth as his body slowly amalgamated with the swirling dots. He was ready now... ready to become one with the Cosmos. This was his ultimate sacrifice; a better end than turning into a Fallen Angel with the promise of torment, living and never seeing his beloved again.

But then, something happened...

A bright light enveloped him and his body crystallized into a solid form. The last thing he remembered was the feel of hot air pushing his back, his head and his limbs as he hurtled down the Earth's skies.



~ 0 ~

**House of Doubrava**

**(Present)**

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During the whole course of his transformation, Marcus received a series of memories; memories together with Ysabelle when he was still a full-pledged angel of the Heavens. The memories showed those beautiful times starting from their first meeting, to those fun times together, to those sad times that Ysabelle shared her loneliness with him, up until the time when he had to leave her.

He too remembered his last moments when he descended on Earth and upon remembering it, he realized one thing, the Cosmos had just given him a new life.

Knowing his past and present, Marcus regained better understanding of himself and his powers. Now, he can definitely protect Ysabelle and fight off the demon in his front.

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Another blast of light enveloped the room. It was so strong, so bright that Aurora and Ysabelle had to close their eyes. Cirrus instinctively stepped forward to shield them with his body. He was not an invincible supernatural. It was just that the blast came out of Marcus' body; coming from a holy source. He maybe a demon but he was an archangel too, so he wasn't affected with it at all.

To Haien, however, it was enough to cripple him. It felt acidic when the light touched his skin and scorching when it soaked into his demon soul. He tried to summon the dark markings he had injected inside Marcus' arm to cause pain, but realized the markings weren't there anymore. He tried to inject another batch into him, but the barrier blocked it and it seemed to him too that his demonic power was beginning to wane.

Fuck! Just what holy entity is this priest?! he cried out in panic.

A swirling current surrounded Marcus as he faced André. It was charging him endlessly. When he released the third blast of light from his body, the demon finally fell on his knees; strength and power sucked dry.

"Fuck!" Haien cursed out loud, writhing in pain on the floor. His insides clenched, the way it did back when he was in the middle of ravishing Ysabelle. The pain was comparable to being subjected with Samael's divine electricity; slicing, shooting, burning, and radiating pain all in one. His body didn't decay though, to his great relief, but it was a sign of something that was yet to come. His eyes were blurry, but he could still see Marcus and how his amber eyes glowed with the intent of a clear end... his end.

"Enjoy your stay in Hell, H, " Marcus stated as he raised a crystallized hand. From it, a symbol appeared in the form of a heptagram encased in a double circle with markings and names of the great archangels. This in turn summoned their powers for Marcus to create a cage worthy to put the demon prince and throw him back to Hell, never to return again... never to be summoned back.

Haien bawled a string of curses as he felt the holy cage suppressing him. When he touched the metal, it burned his skin instantly and it continued to linger straight to his bone. He gave Marcus a look of hate, one with a mixture of unconfined rage, but the latter wasn't affected at all. Of course, it was already expected that demons and angels always don't go along with each other.

"Your fun in this realm has ended. Goodbye, " was Marcus last words as he brought his hand down. Together with it, the holy cage vanished, leaving a lying, unconscious André surrounded by Marcus' energy current.

Marcus turned to face the audience; his eyes looking directly at his master. Their heads dipped briefly as a sign of acknowledgement, then Cirrus showed a pleased grin. "I'll take care of the mess in their minds, " he suggested, hinting his ability to erase the memories of Ysabelle in all those involved, including the brotherhood and the Rogratiatto Family.

"Thank you Father Azrael, " said Marcus, tasting the awkwardness of the name in his tongue. It is so weird to see that not him nor even his big sis actually aged after twelve years.

'I guess that's the advantage of being an immortal huh?' his thoughts remarked, and then his attention fell on the once-immortal woman standing shyly near his big sis' side.

"Ysabelle, come to me, " he urged, offering a hand up for her to take.

She glanced at Aurora briefly and smiled, thanking her before she stepped forward. Aurora simply nodded and said "go" with a giddy smile on her face.

Ysabelle felt the quaking of her lips as she walked closer to Marcus. She held her hands together and looked down from time to time, unable to watch the beautiful amber glow that assessed her every move. Her heartbeat was uncontrollable and so was Marcus'.

'God, if this is just a dream... please don't wake me up, ' was her silent prayer when she stopped near his front.

"Mar—cus... uhmm.. ah.. Ae-Aestaroath...?" she spoke hesitantly, her cheeks a beet red, suddenly embarrassed with herself.

Marcus released a sexy chuckle then. "Oh, Little Sweet Ysabelle... you can call me any name you want, " he said.

This made Ysabelle chuckle too. "Marcus..." she spoke again with so much affection.

He snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her close to him. She didn't squirm with this; letting herself welcome the warmth that he provided.

"I'm sorry if I took so long to come back to you, " he stated, looking remorseful.

"You know, immortality has its advantages, " Ysabelle started, "I waited...endlessly for you. I am glad you came back just in time."

Marcus' brows lifted. "You waited for me?" he said. Somehow, it never occurred to him that she would. Or somehow, his new body just didn't remember that important fact.

"Of course, I would. How else would I tell you...I love you...if I didn't?"

Marcus curved a satisfied smile upon hearing it. Oh, how his heart had leaped into a frenzy!

He didn't reply anymore as in this moment words were unnecessary. He pressed her more against his chest, cupped her chin and traced the outline of her lips before giving her a long, passionate kiss.

Molded into one, their kiss was like a bomb; all bottled up emotions were released in it. It was heady. It was exhilarating. It was enough to heal the regret, the sadness and the pain in their hearts.

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"Hey, Death God, " Aurora poked Cirrus on the elbow, smiling in a cheeky way. Cirrus raised a brow towards her. "Marcus needs to have this sweet moment alone. We better give them some privacy." Then, she pushed him lightly towards the still petrified conjurer and Earl. "For the meantime, why not teach those men some lesson huh?"

That's the time Cirrus grinned wickedly.

"I like the sound of that Love, " he said as he gave her a chaste kiss. Later, he'll give her a longer one when they return in their extended honeymoon.

They approached the two old men who were still in the process of believing the earlier events. Earl Doubrava, however, kept the Cross of Magdalene tightly in his left hand.

"A pleasant evening to both of you, gentlemen, " greeted Cirrus, looking at each of them.

The conjurer in his most cowardly state groveled in Death's foot and kissed his boots. "De-death! I have done nothing wrong! I am innocent!" he shouted, keeping his hands tightly clasped. He had excessive sweat in his face and his eyes almost popped out.

"Oh, you are?" Cirrus remarked in playful disbelief. He dismissed him as unimportant and then turned his attention on the Earl, assessing how blue and mortified he was.

"Give that to me, " he said to which the Earl immediately handed the cross to him. It was of course against his wishes, but how can he oppose when the invisible force did the task for him?

A bright spark however appeared behind the Earl, heralding the arrival of another gatecrasher that came fashionably late.

"Cirrus, " Mikha'el said as their gazes met. "I'll take it from here." He raised his hand in front and eyed the Cross that Cirrus was holding.

"Michael, " Cirrus sighed, "you are too slow if you call yourself a messenger you know. Gabriel is so much better than you in this job." He handed the cross to him.

"I am just the Priory of Sion's messenger, Cirrus, that's all there is. But I've long resigned to that post after I saw the blooming wickedness of the brotherhood's hearts."

Mikha'els' eyes directly fell on the Earl's back. Speaking of which, this man here is the most wicked of them all. He flicked his hand and instantly, the Earl, André and the conjurer vanished, sending them into a different room of the mansion where their judgement will be placed.

"Each passing time, as each generation of Sion members rose to leadership, they have been blinded by greed and power. It seems humans really can't handle the truth of the world huh?" Mikha'el continued, giving out a long sigh thereafter.

Cirrus curved a fearless smile in response. "Tell that to your Boss before He creates another secret brotherhood. Now, " he pointed his eyes on the Cross and said, "I presume inside the Cross is the woman's immortality?"

He eyed the woman in question whose waist was held tightly by Marcus when he joined in their circle.

Marcus and Ysabelle upon seeing Mikha'el knew him instantly; each in their own share of memories with him.

Mikha'el, on the other hand, didn't seem surprised to see his supposed-to-be-nonexistent Fallen friend. It seemed as though, this time, he knew of the truth.

"Yes, inside it is Ysabelle's immortality, or should I say... her angel essence, " he answered, looking at Cirrus and then to the couple.

"Angel?" Marcus' voiced out in confusion, while Ysabelle was in her surprised expression.

"She was already an angel after she was resurrected the first time, " Mikha'el initially stated. He had remembered that time, Aestaroath was the angel assigned as her guardian angel then. "After her second death, she was meant to pass through and become an angel permanently, but the Heaven's deferred it and resurrected her again for the second time."

"Why?" It was Ysabelle that asked that quickly. For so many centuries, she had always wondered why she was resurrected the second time after the attack of her village and her left for dead. Mikha'el never provided her an answer that time, but now, at last he was willing to divulge it.

"To give both of you a chance, " was Mikha'el's simple answer. For once, his face that was always wearing a formal mask of expression, softened. He and Marcus exchanged glances; showing a silent understanding of the words.

Ysabelle felt Marcus' hand tightened in her waist. Probably, if they weren't in a public area, he would have kissed her again, feeling blessed their chance was indeed timely.

For the benefit of Cirrus and Aurora, Mikha'el continued to explain, "Do you know that Marcus is Asteraoth? An angel who has the ability to thwart powers? He also holds the key of Solomon, a key that can cage any demon and sent it back to Hell. And do you know that he is Ysabelle's guardian angel in the past?"

Aurora smiled at Marcus' way, delighted of the news. Ever since in the orphanage house, she had always known he was meant for great things; Bishop Elliot was the same. Cirrus thought of that too. From a sacristan to an exorcist priest and now as a reborn half-human, half-angel, what better path was there for him than this?

"When Aestaroath was stripped of his angelic status, he became a Fallen Angel condemned to roam the Earth for eternity. He was supposed to be transported there, but that never happened. For some reason, the Cosmos intervened..."

He glanced at Marcus again and this time, he looked lost for a moment. He couldn't fill in this gap at all for it was beyond his knowledge. Truly, only Aestaroath knows of what happened during his time with the Cosmos. He hoped that Marcus would share it in the near future though.

"His descent to Earth produced a large impact. It became the crater what you see in Siberia, Russia this day. Many actually thought of it as an asteroid hit, but no, it was in truth a Fallen Angel in every sense. Although it was a strong collision, he wasn't supposed to...cease existing...but I guess...it is the Cosmos' natural way of dealing up things to maintain the natural order."

"What was the reason why he became a Fallen Angel, Mikha'el?" Aurora had to ask that to clear up her mind. What sin could angels possibly do for them to be thrown out from the Heavenly Realm?

Mikha'el glanced at Cirrus, who in turn glanced at Marcus.

It was he who felt the pressure to answer the question, but nevertheless answered it without reservation. Ysabelle shifted to look at him and saw the clear warmth and affection in it.

"Because I fell in love with the woman I am holding right now, " was Marcus' tender answer then.

Shrugging off the people in the room, Marcus wasn't shy in showing his feelings for Ysabelle. He pulled her close and claimed her lips again.

That was Mikha'el, Cirrus and Aurora's cue to leave and leave they did, disappearing into thin air without wasting a second.

When Marcus and Ysabelle withdrew, they were almost breathless. She kissed his forehead and embraced him tightly thereafter.

"Was that the answer to my question before you left me in the past?" she whispered, suddenly remembering the last time they saw each other. She never did know the answer as to why he kissed her that time.

Marcus smiled, thinking of how foolish of him to leave her hanging just like that. "Yes, Sweet Ysabelle, it was, " was his soft reply.

Ysabelle chuckled. "Hmm...I guess it was worth the wait huh?"

He smelt the scent of her; the divine scent that he had loved so much. He couldn't believe that the Cosmos somehow empathized with him. If it didn't, then he wouldn't be holding this beautiful woman in his arms once again.

"Yes, it is Love. It truly is, " he answered with tears in his eyes.

Somehow, Marcus saw the path to their future shining bright. It didn't have the promise of eternity really, but he greatly believed that sometimes, being together sounded positively better than an immortality without each other.

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*The End*