Erik and the other Incubi, Throne Room.
Sarah's body was lifeless near the fallen pillar; eyes closed, skin already changing its color and slight blue lips. She looked like she was sleeping if you just ignore the slight detail that she had several bruises on her arms, miner cuts, her throat sliced open, and her clothing drenched in blood.
"She... she's gone..." Damien said after checking up Sarah's pulse. "For an hour, at least..."
Erik's legs buckled, and he fell onto his knees; he never expected or desired to see Sarah in death, just from recalling her vibrant smile, made it seem an implausible reality. "No, no, no, this can't be, no." He hesitantly reached out to Sarah's already cold, numb body and hugged it gently to his chest. It felt so strange, not feeling her warmth anymore or even any kind of movement from her. "No... NO!! Princess, get up! Wake up!" He cried out in grief, clinging desperately to unreasonable hope. "P-Princess..." He sobbed onto her shoulder unceasingly, hands clutching at both her arms, his fingernails marking her grey skin. The pain must have come in waves, minutes of sobbing broken apart by short pauses for recovering breaths. "AHHHHH--!" He screamed, not expecting the level of anguish lashed out at him. The emptiness forced into his heart, the numbness pounding in his veins, and the salty tears that flowed threatened to engulf him entirely.
Matthew's eyes shifted to the side and became glazed with a glossy layer of tears. As he blinked, they dripped from his eyelids and ran down his cheeks. His lower lip quivered as words slowly made their way out of his mouth. "N-No way in hell..."
"If I catch that BITCH, I'm gonna tear her into shreds!" Sam growled; there was something primal in his low snarl that made the whole room shake.
James outwardly seemed calmer, tho he had his gaze hidden by the dark hair-strands of his hair and he was dealing with grief of his own. He clenched his hands, his frame went rigid as he faced his brother mourning on the floor. Soon, he relaxed. A golden gun was summoned in his right hand, surprising the most attentive person in the room.
"James?" Damien easily caught upon his brother's summoning. "What are y--" And, almost instantly, his facial expression changed as he directed his full attention to James, perhaps because he already knew what was going on in his brother's mind and what were his new intentions.
Sam hadn't to be told twice. He followed his brother's action, summoning a weapon of his own, the 'dragon slayer', "I've got your back James." and nodding in his direction.
Matthew whipped his tears with the back of his hand right away, putting his own pain and suffering at the side for the sake of supporting his older brother, which allotted him a very grown-up vibe. "An eye for an eye." His voice echoed demonically before the sound of a steel dagger hitting the throne in the middle, echoed.
James raised her head; his irises were no longer amber-colored-like, they were glimmering an intense gold color, inadvertently fueled by anger, rage, and pain.
Damien observed James intensively. His brother would never react on a hothead; he was a very rational, reckoner man and the most level-headed one between the five of them. Damien was sure his emotions were getting the better of him but, he understood him on a personal level.
"Don't worry, Uzaeris. I'll bring justice for her." He touched his brother's shoulder in an attempt to bring him some comfort. "Izroul, call the angels, we have to guarantee that she has a proper ascending." James spat out his first command.
Damien nodded in acknowledgment.
"Aomaris, hunt Maesmer down." He ordered next. "It's more than time to find that wretched succubus."
"Already on it," Sam replied with a grimace, focusing all of his brute energy on a tracking spell; it would be easier if he had something that belonged to her, an anchor of some sort, he wouldn't have to use so much of his own energy to pull that spell off.
"When I get my hands on her..." James started, "I'll send her to the depths of hell."
"She'll get what she deserves James," Matthew reassured his brother as he shared the same desire.
"Once the angels are dealt with, we'll meet you," Damien said, trying to pass on his own support through his words.
"Ah! Found her! She hasn't left the castle yet!" Sam said, sharing his findings with the rest of the Incubi. The spell bore its fruits quicker than he anticipated. He has been working with James, perfecting some spells associated with his dragon powers. Bit by bit, he has shown great progress in what concerned manipulating them better.
"What are you waiting for?! Lead the way then!" Matthew shouted.
"Gladly." He sprinted as fast as could down the hall towards the tower, hoping to catch her first.
James smiled for a brief second; he felt proud of Sam for all his last small conquers. He was becoming a great leader day-by-day, mastering increasingly his own magic and not only his brute nature for combat advantages. Sam always worried him due to his explosive personality and impulsiveness but, lately, he has been proving James otherwise, being more responsible and thinking of the consequences before throwing himself into the situations hotheaded. James could finally rest reassured, Sam was going to be just fine once he found himself alone.
About an hour passed and nothing had changed.
Erik, wiggling back-and-forth her lifeless body in his arms, he gently cupped Sarah's head in between his hands and kissed her forehead endearingly. "Please come back to me..." He softly pleaded, only for her to hear.
Damien finally placed a hand over Erik's shoulders to bring him back from his own bubble. "It's time brother."
He shook his head hopeful. "No... She'll wake up... she'll wake up... she'll--"
"Erik... she's dead for quite some time now, she won't..." Damien insisted on making him see the harsh reality, he had to try and pull Erik from denial. "Can't you feel how cold she is? You have to let go, brother."
"N-No! I can't! I-I won't!" He shouted; once again, tears burned his eyes and his lower lip trembled. "I just got her back, I can't lose her again...!"
Damien crouched at his side, respectfully removing Sarah from Erik's embrace and gently laying her down. "I know..." He wrapped an arm around his shoulders and pulled him close, quietly rubbing his arm. Sometimes, the only deed needed was: silence, presence, and touch. That was more than enough to provide emotional support to someone who is going through a process of pain and grieving.
Erik knew that to love deeply meant to risk great pain and a searing sorrow when faced eye-to-eye with loss. Without pain, without sacrifice, there was nothing left. He just didn't expect to go through this so early. He thought he had more time. His lungs heaved and he knew there was no cure for his broken heart. "If I had stayed with her, if I hadn't left her... if I just had forgotten about those damn items, maybe... maybe she was still alive--"
Damien's sigh that followed was resigned and weary; he patted softly Erik on the back for comfort. "Hey, there are some things in this world that simply can not be changed. And, Death is one of them."
Erik stirred in his brother's embrace, breaking apart as a sudden realization struck his mind. He knew what to do now. "Yes, it can."
Erik's Words left Damien speechless. He stared into those bright amethyst eyes burning with strong determination and his heart fell.
"I just had my epitaph, Damien. I'll make ask an audience with the angels." To Erik, he would sell his own soul to Satan himself if that meant to see, touch, or kiss her lips again. Just one more time.
In Damien's eyes, it was a 'suicide' plan, Angels couldn't be trusted. Satan was more reliable than those superficial winged beings. Despite common sense most of the humans had, Angels were selfish, greedy, and vain beings obsessed with perfection. They lived high above in the skies, mingling in their lavish, extravagant parties, with no care in the Human World or in the human souls, whatsoever. On contrary to one might think, they didn't give without asking for something in return.
"I know what you're thinking, but it'll work." He swallowed again, almost cringing as he licked his lips and turned desperate eyes on Damien.
"Are you delusional or something? Are you even listening to what you're saying right now?! And what are you even thinking of trading with them? What could you possibly give them?" Damien tried to bring him to reason, he wasn't thinking clearly. "But above all, you think they would listen to a plea from a demon?"
"I know an angel who will and someone who can help me reach out to him. I'm sure she will jump right in to help me since she was already helping Sarah." Erik said, "There is still hope."
Hope. That's what keeps us alive, gives us strength, and helps us to fight through every day. It is like a distant, shining star in the sky; not enough to remove the darkness, but enough to make you believe that happiness is possible.
"Please, Damien..."
While Damien didn't want to crush his brother's hopes, his breath came out in a quick, weary sigh. "Then, we have to act fast. Sarah's body state won't hold on for much longer." and stated.
Erik smiled at his brother for his unconditional support; Damien gave him back a reassuring nod.
"It's time then." Erik drew a deep breath and focused his energy to make sure the summoning would be effective. "Ezaeur!" A bright purple light engulfed the room, causing both Erik and Damien, even prepared, to shield themselves. Gusts of wind rushed past them, almost forcing them back. As the gust slowly started to die, the light began to fade, revealing a man and a blonde woman. The woman was in her Lilith armor, purple markings all over her body, and had two long purple horns protruding from her head. The man was standing between her and the other two demons, shielding and fiercely protecting her. He had a blank expression and was staring coldly at them.
Diana upon seeing her protege laying on the floor motionless, she bypassed her guard and made acquaintances with Sarah's dead body. "Oh, God! What have you done, dear? I told you not to meddle with it!" She spoke quietly as if talking directly at her.
Erik decided to take the first step forward and approach the kneeling Succubus but was immediately intersected by Saero's spear. "One more step and you're dead Incubus." He threatened.
Diana raised her hand and gestured for Saero to put down his weapon. "You don't have to say anything, we will help you."
Erik heaved a sigh in relief, "Thank you..."