Chapter 12~~~ Broken
Razakiel's POV
I'm starting to become accustomed to the heart ranging sound of screaming. So, when I hear I heart mumbling shriek in my sleep I'm in no way surprised. What I see when I open my eyes, however, is an entirely different story. The image of Luc's most trusted friend leaning over Carli, a blood-stained knife in his hands, ready to strike, will be branded in my eyes forever. The devastation on Carli's face as she stares at the motionless body at her feet, paying no attention at all to the threat in front of her, freezes me in place for a moment. I'm on my feet and at her side before he could stab her. My blade against his, blocking it from achieving its fateful task, the fire in his eyes disappears replaced with fear. He slowly backs away from me.
I hear the doctors choking breath echo around us. All-consuming rage burns through me and it must be clear in my movements what I intend to do because he backs away faster.
"No!" The shrill cry freezes me. "Zak…please…don't hurt him," I gaze her way, "there must be a mistake, he wouldn't have… he couldn't…" The words break off on a sob that has my full attention turning her way.
"I had to do it! I couldn't just let you get her killed! She's better off alive and in Lucifer's hands than dead with you and your suicide mission to get back into heaven." A rumbling growl crawls it way up my throat as that all rage pushes itself back in control; I would never let anyone hurt Luc. The look of devastation in her eyes as he speaks only makes the urge to kill him that much greater.
"What are you doing? His getting away. He… he kills… you can't… dad… no, no, no! please Raz. No." The red haired is covered in blood, her father's blood. She clenches him to her as if in some desperate attempt to keep him among the living.
With a quick glance towards Luc and a silent apology, I turn back to the task at hand. Only to find Nicholas gone, who must have taken off as soon as I was distracted to notice. Turning back toward the horrific scene. Luc is attempting to comfort Carli despite the horror of her best friends' betrayal. I barely make it a step toward where they sit in a growing pool of blood before yet another shriek fills the air and an unknown figure appears before the doctor's body forcing the other two out of the way.
The red hair so similar to Carli's, is the only thing that stops me from attacking the intruder. Its Carli's mother. I am within arm's reach, weapon drawn once again, before I halt myself, take a half step back and wait for a higher-ranking angel to tell us how to save him.
She kneels down besides the human man she loves, placing her hand over his chest just above where his heart lies, and remains there for too long, silent tears tracing the outline of her cheeks and despair written clear as day across the delicate features.
"You can save him. You're a healer. Save him!" Those words have my heart attempting to beat its way out of my chest; when angel with sight tells you, you are something you listen. No matter what. but I am no healer. A shield, a reader, yes. But not a healer.
"I am not a healer Ahreal." The words tumble out of my mouth without check. "There only has ever been two; ones dead and the other is Mikheal. I don't think any of the are coming to his rescue." A burning rage flickers in her eyes as I speak without conscious thought, I take a few steps away the desperate angel.
"You're a half breed, we blocked your mind when you were little, there's no time to explain now, you need to save my Jonathan before it's too late. Carli unblock his mind." Before I can even blink, more hands are on my skin and a white blade is burning its way through my skull. My last thought before everything went dark is, I hope to God I didn't cause Luc this much pain when I cleared the block in her mind.
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I'm downing in icy water and I'm jolted into consciousness once more. My upper body drenched in water, I glance around at my odd surroundings for a second before the sight of Ahreal and Carli standing over me has everything clicking back in place. Save John. I can feel it now; an underlying tingle just below my skin, eager and ready to heal anything that is damaged with or without my permission.
Moving over to the now silent figure, his face pale already pale as ice, I place my hands over the same spot on his chest where Ahreal had hers. Only to have my heart sink in my chest. There is nothing there. No movements beneath my hands. Only an inhumanly chilling stillness. I try anyway. I force the life and energy from my body to his, feel it draining to nothing. Feel his body remain motionless. Growing colder with every passing second.
I feel the eyes of his family on my back, wiling me to succeed. Expecting me to succeed. And before I can stop them, feel two warm droplets fall down my cheeks and drip slowly into the lifeless body beneath my hands. Yet, with the knowledge that I have failed the people that I have called family all my life, I cannot let go. I need him to be okay. Alive.
As if she can sense that its over Luc moves to my side, placing her hands gently on my shoulders as she kneels beside me. She moves her hands down until they rest over mine, linking our hands together as she rises back to her feet, lifting me with her.
I follow the beautiful angel besides me without conscious thought, my mind too busy wrestling with the knowledge that I could have saved him but I failed. Unable to comprehend that Jonathan Walden, the man I considered my uncle, the human that lived for over a century and a half is now gone from his life forever.
Once we are tucked away in a smaller cave off to the side, she sits us down against the wall. I cannot say how much time has passed with us two sitting motionless in the dark, while Carli and Ahreal mourn over John's body, but at some point, I realize I am feeling the pain and emotions of all three of the angels in tis cavern with me.
"Hey," I murmur quietly, reaching a hand up and barely hesitating before gently stroking her cheek to pull her attention back to the real world. She grasps my hands in her, a look of apology in her face.
"Are you alright?" I whisper, feeling the odd sensation that speaking too loudly will jolt us from this moment. Her eyes dip from mine for a moment, stare fixating on our linked hands before, finally, she releases a breath and recaptures my eyes with her own.
"He betrayed me. How can I trust after the one person I thought I will always be able to depend on just…just turned his back on me without a single thought?" She flicked her gaze away once more breathing rapidly in an attempt to hold back the tears fighting their way to the surface. As a tear drop falls down her cheek, I lean closer and carefully brush it off her cheek.
"It will be okay, Luc. I promise, it will be okay." Her silent tears turn to choke sobs as the boarded-up emotions break through their confines after too many years trapped inside. I reach to comfort her, tugging her to me and she comes all to willingly in my arms.
"I just don't understand why?"
Concentrating hard on her emotions, I gently push at them; when I feel them move beneath my will. Whispering quietly in her ears through her broken sobs I focus on calming my emotions and attempt to project them on Luc; ever so slowly the wrecking sibs fade away, to silent tears and once her breathing returns to normal she takes a deep breath and sits back slightly.
"You did that. I feel peaceful?" she flicks her gaze up to mine, questioning.
"I guess I'm not just a healer?" I ask her, allowing half a smile tug up the corner of my lips as I look down at her. She gives me a small smile in return and I feel a flutter of something in my chest.
"But I guess so. But… can you not, mess with my emotions without telling me first? I just don't like when other people have control over me." She whispers so quietly I barely catch it, but once the words sink in, understanding hits me.
"I promise, Luc. I won't do it without your permission. Trust me. I won't ever do anything to hurt you." She breathes a sigh of relief. As if she truly does trust me.
And she lays her head back against my shoulder, like it's the most natural thing in the world to do, I know that I will do anything in my power to be worthy of her trust. I won't ever hurt her the way everyone else in her life has, I'll protect her from anyone and everyone that wants to hurt her.
Now I just have to figure out how to keep her safe with both HEAVEN and HELL out for her blood.