...So I am so sorry. I had every intention to get this chapter out soon, but I failed. However, I do hope you liked this chapter.

Let me know through reviews.

Chapter 10:

The Cursed Words

Claire had been worried about Alex and wishing that she had been able to stop her from leaving. She knew William had tried to stop Alex from leaving but failed, and she couldn't help but feel that if she had found Alex, she would've stopped the blonde. Or she would've gotten Michael, who would've stopped the hot heated Alex. She had seen how much Alex cared for the Angel, when she brought up the relationship, and Michael could've talked some sense into Alex.

With her head held high and a few guards behind her, the future Lady of the City made her way through the house of Whele to her future husband, which still left a bad taste in her mouth. The idea of William being her husband brought out some raw emotions, but it was something she would have to get over. It was for the best of Vega, and she would do anything for this city, which included marrying someone she did not love.

A few minutes had passed, but Claire had still not found William, which was odd as she had looked very where else. He wasn't at the church, the market or volunteering at a shelter, which was odd. There were only a few places that William could be, and if he wasn't, she had no idea of where he would be.

Claire felt odd asking one of the guards, not knowing any of them. If wasn't that she couldn't trust them, but rather, she wondered how truthful they would be. She also didn't want anyone to think she was checking up on William; she didn't want that reputation. This marriage may be a set up by her father, but she wouldn't let anyone else know that. This wedding was what the public needed to lift spirits, and it wouldn't do that if anyone learned the truth.

However, there was one guard she could speak to, and that was Sergeant Mack, who was a close friend of Alex. Claire knew she could trust him to be honest with her and that he would keep a secret if asked. Mack wasn't a friend of Claire's, but he was a friend of Alex, and that was all she needed.

"Sergeant Mack, a word," Claire said, as she saw the Sergeant, stepping out of a room. He was about to walk off in a different direction, when she stopped him.

Ethan stopped and turned to her. "Yes, Lady Claire," he said as if he was caught doing something embarrassing.

Claire waved her guards back as she stepped to Ethan, who standing perfectly still. She could see his nerves as she approached him. "Have you see the Principate?" she asked, as she couldn't shake the odd feeling.

He shifted, uncomfortably. "No, I have not. Last I heard, he went out to preach a few hours ago, but he should be back soon," he said, his eyes looking pass her.

"Is there-" Claire started, but before she could finish, the door to the room Ethan had exited opened. Arika stepped out with a smile on her face that drive Claire crazy. "Arika of Helena, good evening," she greeted. Claire hadn't had the opportunity to speak to Arika, but she also never had the interest to speak to her, hearing the stories. If the stories were true, Claire wanted to stay far away from Arika as she could. She knew Sergeant Mack was the same.

Arika turned to Claire and smiled. "Lady Claire, it's nice to see you again."

"It is. We should get together soon, as I would love to pick your mind," Claire said, lying. There was something about Arika that Claire didn't trust.

"I would like that as well," Arika responded. "I was just speaking to Sergeant Mack about Sergeant Lannon, who I hadn't seen. As she was so kind to me during my last visit to Vega, I wanted to see if they would post Lannon to my door."

Now, Claire knew that Arika was up to something as Arika was in the room when Alex was exposed to be the Chosen One. There was no doubt in the Future Lady of City's mind that Arika wanted to use that for something. "Lannon is one of the best," she said. "As Lannon is a guard for the house of Whele, surely David can assign her to you," she said, eyeing Ethan whose expression turned hard.

"I think I shall," Arika responded.

Claire could feel her hair on her arms stand up at hearing that, but there was nothing she could do about it.

*O*O*

Michael wanted to give Alex some space, but if he gave her too much, he knew she would hang herself with it. He did not doubt her ability to cope, but she had taken in so much so fast that it was understandable that she was struggling. It was that struggle that he wanted to help with, and it wasn't because she was the Chosen One. It was because she was important to him, not the world. She meant something to him, and he didn't want to lose her. He wanted to be the one she turned to.

This was what drove him out of the house to find Alex, who he half expected to be gone, but he found her sitting at a base of a lone tree at the back of the house. She was curled up with her head on her knees, tears streaming down her face. He had rarely seen her crying, and to see her so miserable created a battle inside of him. He wanted to take her into his arms and comfort her, never letting her go.

"Alex," he called as he stepped to her. She looked so small curled up, and he disliked it greatly. He also hated those mysterious cuts on her bloody hands, and he wanted to know how she had gotten them. He knew Alex had done this to herself, but he wanted to know why. He wanted to know who he had do punish for making Alex do that to herself.

She didn't even move as she stared off. "I knew you wouldn't listen."

Michael resisted the urge to lower himself to her, knowing she wouldn't want him to touch her, and it was a battle as he craved to touch her. It wasn't any sexual (at the moment); it was more of a way to be close to her. He need to be close to her, to feel her. He stood perfectly still and started, "I apologize, but-"

Alex cut him off, not giving him a chance to finish. "How did she die?" she asked, still not looking at him.

He found himself thinking of ways to get her to look at him, even if he couldn't understand why that was so important to him. He couldn't understand what he was feeling at all. "I found her in the house, her body wrapped around you." He eyed her as she leaned back against the tree. "Your mother and Jeep barricaded themselves in to keep you safe, but the eight-balls would stop at nothing to get to you."

Alex still didn't say anything, as she closed her eyes. He stared at her soft facial features for a few seconds, taking in her raw emotions. "After I fought them off, Jeep went to bury her body, and I held you in my arms." He remembered that time like it was yesterday, and if someone told him how important Alex would became to him, he wouldn't have believed it. "You wouldn't stop crying, as if you were mourning her death."

Michael took a step toward her, unable to resist the urge. His arms twitched behind his back at the forced stillness. "And then you were Jeep's responsibility."

Alex slowly opened her eyes and let out a sigh. "You know, I used to think he was the greatest dad." She titled her head back and stared up at the sky as she went off about how her father taught her to shot. "Little did I know it was all so when he dumped me on the street, I'd have a chance of survival."

"Jeep never wanted to leave you," Michael said, seeing the pain in her face. It was a struggle for him to admit this, as she would hate him for it. He didn't know if he could take that, but he couldn't lie to her anymore. If he wanted her, he had to be truthful. "He fought me, told me it was cruel."

"It was you?" Alex asked, bolting up. Michael could see the anger boil in her as she turned to him. She was looking at him now, but her eyes were filled with anger. "You told him to abandon me."

His only hope was to get her to understand. "You had to be on your own, to struggle and fall, so you could rise."

Alex's fists balled at her side as she stepped to him. "I needed a father." She snapped, getting in his face.

He knew she was trying to be intimidating with her stance, but he wasn't intimidated by her. It was rather difficult to be when she was a foot shorter than he was. "That's what Jeep said." He didn't look away, watching her face expressions. Angels weren't as expressive as humans were, and he had always been fascinated by Alex's many expressions.

"You were the most important thing in his life." Michael could understand why. "He loved you more than anything, yet he gave you up because he believed in you." He needed her to understand this. "I believe in you, Alex, and as I promised Jeep and your mother as she lay dying, I will do anything I must to protect you." He truly would as he couldn't bear the thought of something happening to her. When he first made that promise, it was simply because she was the Chosen One and his friendship with Jeep, but as time went on, it grew into something without him realizing. Now, he would protect her because he did not know how he could handle life without her.

"Stop," she yelled. "I don't want your tears."

Instantly, Michael's hand went to his face, and he was shocked to feel wetness. He wasn't aware that he was crying, which was odd, as he wasn't one to cry. Besides the fact that emotions were foreign to him, he didn't see the point in tears, as they would change nothing. However, with Alex, he couldn't stop them. "Alex."

"Stop," she begged as her anger started to die. "I can't handle it."

He disliked seeing her like that, and he wished he could do something. "Alex."

"Enough," she yelled as she brought her fists up and slammed them down on his chest. "Stop. I can't take it," she said, crying. '"I j-just can't." She shook her head before she repeatedly raised her fists and hit him in the chest.

None of her hits hurt, but the initial hit did surprise him as he didn't suspect her to snap. However, he allowed her to hit him, as she needed this. She needed to let it all out. "Okay, Alex," he said, trying to soothe her. "It's okay." He had no idea what to say, because he had no idea of how to fix this. However, he did know that he wouldn't leave her again, even if she never stopped hitting him, so he wrapped his arms around her.

After the last hit, Alex held her fists against his chest and opened them. "…No, i-it's not." Her hands shook as she was sobbing against him. "I…I d-don't k-know w-what to do a-anymore. Everything f-feels w-wrong." Her legs started to shake beneath her, and she could barely stay on her feet even with Michael's hand on her back. She started to slide down to her knees as her whole body begun to shake.

The Angel held her tightly and slid down with her. When they both landed on the ground, he pulled her into his chest and wouldn't let go. He tucked her head under his chin as she cried, and he didn't move or budged no matter how hard she fought. He wasn't going to let her go, and it wasn't until a few more hits from Alex that she stopped struggling.

His hold loosened slightly as he rubbed her back. "It's okay, Alex," he said. "I am here."

She balled her hands in his shirt as she buried her face in his chest. "M-M..ichael," she cried. It came out as a mumble in his shirt that he could barely make out.

He hated how disheartened and miserable she sounded, and he wanted to find a way to change it, but it was difficult when he was the reason why she was like this. He wished he hadn't disregarded his concerns and had been honest with her to begin with. "I am sorry, Alex," he said, whispering into her hair. "I wish I could take away your pain." He was beginning to hate these feelings that his father had curse him with.

*O*O*

David did not care if he was cruel; in fact, he enjoyed being cruel. It was how he had gotten anything in life, and he wasn't afraid to admit that. He also wasn't afraid to throw Arika to the wolves to get what he wanted. "You're an exceptionally clever woman. You'll figure it out," he said as he looked down at the body of Arika's sister.

Even now, Arika looked as dignified as ever. "I have loyalists within Evelyn's inner circle," she said. Even when she was alone, she was never trapped.

"A coup?" That interested David, but he wasn't sure how that would help him.

"As you said, I'm exceptionally clever," she replied, as her eyes never let her sister. "If you provide me with amnesty, let me strategize from this safe haven, I assure you once I'm in power, our deal will be my highest priority."

"Really?" he asked, not sure if he believed her. She was clever indeed, and there was a part of him that wondered if he was being played. Yes, he knew she had her own end game, and he would be played in some sense, but it felt like she knew something he didn't.

Arika looked up and gave him one of her smiles. "Just as long as Alex Lannon is given to us."

David held back a grimace as he had no idea where Alex Lannon was. She had failed to show up for her rotation and no one had seen her, since the angel attack. Normally, David wouldn't care what happened to a soldier, and it would be better for Vega if she was dead, but he needed her for this deal. "I'll see to it the body is transported to the ocean," he replied, knowing that would be an answer for Arika.

He lowered himself down next to Arika, knowing he had to find Lannon before Arika realized that she was gone.

*O*O*

Alex wanted to lie and say she didn't feel warm and cherished in Michael's arm, but she did. It was almost impossible for her to push out of his arms when she calmed down, and feeling his hesitation when he let go almost stopped her. She wanted to stay in his warm embrace and pretend she wasn't the Chosen One and her father wasn't dead. However, she knew she couldn't and that she had to man up. Her father wouldn't want to see her like this, and she needed to honor that. However, whenever she thought of honoring her father, she thought back to what he said about her sleeping with the Archangel. Was it because he didn't want her to get hurt? Or was it something else? Did he know something about Michael that no one else knew?

It was those thoughts that drove her away from the Angel, who only watched as she walked away. She was drawn to the deflated basketball by the net-less hoop, as she had good memories of playing with her father. She couldn't understand why they didn't just stay at there instead of going to Vega. Things would've been different, she thought as she picked up the ball. She squeezed the ball in frustration, while holding back a wink. Her hands still ached when she flexed them.

Alex sighed as she glared down at the punctured ball. She didn't know what she was going to tell Michael, because she had no clue to what she should do. The writings on the wall told her that she couldn't run and pretend to be someone else. She was the Chosen One, even if she had no idea of what that meant. However, she didn't know if she could go back to Vega and pretend like nothing had changed when everything had.

She squeezed the ball tightly as she turned to the jeep. She could see the dent from one of Michael and hers love sessions, and it confused her more. What was she going to do? A deal was a deal, and Michael said he would let her go if she saw this. Though she truly doubted he would leave, she didn't know if she could jump in the jeep and go. She wished that someone (besides Michael) would tell her what to do, as she was completely lost.

After a few long seconds, Alex dropped the ball and took a step toward the jeep. Maybe, if she got to her jeep, she could do some thinking.

"Alex," she heard Michael yell, but she didn't stop. She couldn't handle his voice, when all it did was confused her. "Alex," he yelled again, and she could hear his tone change as he took a few steps toward her.

Anger rushed through her, and she snapped as she turned around. "Mich-" she started, but her sentence died in her throat at the sight of him. He had drawn both of his swords and was fast approaching with a scowl on his face, and for a second, he scared her. "What are you doing?" she asked, coldly.

"We have company," he replied, looking up into the sky. "Ready yourself."

She looked at him before following his glance and grabbing her gun. Though they were a few miles away, she could make out three angels in the sky, and they were heading fast toward them. Alex stared in frustration as she couldn't believe that she was still being chased.

*O*O*

Alex's head felt like it was on fire, when she was finally able to get the Eight Ball with wings off her. When he had jumped her, Alex's head had hit the ground hard, causing her vision to blacken for a few seconds. It was surprising that she didn't lose consciousness, but she supposed it had to do with her training which kicked in mindlessly. She acted on impulse without any thought, which saved her. It was like her body knew what to do.

However, it wasn't long before she was back on the ground as the angel had charged her. He hit her with his full body weight, knocking the air out of her lung. She laid there for a few seconds, trying to catch her breath, as she wondered if she would ever catch her breath. She distantly heard Michael yell her name, which snapped her breath back to her. It was him, who gave her strength, because she could hear how much he cared.

With a renewed vigor, Alex struggled with the angel above her as she reached for her knife, which tested her strength. It seemed the angel wanted to pin her, not kill her, as he was holding her to the ground with all of his might. Alex wasn't stupid and knew if he wanted to kill her, he would as he was in the perfect position. However, neither his position nor strength stopped her from fighting with everything that she had.

It was during this struggle that she felt her heart get ripped from her chest, as she watched Michael get stabbed from the corner of her eye. For a second, she couldn't understand what had happened, and it took her a few seconds to comprehend it. How could he get stabbed?

"Michael," Alex yelled as Furiad twisted the blade and snapped the tip in the Archangel's gut. Her mind screamed as she watched Michael fall to the ground. She couldn't understand how this was happening. How could Furiad beat Michael? Was it because of her? Was he was distracted by her? Alex had no doubt that was case, but she couldn't let her guilt stop her. She couldn't let Michael die for her, as no one was going to die because of her.

Also, the very thought of a life without Michael was too much as he had always been there. Yes, he had lied to her, but he had always been there. He had always watched over her, even if she never knew it, or maybe, she did. Maybe, she knew and it was that, which kept her going. Whatever it was, Alex wasn't sure, but she couldn't imagine a life without him, not now. Not after all that they went through. She just couldn't.

Using that to drive her, she swung her head forward, head-butting the Eight Ball, and swung her leg up between his legs. She ignored the shocking pain in her head and fought through the dizziness, as the eight ball was knocked back. It didn't take long for the angel to recover, but he moved enough that she could reach for her knife in her belt, and without hesitation, she plunged the blade into him neck. He yelped in pain as he stepped back, giving Alex time to roll away.

With the knife still in the Angel's neck, Alex reached for her gun on the ground, knocked away from her earlier, and allowing her anger to get the better of her, she emptied the clip into him. While the angel fell the ground, she allowed herself a second to catch her breath before turning to Michael and Furiad, who slowly approached a non-moving Archangel.

"Get away from him," Alex yelled as she raised her gun.

Furiad stopped and turned toward her. "Chosen One," he replied smoothly. A few feet from them, another Eight Ball laid dead. "Maybe, I should take you with me now. No one to stop me."

Michael stirred, drawing Alex's attention. With each passing second, he looked paler and closer to death, and the area around the protruding blade was getting increasingly bloodier. The Archangel's two blades laid a foot from him, falling from his grip when Furiad had stabbed him. "A-Alex, run," he mumbled, trying to move. His voice was almost too soft.

Furiad laughed. "There's nowhere to go, and that Archangel can't protect you now," he replied, staring at her. "Weaker than I expected."

His voice drove her crazy and she wanted nothing more than to shut him up. "Shut up," Alex yelled, aiming her gun and firing. However, it only clicked as the clip was empty. She pressed the trigger again, not believing it at first, but after the soft fourth click, she glanced down at the weapon, remembering she had emptied it in the Eight Ball. Without showing any panic, her hand dropped to her belt looking for another clip; however, before even looking, she knew she didn't have one. All of the ammo was in the jeep behind her, and there was no way she could turn her back on Furiad.

"Out of Ammo it seems," the higher Angel mocked.

Alex kept the snarl in her throat as she realized she had nothing on her to defend herself with. She didn't know what she was going to do, but she had to think of something or this Angel was going to take her to Gabriel…Wait, didn't Gabriel say he wasn't going to take her by force? …He did, so what was this? Did he change his mind? Was he lying? If he was, was he lying about Michael too?

Michael, she thought as she turned to the angel. She had to do something now, as he was looking worse with each passing second. He wouldn't last long if she didn't do something fast, but what could she do?

As she stared at him, she remembered Michael's fallen blades a foot from him. If she worked her cards right, she might be able to reach for them. With her plan in motion, Alex's grip on the gun loosen, letting it slip from her hand. "Just do what you wish, because I can't stop you, and there's no way I can out run you," she replied, stepping to him.

"I am glad you it see my way. Come to me and let go," Furiad said as he lowered his sword.

Michael stirred again, trying to roll over. "Alex, NO," he said, trying to yell, but it sounded like a frog in his throat.

Alex had become good at reading between the lines with him, and she could tell that he was scared, scared for her, which touched her, but she was going to save him. "Okay, but let me see Michael first," she said, making her way to the injured Archangel.

Furiad took a step to her. "No, come here."

"I won't leave him like this. Just let me check on him, and I'll come willingly," she replied, stepping closer to Michael.

"No," he replied, coldly.

Alex glanced between Michael and Furiad before making a mad dash to Michael. Furiad wasn't stupid, but she had to give it a shot. Seeing her bolt, Furiad turned and chased, but Alex was lucky enough to reach a fallen blade before Furiad reached her. She had enough time to block his broken sword before it hit her.

While still blocking, she sent her foot hard into his shins, knocking him back slightly which gave her a chance to pick up Michael's other blade. She swung the second blade, but it missed its target as Furiad flipped out of the way into the air. His wings flapped loudly behind him as Alex got to her feet with a blade in each hand. They felt weird in her hands, almost warm to the touch. "Ready to go?" she asked, as she twisted the blades in her hands. "I know I'm." She twisted the blade again as she stepped toward the higher angel.

"A-Alex, n-no," Michael mumbled behind her.

"You think you can handle those blades?" Furiad asked with a chuckle, looking between the two. "They aren't like other swords." His wings flapped loudly behind him as he hovered a few feet above her. "Can't you feel the difference?"

Alex was well trained with a sword and knew how to handle them, but these two blades in her hands felt different. It felt like she wasn't holding blades. Everything from the metal to the weight felt different, and she had some doubt that she could handle them like normal. "Why don't you see for yourself?" she asked, smirking at him. She held the blades tightly as she took a few steps closer to him.

Furiad hovered above her as he eyed her. "Next time, Chosen One. Gabriel does not want you injured, and you will get injured with those blades," he replied as his wings spread wide behind him.

Not taking her eyes off him, Alex had to admit it that it was an expressive sight as he took off, but she wasn't ungrateful that the higher angel left without a fight. She had no idea if she was a match for him; however, that didn't mean that she wouldn't try.

She watched the sky for a few seconds, making sure Furiad wouldn't return before she dropped the swords and fell to Michael's side. "Michael," she cried as her hands hovered over him, not sure what to do. How did she save an angel?

He forced his eye opened. "Alex, are…y-you injured?" he asked, reaching for her. His voice was soft, almost too soft to hear.

"Michael," she cried again as she cupped his face with her hand. Tears started to form in her eyes as she reached down to the broken blade in his side.

He grabbed her wrist harshly, stopping her. "Don't r-remove it. I'll bleed to death," he replied as he stared into her eyes.

For a few seconds, Alex just started at him, unsure of what to do, and she found herself frozen as her mind wondered to why he was on the ground bleeding. "Why?!" she asked, fighting back the tears. "Why did you do it?" He didn't answer her as his eyes glanced over her like he was studying her features. "Why let yourself be injured for me? You shouldn't have, even if I'm the Chosen One." She knew he would do anything to protect the Chosen One, but she didn't want him to. She wasn't special.

His hand fell from her wrist to his side, while his body went limp. "I…I did not do it because you were the Chosen One."

Alex looked away from him, looking to the jeep. She had to get him back to Vega as soon as possible, or he would die, and she could feel it with each touch. "Then why," she asked, looking back to him. She couldn't stop the tears as they flood down her cheek.

Michael tried to reach up to wipe her tears away, but he couldn't move more than a few inches. "Alex, I…" He drifted off not able to catch his breath.

"Michael," she called again, lowering herself closer to him. "Michael!" she called again after no response. Unable to wait any longer, she jumped onto the balls of her feet and tried to stand, but Michael suddenly grabbed her wrist and wouldn't let go. Even with the blood lost, she wouldn't break his grip. "Michael."

He forced open his eyes and looked into her eyes. "I…I need to t-tell you, Alex," he said. "Just in case."

"Michael, we don't have time. You're going to die."

"Alex."

"No, Michael," she said. "We have to go. I can't let you die."

"…Alex…I...I l-love you…" he replied with a heavily breath.

Those words rang her mind, and for a second, everything froze around her. He loved her? Her? Something warm formed in her stomach as her feelings started to boil up. "Michael," she called once more. She had to tell him that she loved him too, and she didn't care about his lies. She loved him. They loved each other, which brought out so many emotions in her, as she never thought that someone would love her. "I love you too," she admitted with a little force.

Michael didn't move or stir at her declaration. "Michael, I love you, too," she said again, grabbing his face. She stared at him, trying to get some kind of a response. "Michael," she yelled, as she stared at his motionless body. Her mind seemed to stop working at the sight of Michael's unresponsive form. Her heart seemed to be a step behind her mind as it seemed to have halt as well. How could he leave her after telling her that he loved her? How dare he do that to her? How dare he break her heart again? Her heart was breaking on her and all of the sudden, it was getting difficult to believe. She was starting to feel sick to her stomach.

Stop it, she yelled at herself. She was being selfish, thinking only of herself. Michael was injured because of her, and he could die because of her. It was all her fault. How could she do this to him? Why was she so weak? "Please." She begged as she started to shake his shoulders before laying a kiss to his cold lips, but nothing she did stirred him. "What am I supposed to do?" she yelled, pulling back slightly. "Michael! What am I supposed to do?" she cried, after a few seconds of silence. "Please!"

*O*O*

"Great, Vega's in crisis, and you're concentrating on the mating habits of a lion," William responded.

At times, David wondered about his son, because his son needed to man up if they wanted to take over Vega. "Nature calls. We put him in with a lioness in heat in the north enclosure." To make matters worse, there was still no sign of Lannon, which angered him. How could he lose his barging chip? Without her, Arika wouldn't give him what he wanted. "You should've seen Samson as he mated with his Delilah," he said as he took a drink of whiskey.

Then there was Claire, who had no interest in marrying his son. "He knew what he wanted, and he took it. It's what he does." He couldn't help but see this as a failure from his son, who couldn't woo either Alex or Claire. "It's in his blood, as it was in his father's before him."

"Good for Samson, and good for those cubs," William mocked, eyeing his father. "Surely they'll be raised by their mother and not actually know their father."

"Nature is kind once in a while, isn't it?"

William turned toward the door but stopped. "I know how to win over Claire. You don't need to get involved."

David took another drink before he spoke. "And how about Alex Lannon? I had thought that you had made progress with her when I saw her coming out of your bedroom a few mornings ago, but it seems like you hadn't. And I thought I raised a man," he replied. "I guess I didn't."

William turned back to his father. "Sex isn't how I get through to Alex," he replied.

"Maybe, Alex can teach you how to handle Claire," David replied.

"Alex had left Vega in case you didn't know," William shot back.

David picked up the battle of Whiskey and poured himself another glass. "I am aware, but I'll find her."

"I thought you wanted her gone. What are you planning for her?" William snapped, stepping back to his father.

The Consul gave his son a look at his angry tone, as he never expected it from William. "With her, I'll get what I want. Once she's back in Vega, I need you to be ready to keep her in control and away from Michael," he replied. It wasn't lost on him that the Archangel wasn't in Vega as well.

"Why?"

"In time," David replied as he took another drink. His day had been horrible, and his only hope was that tomorrow would be better. "You can go." He could feel William's stare on him, but he didn't say anything else before he left.

*O*O*

"You laid your sword on my brother?" Gabriel asked, as anger rose inside of him. How dare Furiad disobey his order and attack his brother? Did he not understand that he would kill for that?

"It's what was required," Furiad said, standing perfectly still. "I couldn't let any more of our brethren fall into amber."

Gabriel may not want his fellow angels to be hurt, but Michael was his closest brother, and he would hurt anyone who dared to touch his brother. "Irin, come," he said, turning to an Eight ball a few feet from him. For hurting Michael, he would hurt Furiad, and Irin, who was important to the Higher Anger, was key to that.

When the lower angel stepped in front of Gabriel, the Archangel grabbed her by the throat demanding Furiad's blade. There was some hesitation in Furiad as he handed him his broken sword, but he knew better than to disobey the Archangel. When Gabriel gripped the sword, he found himself staring at the broken tip, and he only became angrier. There were specs of blood on the edge of the sword, and it infuriated him as there was no doubt that was Michael's blood.

Not allowing Furiad's pleads stop him, Gabriel plunged the broke blade into Irin's chest, killing her. He stared at her body for a second as her body went limp before he threw the body aside. "My brother is not dead!" He yelled, still handing the blade, now covered in Irin's blood. "Not by the hand of a wild dog."

Furiad's hands were at his side standing perfectly still. "I thought I was doing what was best."

Gabriel didn't want Furiad's reasons or excuses. "You are a fool, Furiad, and I do not care for your words." Anger still flood through his body, and it took everything he had not to kill Furiad, but he had taught the Angel a lesson. There was no need to kill him when he still had a need for him, but it was tempting.

"She will never come to us with your brother on her shoulder," he replied.

Gabriel stepped forward, holding the sword out for Furiad to take. "Maybe, not after your attack," he snapped. There was no telling what Furiad had done to his plan. He might have to revisit Alex.

Furiad glanced to Irin's dead body before he reached for his sword. "Your brother had told the child that he loved her," he replied with a disgusted look on his face.

Gabriel tried not to let his surprise show on his face. He didn't realized his brother cared that deeply for the blonde, only thinking it was just physical with Michael, but maybe, he could use that against his foolish brother, who was stupid for falling for the Chosen One. However, he knew that declaration could hurt his plan for Alex, who would only cling to Michael more. Maybe, that was Michael's plan. "If you'd like to try again, my blade will go through you next," Gabriel said, stepping away from the lower Angel.

*O*O*

Alex's mind wasn't function as her hands were covered in Michael's cold blood. It was all she could see and she stood there frozen for a second before her mind snapped back to Michael dying in front of her, when she heard a sharp intake of air. "Michael," she yelled as she tried to shake him awake. He didn't respond, and Alex only seemed to shake harder as she held him. "Michael, please," she begged.

After a few silence seconds, Alex realized she needed to stop crying and do something as he was going to die if she didn't. She grabbed him under the shoulders to drag him to the jeep, but she couldn't move him an inch as Michael was heavier than she thought. "This isn't going to work," she uttered in frustration. "Michael," she yelled again. "Wake up."

She glanced back the jeep, feeling like an idiot. "I'm stupid," she yelled at herself. Fighting through her pain, she got to her legs and limped her way to the jeep as fast as she could. The fight with the Eight Ball drained her and put a major stain on her body. Her already injured body had taken a beaten and she was feeling it. It was the fear of losing Michael that kept her going, and it forced everything else out of her head.

Without wasting any time, she jumped into the jeep and turned the key. Her hands hurt as she gripped the steering wall, but she ignored the pain as she focused on the still Michael. "I'm going to kill you, Gabriel," she threatened. Before, she didn't know if she could trust Gabriel, but now, she knew he was blowing smoke. He was trying to get into her head, and she had let him. She had let the Archangel in, and he had used that to drive space between her and everyone else.

To make things worse, Alex had refused to listen to Michael because of Gabriel, and Michael was now dying because of it. If she had only listened to Michael, he wouldn't be blooding out, and for that, she was going to kill Gabriel no matter what. She didn't know how she was going to do it, but she was going to kill him.

After driving the jeep to Michael and inching the jeep next to him, she left the jeep running as she jumped out. "Just hang in there," Alex said, kneeing to him. Her nerves were shot, and she had tears running down on her face, but she wasn't going to let that stop her. She refused to let anything stop her. "I need you," she cried, laying a kiss to his lips.

She couldn't get the image of him being stabbed out of her mind, and his blood was haunting her. All she could see red no matter what she looked at, and it made her sick to her stomach. It took everything she had not to puke. "Michael, you can't leave me," she said, looking back to the road. He was all too pale. "Don't you dare," she yelled. "I will kill you if you do." Her hands were shaking as she grabbed him again and started to pull.

"Damn it, Michael," she cursed as she struggled to move the Archangel. She didn't know how she would get him into the jeep, when she could barely move him. However, she wasn't going to quit. She was going to save him.

The end for now

Again I am sorry that it took this long to get this chapter out.

I will say that even before I started to write the first chapter, my mind has always been focused on the first time Michael admitted his feelings. This was where I always thought he would admit it and I hope I did it justice.

Let me know what you think.