"For false Christ's and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders,

so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect."

Matthew 24:24

Chapter 9

Alone once more.

In complete darkness, Rosette could see nothing. She couldn't see the light of a lamp or the suns' raises through a window. Not even red and purple blotches which can sometimes dance across one's eyelids. No she was engulfed with pitch black darkness that was all consuming. When she had died she had imagined the bright lights of heaven, its pearly gate, and golden roads. Yet, now the only thing keeping her sane, the only thing that gave her assurance that she hadn't been sent to hell instead, was the ability to see a person's soul. Namely Chrono's eternal spirit was what kept her going.

She could see him clearly lying next to her now. She had gotten used to this new vision. His chest was rising and falling as he slowly regained his composure. He had been in agony and Rosette knew that once he found out he had hurt her, he would be aching even more. She just wished she could truly see him right now. She wished she could look into his eyes so she could know his thoughts and comfort him somehow.

Right now, his whole body was various shades of a dark orangey red light that, so far, was unique to him alone. She could only surmise his spirit was a different color because he was a demon. Her own hand shined with a bright white light, which for some strange reason was brighter than her friends within the church, but they all were white just the same. It seemed angels were shades of yellow, if she was figuring this out right. Why Remington was so dim compared to Raphael she wasn't sure.

Rosette began to tremble as she finally allowed some tears to fall. The throbbing in her hand was becoming too painful to hide.

Chrono felt her move and instantly grew still and looked over to his companion as he pushed his own needs aside. Was she shivering?

"Rosette?"

She drew in a ragged breath and that's when alarms started going off in Chrono's head as he swallowed his own pain to focus all attention on his beloved companion.

"Rosette… what's wrong?"

Her pulse he could feel within her hand was thundering. He didn't know it was actually throbbing.

She sniffled. "I'm sorry… it's just that…" she didn't want to say it.

Chrono just laid there silently. He would never demand information from her. He knew she would share in her own time. Despite the non-existent contract, he never wanted power over her free will. He just wanted to be a comfort to her, but at the same time the tone in her voice was unraveling him.

She took another deep breath and laughed a little. "Now I don't blame you Chrono, but I'm pretty sure you've broken a few bones in my hand just a moment ago," she tried to say in a carefree attitude. "But that doesn't matter," she quickly added.

Within that second panic filled him as his hand fled from hers as if burned by the purest Holy Water on the face of the Earth. Rosette winced as his fingers pried away from hers. How long had they been holding hands? Days? Over a week?

"Rosette I'm so, so sorry," he said in desperation. He could break his hand off right then and there for such a sin if he knew it would atone for harming her.

She suddenly kicked him in the shin with full force surprising the hell out of him.

"AHH!"

"Now we're even," she said smugly though teary eyed. "Just be lucky I couldn't wallop you!"

Yet, for all her efforts, Chrono couldn't forgive himself that easily. She was still hurting. A broken hand wasn't easily mended for humans. Damn! How could he not realize he had been crushing her?

Rosette knew as well that he wouldn't be cheered up, but as she cradled her injured hand she really didn't know what she should do. Now that the contract between them was broken, what would the church do to Chrono? Especially now that they were separated along with a new injury caused by him? She didn't like the options she was coming up with.

Slowly Chrono began turning towards Rosette and propped himself up on his elbow which brought Rosette's attention back to him.

"Chrono?"

It was the first time he had made any move to sit up.

"Injuring you in anyway is unforgiveable," he began. "But please… let me see if I can make it right," he said nearly desperate to atone for his crime. "Give me your hand."

Rosette was hesitant. What could her partner have in mind? Yet, she had no fear in trusting him and offered her hand to him.

Chrono gently grasped her forearm with both hands. It had been so long since he had his own power to tap into he almost nearly forgot angels could heal. Even some fallen-angels, the really powerful ones, could still heal, as it was an ability given at their heavenly conception. However, he no longer could do such wonderful acts without pain or consequence. Most times a demon would offer such a miracle to a mortal, but at the high price of their souls. Chrono wanted nothing from her, but still couldn't eliminate the pain of resetting bones. Yet, there were other distractions he could still use.

Slowly Chrono moved his hands down her arm and brought her wrist to his mouth. Gently he placed his lips on her wrist and began to kiss her flesh and hoped she wouldn't clobber him for it.

Rosette's breath caught at the sudden warm feelings he caused within her. What the hell was he doing? Her heart hammered as he licked, and kissed, and sucked her skin. She barely noticed his hands sliding down into the palm of her hand and began applying pressure. As he set one bone, a painful shot radiated up her arm only to then be quickly masked by the pleasures of his mouth. His power was working. He was healing every broken bone, ripped tendon, and bruised blood vessel while distracting her as he did so. By the time he finished sucking on her fingertips her hand was fully healed.

"Any pain?" he faintly asked as he released her.

Rosette was in a fog, but managed to flex her shaky hand.

"Um no," she said finding herself parched for water. "The pain's all gone," she mumbled. Why didn't she ever realize he would know how to distract a girl like that!

A rare smirk crossed his face. "Good," he muttered as he slumped back against his pillow.

It took more than a few moments for Rosette to regain some of her good sense. "Wow, Chrono I didn't know you could heal!" she laughed nervously. "That's not exactly the same as Joshua's healing version, now is it?"

He didn't respond.

"Chrono?" she called over uneasily. She tapped his shoulder. Nothing. "Chrono!" she yelled in alarm. She sat up and checked to see if he was breathing. When she felt his breath across her hand, only then did she finally put two and two together. "Gez, you just have to go and scare the crap out of me," she chided. "You shouldn't have tried using so much power already."

Clearly he was out cold and she was just talking to herself, but it helped her calm down some. The thought of having to go through this madness alone was frightening to her when she was honest with herself.

Laying back down she worked to get her thoughts in order. She had a lot to think about and hours of free time to do it. Chrono eventually began to twitch in his dreams and Rosette couldn't help but thread her fingers back into his hand for comfort. There was no magic in holding hands, yet for them the bond of being together brought on emotional strengths no amount of magic could ever supply.

TBC...