Chapter Twenty- Eight: The Angels made War
"Your Prince has gone mad."
Melanie Reyes narrowed her eyes and turned back, glaring at the pale demon that followed her who was trailing behind in disgust of the withering building. "You would know something of madness, wouldn't you, Silas?"
"Of course I do." Silas returned, pulling cobwebs off his coat. "I am Mad Malfoy, aren't I? That's what you and your vipers at court are whispering into the ears of my Lord and your Prince. I've lost my bite, and my mind; I no longer have the power or wits to strike fear into those witless fools. You say I've become fat on my greed, but I warn you, Melanie…there's still fight in me yet."
"No one believes that anymore, Silas."
"Silence, both of you…" Whispered Lucius from ahead of Melanie, casting his eyes fearfully to the person in front of him; the Dark Prince was crouched against the doorframe, staring into a darkened room where Saint Michael and his informants plotted and planned in this abandoned, derelict cathedral.
"Let him hear us." Silas said, angrily.
Lucius lowered his voice. "The Prince trusts you, more so then he does this woman. Do not lose that."
Melanie bit down a comment, staring between the men, then to her lover. Lucius was right, Severus' devotion to Silas was blind and unchanging. Nothing short of a blatant betrayal would ever shake Severus trust in his friend, his brother and confidant.
No matter, knowing Silas, that betrayal would soon come.
A low, methodical laugh came from the Prince and the other Death Eaters turned their heads in rapt attention to the scene. Inside the room, there was a flurry of motion as the occupants scrambled for escape. Melanie stepped ahead of the brothers and threw herself into the room, following Severus.
She felt the old, rotting wood creak and moan under her weight and whispered for them to keep. Surrounded on all sides by old shaded glass, what little light that could be seen through the panes was subdued and seemed only to heighten the feeling of confusion that covered the place.
To her surprise, three men in Death Eater masks were surrounding one small figure in the center, calling one to another in panicked voices, "We have to get her out!"
"No," Shouted the man in the center. A charm had been used to warp the voice and a hood hid the wearer's features. "No, this isn't time, every man for himself."
"Ah, come on! Where are you going?" The Prince shouted in return, "All this trouble to find you…enlisting the help of Seers, Necromancers and even the Yellow Pages; stay and have a drink with me!"
"Get out of here," The figure ordered, pulling two wands and throwing hexes after Melanie, seeming to know on instinct that the Prince would dive to protect her. He took that chance to push two men out behind him. "Blanc, Noir, get out!"
"Follow them," Severus shouted to Lucius and Silas.
The brothers took off after the shadows, leaving Melanie and him to the others. Michael was still focusing all of his wandwork on Melanie who was barely keeping up. Severus had to fight against both the masked Death Eater and give Melanie backup.
"Rouge," Michael hissed. "Get out. Now."
"I won't leave you!" He shouted in return.
"It's not your choice!"
"Yes, it is."
Severus noticed Rouge's breaking voice and felt his heart twist momentarily. The man had the same build and passions he had once possessed, making this a fight something out of a memory. Each move, each action he preformed, and reacted to was seamless as if they both had practiced together to achieve this melodious dance. The strength behind Rouge's actions was young, and complete in its devotion to his holy cause.
If Rouge had taken his name from a younger version of Severus, he was doing a damn good job of mimicking him. Young and empowered by his cause, this Rouge was pushing against his own fear, fatigue and injuries to fight the undefeatable Dark Prince.
He was willing to go to his death for this small man who was looking for a quick exit, this St. Michael that was barely worthy of the child's devotion.
It didn't seem real or even feasible.
"What are you fighting for?" Snape asked.
The man looked up, in his eyes a look of confusion. "…for a memory."
"It can't be worth it."
"You thought it was."
"And what would you know of my thoughts?"
"I know your heart. I know you very soul, better then you do…" The man said, pushing forward. "You aren't like this, you know. You aren't a murderer. I don't know how but they've made you believe that, and that you're one of them but your not! You're an Auror…always will be."
Snape faltered as he fought, transfixed by this man, both scared and in awe of him. How could he have known what Snape had whispered into the darkness, what sins and fears were wrapped up inside of him…and say what Severus desperately wanted to hear?
That he was still an Auror, that he could still make things right.
No, he thought to himself, it was too dangerous to hope. It was too close it seemed. If he believed Rouge, believed him and was betrayed, then what? He couldn't bear the idea of losing Hecate again. He couldn't fathom losing that part of his soul again.
That would be too cruel, too much; even for him, the mighty Morning Star.
"My Prince!"
Melanie's voice broke through his thoughts, turning his full attention to that object of his love. She crumpled to the floor before his eyes, limp and pale from whatever hex Michael had preformed. Severus' eyes flew to St. Michael who was backing towards a window before darting towards Melanie.
Snape squatted beside her, checking for signs of life. Her faint pulse gave him waves of relief and joy.
He couldn't lose her. She was the only thing that kept the lost of Hecate at bay. Only she could fight away the demons of his nightmares.
"Don't worry, Beauty." He heard St. Michael call. "Your beloved isn't dead. I wouldn't take what you have stolen from me away from you…"
"Is that was this is about?" He shouted, never looking up. "You're trying to get me back from killing some girlfriend."
"You did a lot more then kill my lover, you took my life. I won't rest till I have yours."
"Why not end it now then? Kill me."
"You can't." Rouge was speaking to Michael. His voice lowered and held the weight of intimate knowledge that he seemed to believe would sway the Angel. "You can't hurt him. He still has a chance…"
"It's not like he deserves one." Michael countered.
"That's why he needs it."
"I could end this war," The Saint countered, mainly speaking in hypothesis. "Right now, with one curse that could kill both the Prince and the Lady."
Snape turned, looking at Michael. Both wands were posed on him and he knew somewhere in his gut that he wouldn't be able to block the curses if sent at him. He was completely at the mercy of this man. He pulled Melanie closer to him, holding her in such a way that his body would shelter any curse sent towards them.
"I love you, Melanie." He whispered. "Beyond hope."
Michael stopped, tilted his head, and made a sound that Severus couldn't decipher. He lowered his wands, and asked. "Do you mean it?"
"With every part of my being."
"So did I. Once."
And with that said, Michael threw himself out of the window. The shattering glass glittered in the full moonlight like a heavenly light that surrounded the figure. Something told him, that if he went to the window and looked out all he would see is the broken glass. Michael was too clever to die.
"Why did you defend me?" He asked Rouge.
"It would have been kind of hard not to." Rouge said, walking forward, hands going to his mask and removing it. "You see, I was protecting myself."
Severus looked up and stared at his shadow.
The soft hazel eyes of Jean Andre Lafayette were looking into his own with a youthful faith that Severus knew must have belonged to him once, another lifetime ago.
"You better go." He whispered.
Andre shook his head. "Not without you."
"It's too late for me."
"I refuse to believe that."
Noises from the far staircase told them both that Silas and Lucius were returning. Alex Rouge turned, narrowing his eyes and whispering. "It's time to go, Severus."
"I can't leave."
"Don't you see you don't belong here?"
Severus looked down and stroked Melanie's hand. "Don't you see I'm right where I belong?"
Jean was about to say something else but shrunk back as he heard Silas' laughter. He looked back at Snape once more, his face twisted into pain and disbelief. He rose, replaced his mask and stole away into the darkness.
In his arms, Melanie moaned and sat up as Silas and Lucius entered. She looked up at Severus, debating on telling him that she had heard every word between them. She had just heard Severus betray Voldemort by letting both Michael and a Hecate Auror escape. He knew the costs, but had taken that gamble.
Her mind was swimming. She couldn't understand Severus' actions. Didn't he know what he had now? He was Prince of mighty kingdom, how dare he risk that for sentiment's sake. How dare he risk all that she had given him for the memory of Hecate and his time in uniform…what if…
Silas' small, contained smile told her that her fears were realized. Just as she had seen and heard Severus' betrayal; he had.
Silas straightened his cloak and crossed to Severus. "My Prince?" His voice was soft and low, and welcoming. "Let me take the lady to Ardennes. You go home and rest…you are tired and need it." He stroked Severus' hair, gently and smiled as the Prince curled into his embrace.
"Yes," Snape murmured, "I want to sleep."
The Prince stood rigidly, almost painfully it seemed. Silas wrapped his arms around Melanie and watched him leave.
"There," She heard him whisper. "There goes your lover to his death."
Melanie inhaled, and told Lucius to leave. The younger of the Malfoy brother raised a brow that only arched higher when Silas told him to listen to the lady. Silas could smell a woman plotting was more then a little curious about what Melanie would do now. As Lucius left, Melanie dropped her hand down and traced the inside of Silas' thigh.
"Come to my bedroom tonight." She told him. "I'm sure we can arrange something."
Silas looked at her as she walked away from him, his eyes running hungrily over her body. "I don't think there's anything to discuss, milady. Severus just let two enemies of Voldemort go free. That's a deadly sin."
"There's always something to discuss, Silas." She whispered, turning back and meeting his eyes. "For instance, the price of your silence…" She began to slid her coat off her shoulders, revealing the scant dress underneath. "I know you've wanted everything the Prince has possessed, because it is and was your rightful bounty." She licked her lips and smiled. "Well? Come take what's yours."
Silas watched her, smiled one of his smiles that made the world love him and straightened up. "In time," He told her, simply. "I will take everything that was taken from me back…but not a moment before." He brushed passed her with all the prose and poison that had made him a master among Death Eaters and made the Malfoy both revered and hated. All the venom and the styling that his family had been renowned for was evident in his walk. At that moment, he was back to what he always was meant to be: the lord of all creation.
"Lucius!" He called, as he walked down the stairs, knowing his brother would be waiting for him. "Call Ezra, tell him we have work to do."
"You mean to make war against the Prince, don't you?" Lucius asked quietly.
Silas said, "I made him, I can destroy him, Son of the Morning or not-he still bleeds. We've been the pawns of angels long enough, brother, time to let the dragons have their fun."