Several thousand years after the banishment of Adam and Eve…
'I've missed you, my darling'.
Phanuel smiled at her beloved Archangel of Death.
They was sitting in amongst the flowers with her straddling his lap, basking in the afterglow of a passionate bout of lovemaking. The light spray of water from the plunge pool of the waterfall behind them covered their bare skin.
Azrael had spent the last four decades on Earth.
Ever since Cain had murdered his brother Able, killing had almost become the humans favourite pass-time and it certainly kept the Archangel busy. He would usually have to stay for long periods at a time, some of which could last several centuries.
But time was different in Heaven than what it was on Earth.
What was four decades for him was only an hour for her.
But she had felt his absence just as much as he did hers.
'As I have you, my love' she kissed him fiercely.
Their tongues danced together in a frenzy, her soft moans were captured by his mouth as she slipped his hard flesh back inside her.
The sounds of the waterfall and soothing songs of the birds faded away until all that was left was them.
The Garden of Eden was infinite and without end but this was there own little slice of paradise.
Where no one bothered them.
Where not one of their siblings could cast a judgmental glance their way.
Just them.
Or so they thought.
The two of them had become so engrossed in enjoying each other's bodies that they hadn't noticed the pair of eyes watching them from the shadows.
Present day…
The time had come.
Moloch was now at his full strength.
She had allowed Azrael to avoid her these past few days but she knew his resolve was weakening.
She wanted nothing more than to show him how much she truly, deeply loved him. To hold him and never let go. To remind him of who he used to be and who they were together.
But this had to be Azrael's decision.
She'd be lying if she said she wasn't scared. Back when he had been an Archangel, she would have had no doubts whatsoever that he would choose her. But with his anger, resentment and the horseman's influence over him, she wasn't so sure.
Even now he was fighting an internal battle, the Horseman versus the Archangel, though who would win she did not know.
'It's time to go' He said.
At least he sounded regretful.
She nodded, raising herself from the chair and followed him outside in silence.
Daredevil was waiting for them, his white coat was dazzling in contrast to the blackened sky.
'Azrael, wait' she said softly, placing a hand on his arm 'whatever happens tonight. Know that I love you and only you. No one can ever take that away from you'.
It didn't matter whether he believed her or not, it didn't matter if he chose her or the apocalypse, she needed him to know.
She reached up to place her lips on his own in a delicate kiss.
She stepped back, she swore he was close to tears but he said nothing as he climbed onto Daredevil.
'Phanuel, it has been a long time'. Moloch a sardonic smile crept on his face.
It seemed that all those years trapped in Purgatory had drawn out the ugliness that he had carried inside of him when he was an angel.
His once golden eyes were now black and soulless, his skin was leathery like that of a bat.
She scrunched her face as if she had smelt something awful, being in his presence made her skin crawl. Angels were designed to be repulsed by such tainted creatures, it was a natural primeval instinct their Father had given them.
'Unfortunately not long enough'. She said defiantly.
'Resist all you want, Archangel. You will not escape your fate this time'.
Azrael led her to the fourth white tree, the only tree that had yet to be burned. She could tell with every step they took that he was hesitant. His eyes betrayed his true feelings every time, he was fearful for her.
As her back hit the tree, the roots and vines came alive, encircling around her wrists tightly and pulling them over her head.
'Now observe, Phanuel as I destroy everything you care for. I shall send the first of my army and War'.
Hand in hand, she and Azrael walked through the Garden, observing the insects and wildlife. She enjoyed these simple pleasures as much as she did their lovemaking. She felt such pride in knowing that she belonged to him and he belonged to her. The knowledge that she was the only one who would ever know what it was like to feel his hand within her own, the feel of his lips moving against hers or how it felt to feel him moving inside her.
She looked up at him and couldn't stop the wide smile spreading on her face.
'What?' He smiled back.
'I love you'.
He picked her up and spun them around, she giggled blissfully in his ear.
'And you are my life'. He said, giving her a quick peck on the lips.
He placed her down gently, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
'Azrael!'
They both swiftly turned to where the shout had come from.
Their daydream coming to an abrupt end.
Standing before them was a lower angel from the Heavenly Host, their younger brother Moloch, brandishing an odd-looking sword.
She had never seen anything like it. The blade was a deep blue with some kind of golden inscription etched into it, the wording was very similar to Enochian, and the hilt was silver.
Where did he get a weapon like that?
'I've come to challenge you for Phanuel'.
What?
She couldn't believe what she had heard.
He had just challenged Death to a duel over her as if she was some kind of trophy to be won.
Had he gone mad?
He seriously didn't expect to actually win against Azrael, did he?
She expected Azrael to be furious, to tell Moloch to leave and never bother them again but instead she was surprised to hear him laugh wholeheartedly.
'You're not serious'.
'And you're not worthy of such a dissolute woman, she needs someone who can satisfy her needs'. Moloch threw back.
Azrael clenched his jaw, his entire body stiffened as he summoned his scythe, gripping the handle tightly.
'You dare speak of Phanuel like that in my presence?'
She grabbed his arm as he moved to take a step forward.
'Just leave, Moloch. We'll forget this happened as long as you go now'. She warned.
Azrael raised his eyebrows whilst she looked at him with an expression that said 'don't argue'.
'No. I will kill this undeserving fool and you shall belong to me'.
Henry was hunched over, winded from losing his armour to the sword of Methuselah.
Moloch's fury thickened in the atmosphere, sucking the oxygen from the air.
'Go. It is not done yet. You shall retrieve the sword'. He instructed Henry.
'But father, how? They have destroyed my armour. I am vulnerable'.
'You will delay them'.
'I don't understand. I am the second horseman. You would have me die?'
'There were horseman before you, there'll be horseman after. Be grateful for the chance to sacrifice yourself for my glory. Today begins my reign. You will find them at the church. Now go'.
'Father, I…'
Moloch turned, silently warning Henry to do as he was bid.
'I will obey'.
She had to admit she felt sympathy for Henry.
Standing before her was not the old warlock, Henry Parish nor was he the Horseman of War.
At that moment he was the frightened child, Jeremy Crane.
So desperate to find love and acceptance, that he sought it from a demon who was incapable of such things.
She watched him sadly as he stumbled through the trees in search of his parents.
'After all these years, Phanuel you will finally belong to me'. An arrogant smirk tugging on his lips.
'You're wrong, Moloch. You may have found some way to take me against my will but deep down you will always know, my heart belongs to Azrael'.
'I killed Azrael!' Moloch growled.
She physically flinched from hearing those words.
'I killed God's most feared angel and now he is my slave'.
It was against the laws of God to kill in his realm.
To all it was a sin, punishable in the most heinous of ways.
To all except Azrael.
Death had no such limitation.
Watching as Azrael and Moloch swung their weapons, hearing the clang of metal on metal made her gut coil.
She had never witnessed a death before and she was not looking forward to seeing one now. Even to a foul, callous creature like Moloch.
And yet she found herself not being able to turn away.
There was something amiss with Moloch's sword, it made the hairs at the back of her neck stand on end.
Moloch lunged for him but Azrael being an Archangel was much faster. He grabbed his right arm, hitting him hard in the ribs before using his leg to flip Moloch off balance.
She let out a breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding.
Azrael stood, towering above Moloch as he raised his weapon ready to strike…
She suddenly doubled over in agony, her right hand clutching her midriff as a sharp pain burned through her.
She had never felt anything like it.
It was as if she had been…stabbed.
A cold shiver ran down her spine when she realised this wasn't her pain.
'Azrael?'
He stumbled to face her, lowering his scythe.
Her heart stopped when she saw the blood that was covering his hand. Somehow Moloch was able to catch Azrael off guard and wound him.
'Azrael'. She cried as she rushed over to him, falling with him to the ground.
'It's going to be okay, my love'.
She placed her hand over his wound, her skin quickly immersing in his hot blood.
Why wasn't he healing?
He was Death, an immortal, there was no weapon known to angel nor man that could destroy him.
And yet, Moloch a lowly foot soldier in God's army had found one.
'Father will be here soon. He'll make everything right'.
She didn't know if she was trying to comfort him or trying to lie to herself.
Tears began spilling from her eyes.
She could feel his life slipping away with each passing moment.
'Phanuel'.
'No, don't speak, my love. Just save your energy'.
'I love you'.
She shook her head, trying desperately not to break down in front of him.
'Please don't say it like that…like you're never going to say it again'.
He smiled weakly, raising his hand to wipe her tears 'I…love…' his eyes began to slowly shut.
'Don't close your eyes, my love. Keep looking at me. Please don't leave me. Please Azrael' she begged incoherently.
She couldn't stop the cry that escaped her, she was sure the whole of Eden had hear her as she all but fell on top of him.
Nothing.
He was gone.
She could no longer hear his heartbeat, no longer feel the rise and fall of his chest, his soul had left his body.
And still she found herself pleading with him to stay.
Was this denial?
'Please Azrael, please, please. Don't leave me'. She cried hysterically.
She pressed her ear to his chest, holding onto him tightly as her tears soaked through his clothes.
She didn't know how long she had been crying over his body. Time seemed to had stopped. So consumed by her grieve, she wasn't aware of anyone around her until she felt a pair of arms around her.
She looked up to see her brother, Gabriel.
'Come with me, Phanuel'.
'No, Gabriel. Please, I can't leave him'.
'Azrael's gone, sister'. He tried to reason as he prised her off the deceased Archangel.
'No, please Gabriel don't'. She tried to struggle against his hold but in her grievous state she found she had no strength to fight back as he all but dragged her away.
Looking back she could just make out, through her tear soaked eyes, Moloch being held down by Michael. Her brothers and sisters surrounded the scene, some looked horrified, others disgusted by what Moloch had done.
'Azrael!' She screamed, looking upon him one last time before Gabriel pulled her further into the Garden, the trees blocking her line of sight until she could no longer see him.
'You may have killed Death, Moloch. But you can never enslave him'.
Moloch laughed menacingly.
Approaching her in a similar fashion to a lion stalking its prey.
'Let us find out. Beg him. Beg your lover to save you now'.
He grabbed her face roughly, his sharp claws digging into her skin before turning her head sharply towards the Horseman of Death.
'I said beg!'
'Please Father. Please bring him back' she begged through her sobs.
She was on her knees before her Father.
Not out of respect or fealty but simple because her legs could no longer carry the weight of her quivering body.
Her eyes were red and sore from her tears.
'No Phanuel'.
Her Father was on his throne with Michael and Gabriel standing either side of him.
The light that radiated off of was so bright it would blind that of a human but to her it was dull, just like the colours in Eden had lost their vibrancy and the flowers had lost their sweet vagrancies.
Without Azrael, all the beauty of God's creations had disappeared.
'But he's your son. Your Archangel of Death. And my…' she held her tongue, it probably wasn't the best time to say Azrael was her lover even though it was common knowledge to everyone in the room. 'I know you disapprove Father, but I love him'.
'This isn't a punishment, my daughter. But Azrael's time has come to an end, his essence still remains so that death may continue but as far as his consciousness is concerned. I'm afraid that's gone'.
'Please. Please reconsider, Father. You can bring him back. I'll do anything, please'.
'No! That's enough, Phanuel. I do not wish to hear anymore about this'.
'Then kill me'.
Her Father blinked, trying to take in what she had just requested.
'What?'
'Kill me. I don't want to live without him'. She pleaded.
The pain from his absence was too much to bare. Without his presence, it was like she was only half a person.
Is this what the humans felt when their loved ones died?
How did they bear it?
'You will stay in Eden and continue with the task of…'
'Lucifer was right about you'.
She could see her Father's eyes twitch.
The air around them grew thick and cold.
She knew mentioning her elder brother's name was dangerous territory around him but she no longer cared.
Even both of her brothers stiffened at Lucifer's name.
'He was right. You are cruel and unjust. You speak of love and compassion and yet when we do just that, you damn us for it'.
Her Father glared at her.
That statement had certainly captured his attention.
She had never spoken to her Father in this way before.
It was as if her grief and pain were speaking for her.
She wanted someone to feel her pain, to understand the agony she was in.
She briefly wondered if this is what Lucifer had felt when he and his followers charged the gates of Heaven.
She shook her head softly, squeezing her eyes shut.
She didn't want to become like her brother.
Unlike him she still knew the difference between right and wrong.
'I'm sorry, Father' she whispered.
'Gabriel, take your sister back to the Garden'.
She didn't utter a word.
She didn't even cast a fleeting glance towards the horseman.
Instead she defiantly kept her eyes on Moloch.
'Seems your precious Archangel has forgotten you'. He mocked when the horseman made no attempt to move. 'Now he is nothing more than an instrument for the apocalypse'.
She could feel his breath on her skin and it made her recoil in disgust.
He released his bruising hold, bringing that same clawed hand above her face to slice her left palm.
She grimaced but not from the pain.
It was from the realisation that perhaps she had been wrong. Maybe Azrael was too far gone for her to reach, warped and twisted into something unholy that even he could not escape.
She watched Moloch do the same to his hand.
He wanted to perform a binding ritual, to make her his unwilling bride and to add insult to injury, he wanted to do it in front of Azrael.
No doubt Moloch was getting some kind of sick satisfaction from it. This was his way of showing the former Archangel that after all this time he had finally won his prize.
Lucifer and Gabriel had always been her favourite brothers. Not that she would ever admit that she had favourites to her other siblings, she wouldn't want them to think she loved them any less but Lucifer and Gabriel were similar in a lot of ways.
They were both fierce, righteous and strong but they also had a soft, kind and loving side to them. They were never cruel and never thought themselves above anyone else, human or angel.
Unfortunately, it sadden her that she could no longer say those things about Lucifer.
But out of her many brothers and sisters, Gabriel had been the only one to comfort her as best he could after Azrael's death. The others had avoided her, even Michael had not sought her out.
And in a way she understood why.
When they had lost Lucifer, their Father had commanded them to act as if he had never existed.
And living amongst immortals, she guessed her siblings simply didn't know how to act when one of them died.
But still, they were family and families were supposed to look after one another, right?
So why was she being treated as though she was a leper?
'Sister?'
She looked up to find Gabriel staring down at her in concern.
She had found two boulders to wedge herself in between, she wanted to hide herself away from everyone which seemed a bit contradictory since she begrudged her brothers and sisters not coming to see her.
Gabriel squeezed himself into the tight space, struggling slightly to crouch down beside her, he moved to hold her close to him as a fresh new wave of tears started rolling down her cheeks.
'I miss him so much, Gabriel'. She cried, leaning her head on his shoulder.
'I know but Azrael would not want you to continue on like this. And now, with Moloch banished to Purgatory, maybe it's time for you to move on'.
To anyone else his statement might of sounded cold but she knew otherwise. Gabriel was too sweet and gentle to be so unfeeling.
'I know you're trying your best to console me, Gabriel and I love you for it but you don't understand. It feels as though someone has ripped my soul from my body and torn it in half. Everywhere I look, I see him and I'm reminded that he's never coming back. I can't stay here'.
'What are you saying?'
'I'm leaving Eden'.
'You mustn't. Father will punish you'.
She laughed humourlessly.
'And what would he do to me? The worst thing that could possibly happen to me has already happened'.
'Phanuel, I beg you to reconsider'. He sounded desperate, it would of broken her heart to hear him so, if it wasn't already broken.
'I'm sorry, brother. But there's nothing you can say or do that can dissuade me'.
So this was to be her fate.
To become some plaything for this demon and to be brainwashed into thinking she had chosen him of her own free will.
And she would forget about Azrael.
There had been many times, in all her years alone, where she had wished to forget about him. To forget the pain and emptiness she had felt everyday since his death. But now it was about to become a reality and she realised how stupid she had been to ever wanted such a thing.
She could feel the heat of her blood pooling in her palm, her heart hammered against her breast as Moloch moved closer.
His hand a foot away in lined with hers, she turned to look upon Azrael for the first time since she was tied to the tree. She hadn't before this because she hadn't wanted to influence his decision but she wanted to see him as the man she loved one last time before she forgot.
But he wasn't there.
Her eyes darted, trying to find his silhouette in the darkness only to find nothing.
She was shocked to hear something suddenly swing through the air, like metal slicing through flesh. She looked back at Moloch, he had stopped in his tracks with a confound expression on his face before his head fell from his shoulders.
His body dropped heavily to the ground revealing Azrael behind him.
His breathing was laboured.
He held his axe, looking like he was prepared to strike again if Moloch so much as twitched.
'Azrael?'
He looked up, the rage in his eyes instantly turned to that of concern. He marched up to her, swinging his blade to cut her free of her bonds.
Her arms fell to her sides, her mouth slightly agape as she just stared at him in astonishment for a few moments before she flung herself at him, locking her arms around his neck.
He had chosen her.
Feeling his arms wrap around her waist possessively, she couldn't help but silently cry, her tears rolled down her cheeks as she breathed in his scent.
He pulled back softly, bringing up her left hand to inspect it.
The cut had already healed into a white scar, one that she would carry forevermore.
'It's okay, my love' she placed her hand on his cheek 'I'm okay' she assured him.
Guiding his lips to hers, not that he needed much encouraging, their mouths moved in sync.
This went on for several minutes, both of them wanting to lose themselves in each other until the sound of footsteps crunching through the fallen leaves woke them from their abstraction.
Standing before them were the two witnesses, Katrina, Jenny and Henry.
All of whom looked bewildered.
'What happened?' Abbie asked, looking at what little remained of Moloch.
'Azrael killed Moloch'.
She walked to stand in front of Abbie, placing her hand on top of the bullet wound on Abbie's shoulder. A white light emitted from her hand for a brief moment, healing Abbie's injury in an instant.
'Thank you'.
'You're welcome' she smiled softly.
'Henry?' Katrina suddenly called out.
But the Horseman of War and the sword of Methuselah were gone.