Devery shifted the shell-shocked boy on her hip, grimly gripping her gun tighter and walked faster through the streets, moving as swiftly through darkened streets as she could to avoid the 8-balls that had started flooding the streets through the open gates.
She ran up the stairs of the huge building where Claire Riesen and others lived, shooting any 8-balls that got too close, not caring about anything but trying to get to safety. She climbed the stairs, her lungs burning with every flight that took her higher, sweat running down her brow, her thighs aching with each step.
When she stumbled out onto the 30th floor she leaned against the door, closing her eyes in relief at the touch of cool metal against her skin. Taking a deep breath she took off down the hall and began searching for Claire, Alex, Noma…anyone really.
Guards lay dead outside a large suite and she felt a deep sense of unease creep through her as she walked forward, clutching the boy tighter to her, her gun grip sweaty against her palm. Pushing the door open she walked in slowly, peering around cautiously, her stomach dropping when she saw a figure lying prone on the floor.
Hurrying over she let out a low noise of distress when she saw it was Claire, lying in a pool of blood, her body still and unmoving. She carefully set the little boy down a few feet away and knelt beside Claire, reaching out to feel for a pulse, already knowing what she would find.
She flinched at the feeling of Claire's cool skin beneath her fingers, rocking back on her heels, her eyes sliding shut in sorrow. She needed to figure out what to do now…her mind raced and she ran her fingers through her hair, tugging on it, trying to figure out where she should go next.
After a long moment she stood and ran a hand across her cheek, wiping away the stray tear that had fallen. She needed to find Alex and Noma. Gathering up the boy in her arms, she carried him to the bedroom in the adjacent room and laid him down on the bed, stroking his hair gently and smiled softly, "Hush now darling, sleep," she whispered.
His eyes grew heavy, his thumb in his mouth as he fell asleep. Devery watched him for a few minutes, smiling fondly, her heart aching. It was such a painful dichotomy, the sweetness of a child sleeping peacefully while the city raged and roiled around them, madness and death destroying everything.
As she shut the bedroom door behind her she prayed that the child would remain safe without her there to watch over him. Running down the stairs she headed for the streets, guns in hand, prepared for any eventuality.
As she ran through the streets she saw 8-balls running towards a set of steel doors that were at least five feet across and were hanging open, set into the ground like a root cellar. From within she could hear people shouting and guns firing and screams of agony piercing the night.
Devery plunged into the madness, firing at the 8-balls, taking out as many as she could before Alex and Noma came into sight. She cried out in relief and ran faster, embracing Alex tightly, tears welling out of her control. A sob wrenched out of her as he lifted her off her feet and whispered her name, his arms tight around her.
"Oh god it's good to see you," she murmured as he set her down, smiling as she pulled back. "What the hell are all these 8-balls doing in the city?" she demanded, waving behind her.
"They're Julian's army that Gabriel summoned from New Delphi. We're barely holding on to the city," Alex informed her, frowning as the sound of more 8-balls screaming approached. He glanced over her shoulder, his frown deepening.
"I'm going to evict them and any that get past, you take care of, got it?" he ordered, stepping around her. Devery nodded and drew her guns, readying herself as the 8-balls approached. Noma stood beside them, gun in hand, prepared for battle as the 8-balls rushed down the tunnel, screaming madly.
Alex stepped forward, his markings glowing as he spoke the words to expel the 8-balls from the human bodies. Screaming and thrashing they fell to the ground, the spirits within them emerging and dissipating like smoke in the wind.
Devery kept her guns trained on the fallen bodies, waiting to see if they would rise as 8-balls again. Long tense moments passed before the first person began to stir, moaning softly. She slowly holstered her guns as Alex stepped forward, helping people to their feet.
She quickly went to his side and began checking on their vital signs, healing those who needed attention desperately. Surprisingly she didn't feel any drain on her powers like she normally did, she felt strong, invincible.
She wondered if it was because she was a child of Lazarus, or simply because she had recently risen from the dead again. Whatever the reason, she continued to heal people until they were all on their feet and walking away.
As they guided people out into the city to fight Devery noticed Noma standing to the side, her eyes glazed and distant, head cocked as though she was listening to some distant music. Frowning, Devery edged over and laid a hand gently on Noma's arm, her frown deepening when the other woman failed to react at her touch.
"Alex, can you come here a sec?" she called, her gaze remaining on Noma's impassive face. A moment later Alex was at her side, frowning, reaching out to Noma as well.
Before he could touch her, her lips parted and she began to chant in a foreign language.
Alex laughed nervously, "Nomes, what's wrong?" he asked.
"It is time," Noma chanted in English one last time before her eyes lost their unfocused look. She turned to look at Alex her brow furrowing for a moment.
A deep sigh issued from her and she smiled sadly, "I took an oath to protect you Alex, but when I gave up my wings, I gave up too much. I needed to be whole again."
Alex and Devery shared an incredulous look and Alex smiled hesitantly, "What do you mean Nomes?" he asked, sounding worried.
Devery's fingers twitched towards her weapons, Noma's tone making her uneasy. At the beatific smile that spread across Noma's face she inhaled sharply, nothing good could come from a look like that.
Noma shrugged her shoulders gently and a moment later a pair of brilliant white wings emerged from her back, glowing softly. She peered at them for a moment and then smiled at Alex and Devery, "Aren't they beautiful?" she murmured.
Alex stared at her in shock, "My god" he whispered in horror, "What have you done Nomes?"
Noma smiled back, "He can save you Alex, he can save us all."
Devery's eyes narrowed in suspicion, "Who? Who is going to save us?" she demanded.
Noma smiled, "Lucifer."
Gabriel stumbled and collapsed to his knees, holding himself up with one hand as Michael grabbed his other arm, looking desperately up at the Prophet.
The man smiled wryly, "Hmm, he doesn't look so good," he murmured.
"Please, Lucifer had many talents, one of them healing. Does he still?" Michael pled.
The Prophet shrugged nonchalantly and smirked, watching Gabriel writhe in agony.
"Lucifer believed in a balance, in the scales of all things, and the give and take of life! He exists, he has a second chance because of me. That is a debt owed, and I expect it to be paid. If he does not, I will destroy you and everything in this town," Michael threatened, stepping toward the Prophet, his eyes blazing with anger.
The Prophet closed his eyes for a moment before nodding and opening them, his eyes blazing with power as he crouched down and lifted Gabriel up. Gabriel cried out in shock and agony as flames burst out on his body, licking over his skin, eating away at the darkness within him.
Michael tried to rush toward him, a guttural cry of horror erupting from him at the sight of his brother, but the Prophet pushed him back, preventing him from getting close. He watched in horror as Gabriel screamed in agony, rolling and flailing as he tried to escape the flames that engulfed him.
Michael sobbed, watching his brother die. When Gabriel stilled and the flames fluttered out, he whirled on the Prophet, his rage overwhelming. "You killed him!" he screamed, shaking the other man, raising a fist to strike him.
The Prophet shoved him back and a moment later Michael heard a loud gasp from behind him. Whirling around he stared in shock at Gabriel who was slowly rising from the ground, his limbs unsteady. Michael quickly went to his brother's side and helped him stand, glaring at the Prophet.
"Lucifer owed you a debt for preserving his body. Consider it paid," the Prophet murmured.
Gabriel clung to Michael, "I'm sorry Michael, the darkness, I wouldn't have…"
Michael nodded, "I know."
Gabriel turned to the Prophet, "How is he being reborn?"
"That's not your concern."
"Faith!" Michael declared, suddenly understanding.
"What?"
"The people of Mallory, somehow their faith is healing him." He waved a hand around the empty town, explaining. "In Mallory, every five years, a volunteer takes the secrets and sins of this town into their heart and then sacrifices their life to protect this place because that's what you told them. But it's a lie, just like when you told them the voice they hear belongs to Father."
Gabriel nodded slowly, "The sacrifices."
"What greater act of faith is there than giving one's life? The sacrifices are healing him, helping him to rebuild his body," the Prophet murmured with a faint smile.
"You told Noma to bring Alex here. Why?" Michael demanded.
The Prophet smirked, "To heal Lucifer, of course. He needs a greater sacrifice than the people in Mallory can give him. He needs the last pure heart."
Michael and Gabriel exchanged a worried look and with a shared thought, an ability that came from eons of shared brotherhood, the lunged at the Prophet, Michael drawing his swords as Gabriel wrestled the Prophet's arms behind his back.
With a fluid movement Michael drove his sword into the Prophet's chest, piercing his beating heart, watching as the man's eyes went wide with shock and agony. A cry of distress slipped from his lips before Michael tore his sword from his body with a wet sound, Gabriel stepping back and releasing him to slump to the floor.
The brothers stared down at the fallen Prophet for a moment before Michael turned and walked from the church that housed far too many dark memories from the recent past for his liking. Gabriel followed after a moment, tossing a candelabrum onto the floor before he shut the doors behind them, the flames eagerly eating at the wood of the church.
"We need to go back to Vega. Alex won't be safe there with Noma," Michael murmured, spreading his wings and shaking his head in frustration.
"I'm sorry Michael. Truly," Gabriel apologized, running a hand through his hair as he frowned at Michael, worrying for the first time in a long time if his brother would forgive him. Everything that he had seen and done while under the influence of the wrath had been reprehensible, he wasn't sure he was deserving of forgiveness.
"We don't have time for apologies. Let's go," Michael ordered, leaping into the sky, his wings flapping hard to carry him back to Vega. Gabriel spread his wings and lunged after his brother, wincing at the weakness he felt despite having been recently healed.
He hoped that Vega was still standing when they got back.
He wanted to see Devery and make things right.
If his memory was correct and hadn't been warped by the wrath, she had looked at him with some sort of fondness, as though she had been happy to see him. The idea that she might have any kind of feelings for him made his heart beat faster and his wings flap harder, eager to be back by her side.
He had to know if he could make things right again.
He had to try.
Devery's brows shot up in shock, "Lucifer?" she asked incredulously, shooting a questioning glance at Alex before turning her gaze back to Noma, not wanting to leave her with time to attack.
Noma tilted her head as though listening to something, a frown crossing her face. She nodded and then pulled her wings in, "I'm sorry Alex, I have to go," she murmured regretfully. With a powerful flap of her wings she spun and flew out of the tunnel, buffeting them with air as she disappeared.
Alex stared in shock at the empty tunnel where Noma had once stood, unable to believe what had just transpired. Noma had been his best friend, confidant, and lover for years, and now she had betrayed him worse than anyone had before.
He sucked in a sharp breath, feeling like he had been stabbed in the gut. When Devery laid a hand on his shoulder he flinched, tearing his gaze away from the blank space that his best friend had once occupied.
She smiled softly at him, "I'm so sorry Alex, but we need to go. We have to defend the city," she encouraged. Alex nodded numbly, shouldering his gun before turning and striding up the tunnel, leaving Devery to stare after him, her heart aching for him.
Waving a hand at the men and women gathered in the tunnel behind her, she followed after Alex, squaring her shoulders in determination. What lay ahead was a grim battle for the soul of the city.
Devery cried out in pain as an 8-ball kicked her wounded thigh, sending shockwaves of pain through her so overwhelming it forced her to her knees. The woman grinned manically at her and lifted the jagged, rusty blade above her head, ready to bring it down on her, when automatic gunfire tore into her, shredding her torso.
Devery lunged to the side, covering her head as the bullets zinged passed, heart pounding. When silence fell she lifted her arms, glancing up and glared at the man standing nearby.
"You don't just use automatic fire when there's another person close to your target! You could have killed me!" she shouted, crawling to her feet, wincing as her wounded thigh gushed blood and pulsated with agony.
The man rolled his eyes, "You're welcome," he muttered before turning away towards other targets.
Devery seethed with anger, limping towards a nearby house and leaned against the wall, ripping off the bottom of her shirt to tie around her leg as a temporary tourniquet. She shuddered in pain as she tightened the material, gritting her teeth to bite back a cry of pain.
It had been hours of fighting back against the 8-balls that had invaded the city, and they were finally gaining the upper hand. Alex performed mass exorcisms, she healed those that needed it, killed those that she had to, and had far too many wounds to show for all of it.
Her powers were starting to wane and she was growing weary, aching, and tired of battle. She closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath, wishing she was anywhere but here.
"Hello love, taking a nap?"
Devery's pulse skipped a beat at the familiar sarcastic lilt, her eyes flying open to find Gabriel standing before her with a wide smile on his face. She smirked back, "Yea, it's such a lovely night out, so peaceful, you know?" she joked, waving a hand at the chaos surrounding them.
Gabriel snorted softly and shook his head, his eyes running over her, concern filling them swiftly. She had a dark bruise on her cheek, a large cut on her brow, and a bound wound across her thigh that looked like it was bleeding through the bandage.
"You look like shit," he murmured, stepping closer, tilting his chin down to examine her face more closely. Up close she looked tired, no, weary, that was the right word. The laugh that lit her face at his words momentarily erased the lines of exhaustion, though the blood and bruises remained.
"Oh yea? And here I thought I looked like a princess! Damn, I'm devastated." She shook her head and laughed faintly before running a hand through her hair and retying it, her smile fading. "The city is almost retaken, we'll be done by dawn, now that you and Michael are back," she murmured.
Gabriel nodded and frowned softly, "You should go rest. You've done enough tonight," he encouraged.
Devery lifted a brow at his gentle words, an unexpected rush of pleasure shooting through her at his concern, "I'm fine and Alex still needs me. I have to make sure he's safe," she explained sighing softly.
Gabriel bit back a harsh retort, frustration flooding him at her stubbornness. He couldn't exactly say he was surprised, she had shown an iron will since he had met her. Frankly it was one of the things he liked most about her.
Sighing deeply he shook his head, "Fine, but I'm coming with you. Where is the delightful Chosen One?" he drawled, his tone dry.
Devery smiled faintly and stood away from the wall, grimacing as her wound ached fiercely. "He's trying to get the city gates closed; he's got a large group of people recently freed from the spirits that were occupying them with him." She took a few steps forward and grunted, her wound pulsing and gushing.
Her head swam, black spots appearing in her vision, and she swayed, her leg buckling under her. Gabriel wrapped an arm around her waist, lifting her easily into his arms, shaking his head at her weak protests.
"Shut it love, you've done enough for one night," he murmured, spreading his wings and lifting them into the night sky. His shoulders burned at the extra weight, his body still recovering from the healing he had undergone.
Devery slapped Gabriel's shoulder, "Goddammit Gabriel, put me down," she ordered.
Gabriel laughed, "Are you sure about that love, it's an awfully long way down," he murmured.
Devery glanced over her shoulder and swallowed hard, they were probably a thousand feet up in the air. She unconsciously grabbed onto Gabriel's shoulders tighter and nodded, "Fine. But, can you please put me down somewhere near Alex?" she asked tightly.
She was uncomfortable this close to him, her body felt flushed and she didn't want to think about why.
"Absolutely not. Now hush, you're growing annoying," he murmured, smirking down at her.
Devery glared at him before tucking her head down and watching the city fly by. Minutes later Gabriel banked to the left and flew lower and lower until he had landed on the balcony of her rooms in Michael's tower.
Pushing the door open with one hand, he carried her inside and gently set her on the couch, ignoring her pained glare. "Stay here and rest," he ordered, turning back towards the patio door.
Devery sighed deeply, watching him go, guilt washing through her for being snippy. She shifted on the couch and winced as her wound ached again, "Gabriel, wait," she called.
He paused and half turned, moonlight turning his tanned face ghostly white.
Devery swallowed hard, nearly choking on the words, "I'm sorry I was rude. Thank you for bringing me here." She watched him as he processed her words, his face impassive. After a moment he nodded, the corners of his mouth turning up.
"Of course love. Heal yourself and get some rest."
Devery nodded, "Don't do anything stupid," she murmured, a ghost of a smile on her lips.
Gabriel laughed softly as he stepped outside, spreading his wings and staring up at the moon. "Can't make any promises love." He turned briefly and smirked at her before leaping off the balcony, his powerful wings carrying him away in moments.
Devery sank back against the couch, her sweaty hair plastered to her forehead as her eyes slid shut. Her powers were weakened from hours of extended use, but she had enough left to heal herself. As her skin knitted back together she grimaced, the sensation unpleasant to say the least. The feeling of her muscles sewing back together was equally awful, and when her fractured rib bone began to heal, she nearly passed out.
When she finished, spots of light danced before her eyes and she felt like throwing up. She shivered, her body going into shock at the trauma that had been done to her and had been repaired.
Trembling, she pulled weakly at the blanket on the back of the couch and tugged it onto her, her eyes sliding shut again in relief. Within moments she had passed out, her mind and body unable to take any more.
Gabriel and Michael landed beside Alex, their higher angel abilities keeping the 8-balls at bay while Alex exorcised them en masse. The stragglers turned tail, running through the gates and abandoning the city to the archangels.
A cheer went up among the citizens of Vega and they moved quickly to shut the gates, working together to secure them with nearby cars until the electrical grid could be repaired.
Michael stood by Alex, watching his young friend carefully. His face was a mask of hollow sorrow, disappointment, and anger. An occasional smile would flash on his face when someone would congratulate him, but it would quickly disappear when they were gone.
Michael laid a gentle hand on Alex's shoulder, "Why don't you go get some rest?" he encouraged quietly.
Alex looked up at him blankly before shaking his head, "I'll stay here and help people. I can't rest right now," he murmured. He stepped away and began helping people move rubble out of the streets and from their homes, ignoring the awed looks people gave him, knowing they were working alongside the Chosen One.
Michael sighed softly, worrying for Alex.
"Stop worrying mom, you'll get frown lines," Gabriel taunted, stepping closer to his brother, grinning broadly.
Michael scoffed and shook his head, "I see our encounter with our long lost brother hasn't dampened your humor." Glancing at his brother out of the corner of his eye he frowned faintly, why was his brother in such a good mood?
"Will you be staying here in Vega?" Michael asked softly, watching his reaction out of his periphery.
Gabriel's shoulders stiffened and he watched the people working eagerly to repair their city—the city that he had helped destroy. "Not sure I would be welcomed here, brother dearest," he murmured.
"I can think of at least one person that would welcome you," Michael murmured.
Gabriel twitched and shook his head, laughing derisively. His wings spread abruptly before he leapt into the air and circled overhead for a moment before flying away, leaving Michael to stare sorrowfully after him.
Gabriel circled the city, watching the people skirmish with 8-balls in small pockets of the city, others celebrating their victories, and still others working on rebuilding. Amazement shot through him at the sight of so many people coming together within Vega to try and save it; he hadn't thought humanity had such strength of will left in it.
Michael's tower caught his eye and he thought of Devery; there was a woman with an iron will. He angled toward the tower and a few moments later landed on her balcony, his wings fluttering softly as he stood in the night air.
He peered through the glass of the door, watching her sleep, and felt something deep within him ease, as though he had been carrying a heavy burden and had been allowed to set it down for the first time in years.
Would she want him to stay? Did she care about him at all?
He sighed in frustration and sank down onto the balcony, leaning his head back against the wall, running a hand over his face and through his hair. For now he would stay here, out of the city streets, and where he would be able to protect Devery.
Protect a human…a laughable idea that would never have occurred to him six months ago, but now, after everything that had happened, he couldn't imagine not making sure Devery was safe. He smiled faintly, shaking his head, imagining her reaction to his protective instincts.
He'd likely end up with a fist to the jaw or a boot to the balls…a thought that made him laugh, despite the uncertain mood that clutched his heart. Whatever came in the morning, he would be content this evening with being here, close to Devery, making sure she was safe.
His wings wrapped around him keeping him warm in the cold desert air. His eyes closed and he drifted to sleep slowly, a pair of dark eyes haunting his dreams.
AN: Hello loves! I hope you enjoyed the last chapter, this one has us all caught up with the show, so we'll be moving on from here! Please review and let me know what you think, I am so inspired by your reviews! Thank you all for reading!