Ch. 6
Of Emperors and Kings
You never realise death until you realise love.
-Katharine Butler Hathaway
1002
"Mycroft, I have found my soul-mate!" Sheol announced after a long day of soul collecting. "It has taken thousands of years, but he has finally come to me."
He watched at Mycroft looked over at Greg in confusion. Sheol wondered if The Shining One, or God, as he was currently called, had mentioned to the angels that his soul-mate was ready. It would certainly explain why Greg and Mycroft had never told him that he should be looking.
"And who might this soul-mate of yours be?" Greg asked after a long minute, a pleasant smile on his face. Though the idea of Sheol's soul-mate appearing without word from God was worrisome, the joy on Sheol's face was enough to make anyone smile.
"His name is Otto." Sheol said with pride. "He's intelligent, kind and the Holy Roman Emperor."
"The Emperor?" Mycroft asked, looking faintly alarmed. "Why on earth would you think him your soul-mate?"
"He understands me." Sheol said, looking a little uncertain. "He knows what I am, yet he does not judge me. He is the most intelligent human I've met."
"Guard your heart, Sheol." Greg said wisely. "Do not let it go unprotected."
"I won't." Sheol promised Greg solemnly. "I will watch over it."
Emperor Otto III had been the Holy Roman Emperor for nearly six years. A handsome man around the age of twenty one, he ruled Germany and the Roman Empire with an iron fist, letting nothing stand in his way.
The next day the Emperor and his men planned to make their way to Rome, waiting to ensure his rule on the grand city. But for now he stays in the small town of Civita Castellana, waiting for his love to come to him.
"Otto!" A familiar voice cries, and the brown haired Emperor turns, a smile on his face.
"Sheol" He responds in earnest, clasping the leather clad hands of the taller man. Sheol smiles down at Otto, joy clear on his face.
"It has only been a day that I've been gone, yet I've missed you every second of it." Sheol said as he brushed the brown hair away from Otto's brow. Otto sighed, leaning into the touch.
"I know it." He responded. "It is why I waited for you here. I couldn't focus upon our conquest, so I told my general I had a fever and needed to stop."
Sheol chuckled, cupping Otto's cheek gently. "I could have found you in Rome."
"The idea of not being able to pay attention to you…it drove me mad." Otto grinned. "And I needed an extra day with you. Princess Zoe is on her way to Rome for our impending marriage."
"Ah." Sheol frowned, taking a step back. "Your marriage. I forgot, naturally."
"Don't be hurt, Sheol!" Otto said, closing the distance once more. "I plan to break it off with her. I don't know her, nor do I love her."
"The Byzantine Empire shall be furious with you." Sheol said softly.
"I care not." Otto said forcefully. "For I have you. I love you, Sheol."
Sheol sucked in a breath, looking down at the young Emperor with wonder. He had never been loved before, and it was a marvellous feeling.
"I would like to try something." Sheol said as a grin spread across his face. "I believe you to be my soul-mate. If this is true, you should be safe from my curse."
"Not a curse, Sheol. A gift." Otto corrected as he had many times before. "And I don't care about the risks."
"But I do." Sheol said. "I don't want you to die because of me."
"But I shall die anyway." Otto said. Sheol's face swiftly became horrified, and Otto held up a placating hand. "Listen to me. It is true. Human's cannot live forever, and if it gives me the chance to be with you forever, then I shall take it."
"I do not see the souls once they move on." Sheol explained slowly.
"But there must be a way." Otto said. "Your angel-brother Mycroft, he must know some way."
"I shall ask him." Sheol said, smiling slightly.
"Now, what was it that you wanted to try?" Otto asked.
"I would like for you to kiss me." Sheol said softly, his pale face going slightly pink. "I believe it would be mutually beneficial. And perhaps if you began the contact and you aren't my soul-mate, then you might be spared."
Otto smiled slightly, reaching forward to grasp Sheol's highly embroidered tunic, pulling the taller man closer.
"I shall consider you my soul-mate even if I pass on." He said, leaning forward to press his lips to Sheol's.
It started off as a chaste kiss, but quickly elevated into something more passionate. Lips, warm and slick, moved against each other in a sloppy caress that sent jolts of electricity through both of the young men. When Otto began to slow his pace, Sheol followed his lead happily, placing each of his gloved hands on Otto's face, pulling him closer. He only stopped when Otto did, pulling back to look at his love with a smile on his face. The sight of the other man made him freeze in place.
Otto was dead.
"No." Sheol said, his eyes going wide. "You were my soul-mate, you can't have died. Please come back to me."
Laying Otto on the ground, Sheol began to tremble, tears flowing down his cheeks. Otto was not supposed to die, he hadn't had the glow of leaving soul. Placing his hands on Emperor's chest, he tried to will the soul back into his body, but to no avail. Otto was gone.
"Mycroft, you have to help me." Sheol began as soon as he saw the angel. Mycroft looked up from his desk, frowning at Sheol.
"You have his soul." Mycroft commented lightly, noting the tears running down his face. "I'm sorry, Sheol, there's nothing I can do. You removed his soul before his time."
"But you can put it back, correct?" Sheol asked, sounding hopeful.
"I cannot." Mycroft shook his head, striding over to Sheol with an outstretched hand. "Once a soul is removed completely, it is against God's rules to put it back."
"Can I see him, then?" Sheol asked softly, watching as Otto's glow passed from his body to Mycroft's.
"That is also against the rules. I'm sorry, Sheol." Mycroft said. Sheol began to panic at the thought of never seeing his love again.
"Then take me." Sheol said. "I don't want to perform this job anymore."
"No." Mycroft said sternly.
"I know you can do it." Sheol said, anger stirring in his stomach. "Remove me from my position, let me die."
"I will not." Mycroft said, not denying the fact that it could happen. "We need someone to do your job well, or bad things could happen."
"Anyone could do this job!" Sheol said hotly. "Take anyone off the street and force it upon them!"
"You are trying to throw away yourself because of one idiot king?" Mycroft asked, his eyebrows raising. "He was never your soul-mate, Sheol."
"He wasn't an idiot!" Sheol growled back, crossing his arms over his chest. "I loved him."
"And you killed him." Mycroft retorted. "I will not remove you from your duties. You are stuck with them forever, and we are stuck with you."
Sheol took a step back, hurt swimming through his eyes. He stared at his angel-brother in confusion and anger. How could Mycroft deny him this one request? He had never asked for anything like this before.
"Please, Mycroft. I-"
"No, Sheol. You've done quite enough already. Please, see yourself out." Mycroft sighed wearily.
Sheol didn't need to be told twice. Turning on his heel, he darted out of the angel's office. Mycroft watched him go, not realising that he wouldn't see the man for another thousand years.
-Otto III (June, 980-January 23, 1002) became King of Germany at the early age of three, though several people served as regent until he reached adult hood at the age of 14. In 996 he became both the King of Italy and the Holy Roman Emperor as well. He died in the Civita Castellana (approximately 65 km north of Rome) from fever complications. He had no spouse, and no heirs.
A/N: Thank you so much for your amazing patience as I continue to be the worst author ever. You are all such lovely people, and you deserve daily updates, truly you do. Next chapter: More John!
Candy canes and picture frames,
Robottko