Chapter 15

Strife slept downstairs by the fire for the rest of the night. As harrowing as the day was, he wasn't sleepy. He awakened a half an hour before dawn. He only got a yawn in when the Crow father rushed into the room.

"Get up, boy. War's soldiers are here. Get Fury out of here."

Strife ran up the stairs and went into Fury's room. What were they doing here? How did they find them? He asked himself but there was no time for answers. He found Fury still sleeping. He shook her gently.

"Wake up, malady." Fury's eyes fluttered open.

"What is it?" She asked sleepily.

"There's no time to explain. Come with me." He helped Fury out of bed and rushed her out of the room and up the steps to the third floor.

The Crow father forgot he left the bridge down. He was distracted by Fury's injury and telling Strife the story. Once the soldiers crossed over, the Crow father fought off the three soldiers as best he could but they were too overwhelming for him. The Crow father was able to handle two of the soldiers but the third one knocked him out and was now searching through the house for Strife and Fury. He heard noises from upstairs and followed it. He saw Fury and Strife climbing up the top hatch on the third floor.

"Stop!" The angel called out.

"Hurry!" Strife told Fury as she climbed out first. The soldier was close on them as he began to climb up. When Strife got out, he closed the hatch.

"They're after me, Strife. They are following War's orders." Fury told Strife.

"Well, he won't get you." Strife said as bravely as his voice would allow it. He looked around. They were on the top, very high up. The only way to escape was climbing down the house and prayed they don't fall to the cliffs below.

The soldier pushed the hatch open and Strife jumped on it, keeping it closed. The soldier stuck his knife between the cracks and slid through. Strife fell back, knocking Fury off the top. She grabbed the ledge. Strife quickly grabbed her hands and tried to pull her up.

"Hold on!" Strife yelled.

"Don't let me fall!" Fury cried out. Fury's left hand slipped from Strife. He was now holding onto her with one arm.

"I'm slipping!" Fury cried.

Strife tried pulling her up using his other arm now, but he couldn't. He wasn't strong enough. There was no way to save her. He was giving it everything to hold on to her, but it wasn't enough. He felt her other hand slipping from him.

"NO!" Strife yelled. Fury screamed as she was falling, falling to the rocky cliffs below. Only a miracle would save her now, and it came. The sunrise.

Strife watched opened-mouth as Fury began to change. Her arms stretched into wings. Her feet changed to claws and her body converted into a hawk. Her screams turned into screeches of a bird in pain. Transformation complete, she flew away to safety.

Strife climbed down the roof and stood on a ledge from the second floor to hide from the Hellguard when they knocked the hatch open. The angel looked around and walked to the edge. He saw Strife.

"Where is the woman?"

"She flew away." Strife told him, mentally laughing at how ironic that was.

"Don't lie to me. Where is she?" The soldier raised his hand to strike the nephilim, but an arrow hit the man from the side. He doubled over in pain and fell off the roof, crashing into the jagged rocks below.

Strife looked toward the direction the arrow came from and saw Death with his crossbow in his hand.

Sometime later, Death rode his horse to the front of the Crow father's house. His hawk was on his hand and in good health. He eyed the Crow father who was standing outside his home. He hated the old man. He knew it was the Crow father who betrayed him and Fury to War.

"There were times where I wanted to kill you myself, old man." Death said and smiled at hawk on his hand, so relieved and happy to see her well again.

"But I'm grateful for this." The Crow father took a few steps to him.

"Perhaps you will listen to me when I tell you I know of a way to break the spell War has put on you and Fury."

"There is no way to break the curse, but three days from now, I will kill War at his coronation, where he would be celebrating his reign on the white city for three years. It will be his last day as well." The Crow father shook his head.

"You can't kill War, Death. You and Fury must face War as humans for the curse to be broken." Death scoffed.

"Fury and I face War together as humans in the day? You've been drinking too much, old man."

"I'm not drunk!" The Crow father shouted.

"Three days from now, there will be a day without a night and a night without a day!" Death laughed harshly.

"You really are drunk. There is no such thing. Now leave me alone with such nonsense." Death turned his horse around and trotted off.

"Death, wait," Strife called out from the house. Death stopped his horse and waited for Strife to reach him.

"I thank you for saving my hawk. I'm in your debt."

"Yeah, I know." Strife said confidently.

"You don't have to help me get into the capital. I'll do it on my own." Death told him.

"I know, but I want to help." Death smiled with appreciated for his help.

"Then you better get your things." Death said and slowly trotted off. Strife nodded and ran to the Crow father before going back in the house.

"Follow us, Crow father."

Death rode on his horse that morning and afternoon while Strife kept up with Death by jogging behind him. He thought maybe if he could talk to Death, he would listen to the Crow father's plan. After all, Strife didn't betray Death and Fury and he wasn't a drunk.

"Maybe the Crow father is right, Death. If you and Fury face War, then the curse will be broken."

"You will not mention that to me again and you won't mention it to Fury," he commanded.

"Do you understand? I will not have you fill Fury's mind with such futile hope." It was worth a try, but he wasn't through yet. Strife felt it was possible and decided to bring it up another time with Fury. She would be easier to convince than Death.

By mid-afternoon, Death let Strife's legs rest by riding on Despair while he walked on foot. An hour before sunset, they entered the woods.

"The sun will be down soon," Death noted. Strife looked at the sky. It was still light.

"How can you tell?"

"After so many sunsets, you have to ask?" Death questioned jokingly. Death handed Strife the hawk.

"Find shelter and take care of Fury." Strife nodded and rode off.

"Tell her I love her," he called out. Death felt relieved that his secret could be shared with a trusted person and even more grateful he would look after the woman he loved.