Chapter 12

Daniel was backed against the far end of the barrier Umbra had put up. The demon had a murderous look on his face as his sharp teeth as glistened. Daniel could feel his knees begin to shake as fear and panic consumed him. Umbra rushed at Daniel and socked him in the jaw, "Does that seem familiar to you? Payback is a bitch isn't she?!" Daniel struggled to his feet but Umbra quickly backhanded him and sent him flying into the other side of barrier. Daniel turned his head and spat out blood. Umbra was there in an instant, driving his clawed foot into Daniel's gut and leaving three profusely bleeding gashes. Daniel laid on the ground, blood loss taking its toll and stunned from the ferocity of the attack. Umbra stood over him laughing, "Is that the best you can do? I would expect better from my son. Then again, any greatness you would have inherited was diluted by that pitiful mother of yours. She was even easier to beat than you! That right there says something." At the insult to his beloved mother, Daniel could feel his blood start to boil. Umbra continued, "If I had raised you, you would at least know how to fly! If you ask me, she did a horrible job of raising you. She was ditz and a bad mother all around." Daniel let out a roar and kicked Umbra as hard as he could in the gut as he had done to him.

He picked up Umbra by the throat and began to squeeze while saying in a low voice, "If you say one more foul word about my mother, I'll kill you."

Umbra grinned, "It would seem as if I hit a soft spot. Does someone miss their mommy? I enjoyed every minute of raping your mother. It's the only thing she's good for really." Daniel's eyes began to burn with rage. He threw Umbra into the barrier and some instinct inside him took over.

Hardly aware of what he was saying, Daniel thrust his hands forward while shouting, "Flumine flammaru!" His hands lit up in a bright blue flame that shot in a stream towards Umbra.

The demon narrowly avoided the blast and said, "Tenebris flamma!" Umbra's hands ignited with a black flame and he came at Daniel swinging his fists.

Daniel swiftly evaded Umbra's punches using the speed he processed since childhood. Fast as lighting he was behind Umbra and delivering a strong kick to the back of Umbra's head. The demon was sent sprawling on the ground. As he tried to get up, Daniel thumped his tail onto his chest and planted his foot there, sinking his claws into Umbra's flesh. Black blood oozed from the puncture wounds. Umbra growled, "You should thank me for raping your mother. If I hadn't, you wouldn't be here. My only regret is that I wasn't the one to kill her. I wasn't the one to take her life and watch the light die from her eyes. To feel her warm blood on my hands, to feel-" Daniel slashed his claws across Umbra's face, permanently turning the left side into an unrecognizable, mutilated mess. Still, Umbra was smug, "That was a nice blow. It's definitely going to scar. Well done. But surely you can do better! After all, don't you want to avenge your mother? Perhaps you should snap my neck like your mother's was?"

"Maybe I should! You deserve it! My mother was a good person who didn't deserve to die! You deserve to die because of what you did to my mother and Miles and everyone else you hurt!" snarled Daniel, fiery rage blazing in his eyes and filling his voice.

Umbra's grin spread from ear to ear, "Than do it. Avenge your mother, and give justice to all of the people I have damaged. Do it! Kill me! Be the little angel your slut of a mother wanted you to be!" A deep growl began to rumble from Daniel throat. With a yell he grabbed Umbra's throat and began to shake and squeeze with all of his strength.

From outside of the barrier, St. Michael was banging on it and shouting, "Daniel! Don't do it Daniel!" Daniel retained his vice grip on Umbra but ceased to shake as he looked up at St. Michael. The archangel was beating at the barrier. Once he had Daniel's attention, St. Michael shouted through the barrier, "Don't do it Daniel! Don't kill him! He's trying to make you like him! A demon! Your mother, Christine, she would not want this!" The fire in Daniel's eyes began to go down as he recovered his senses.

His grip on Umbra's throat loosened, "Your right. I can't kill him. But…" All at once, Daniel retightened his hold on Umbra who emitted a surprised gasp. While Daniel did not shake, he squeezed as hard as he could. Umbra began to fight back, kicking and attempting to claw. Daniel wrapped his tail around Umbra's wrists, binding them and sat on his legs to prevent the kitchen. Daniel's face was emotionless as he held his ground and kept Umbra detained.

"Daniel what are you doing? Stop!" After about 30 seconds to a minute, Umbra lost consciousness and went limp. The barrier came down and Daniel removed his hands from Umbra's throat and got off of him. St. Michael, with his sword at the ready, cautiously entered the area.

Daniel wiped sweat from his forehead, "I can't kill him. But, I can make him pass out."

"Daniel… I'm sure your mother would be proud of you for making the right decision."

"What's going to happen to him?"

St. Michael replied, "Well, he has committed several acts that violate an unacceptable amount of laws. He will be imprisoned here and put on trial. It is possible that he will be put to death."

Daniel was silent for a moment before saying, "I hope he-"

"St. Michael! Daniel!" came the distressed cry. The two turned to see Margret flying towards them. She hovered in the air and appeared to be frantic, "Its Miles."

Daniel took off like a shot back towards Miles. St. Michael sent Margret back as well, saying he would follow after he had properly secured Umbra. Daniel skidded to a halt and fell to his knees beside Miles. The two tailed fox seemed barely conscious and blood was pooling around him. Margret arrived moments later. Daniel turned to her, tears bubbling into his eyes, "What's wrong with him? Is he gonna be ok?"

Margret dipped her head and her voice cracked, "The injury was worse than I thought. There's a huge tear in his stomach and there is… nothing I can do. He's… going to die."

"NO! NO! He can't die! You have to save him!"

Margret began to sob and shake her head, "I can't save him Daniel, I can't. There is no spell that can fix this. I'm so sorry." Miles made a groaning sound that almost sounded like a word.

Daniel leaned in close, "Miles? Miles what did you say? I'm here."

"Daniel… I want…" said Miles weakly.

Margret put a finger to his lips, "Shh. Save your strength Miles."

The dying fox managed to brush the hand away, "Daniel… take the connection cross…"

Daniel shook his head vigorously, "No, no, no. Mother gave it to you."

Miles coughed and blood splashed from him mouth, "I'm done Daniel… Christine would want you to have it and… I want you to have it…"

Daniel was now crying almost hysterically, "NO! You can't die on me Miles! You're my brother! Without you…"

"That's why I want you to have the connection cross… so you won't feel alone…" Miles began to cough uncontrollably, blood pouring out of his mouth. Daniel pulled Miles close to him and held him as the coughing fit slowly subsided. When it had gone, Daniel looked at Miles who had his eyes closed and was still.

"Miles?" There was no reply. Daniel shook his brother, "Miles! Miles!"

Margret put a hand on his shoulder, "Daniel, he's gone…"

Daniel threw back his head and cried, "MILES!"

St. Michael came to the scene to Daniel sobbing into the life-less body of Miles and Margret sitting next to him and crying as well. He approached and said, "What happened?"

Margret turned to St. Michael, "Miles' wound was more serious than I thought it was; there was nothing I could do to help him. He just passed away and Daniel is devastated." After a moment Margret asked, "Where is Umbra?"

St. Michael was unable to hold back a smile as he said, "I cast some special bonding for him and sealed him into one of the dungeons. That monster will not be going anywhere." St. Michael looked at Daniel who was still holding Miles' corpse. He knelt before Daniel and said, "Daniel, there is a way that you can be reunited with Miles."

Daniel's head shot up, "How? Tell me how?"

"If Miles' soul is made into an angel, you two will be united. But…"

"But what?"

"But there are certain requirements that a mortal's soul must meet in order to be recruited to be an angel."

"How do we tell if Miles' soul has met the requirements?"

"We cannot. Only the Lord can decide if a soul can be an angel."

Daniel protested, "But you declared that I was an angel!"

St. Michael sighed, "That was unofficial. All of us will see you as an angel, but you are not an officially declared angel by the Lord."

Margret broke in and said, "Please St. Michael, there must be something you can do!" St. Michael dipped his head and was silent.

He then stood and said, "Wait here."

St. Michael flew to his quarters and to a large ornamental cross on his wall. He grasped the bottom section and began to turn it. He turned it 360 degrees and when the cross returned to its original position, a loud clank sounded. The wall panel opened inward revealing a staircase traveling upward. Wasting no time, St. Michael flew up flights of stairs until he came to a brightly lit doorway. He stopped and composed himself before stepping into the doorway. There was a bright flash and St. Michael was standing in a large white room with a brilliant golden white light shining from the ceiling. St. Michael went to the center of the room, got down on his knees, bowed his head, and began to pray, "Dear Lord, you have assigned me to handle this section of Heaven. I pray that up to this turbulent time I have done well. But now Lord, I must ask you for help. With your all-seeing eyes I know you have witnessed the death of young Miles Prower. I ask you now Lord, please emit this brave boy who has been through so much and has tried to do nothing but good to join our ranks. Amen"

A voice from above replied, "St. Michael the Archangel, I have heard your prayer. I have witnessed all that has transpired. I have also witnessed both Miles' and Daniel's struggle. Take these. I trust you will know what to do with them." St. Michael looked up to see two brilliant rings of golden light descended from the ceiling. St. Michael took the rings and hooked them onto his belt. The voice from above said, "Go now. Miles will be waiting. Also, do not worry about coming to me for advice when you try Umbra Diaboli for his crimes. I trust that you will know what to do."

St. Michael bowed his head further, "Thank you Lord. I shall do my best to not fail you and fulfill my duties as an archangel." St. Michael turned and left the room. He returned to his quarters and the secret staircase concealed itself once more. As he headed to the front door, he almost ran into a very bewildered looking Miles.

The other angels had gathered around Daniel and attempted to offer comfort and assurances that St. Michael would do his best to help. Despite all this, Daniel was inconsolable. He allowed a group of angel to take Miles' corpse away to bury it and wrapped his wings into a cocoon around himself. He clutched Miles' connection cross and cried. After about fifteen minutes later, St. Michael's voice rang out, "Daniel, you can stop grieving now." Daniel unfolded his wings and gasped. Standing next to St. Michael, was Miles. His yellow-orange fur seemed to glow a little and he was wearing the standard white robe that all angels wear. Protruding from his back were a pair of small wings with powder blue feathers. He appeared dazed and confused but when he caught sight of Daniel his face lit up. The two dashed toward each other, embracing one another.

Daniel put the connection cross around Miles neck, "Here. This belongs to you."

Miles smiled and laughed, "Thanks."

The brothers hugged once more until St. Michael said, "Miles, Daniel, everyone. I have an announcement to make." All of the angels curiously came forward to find out what was going on. St. Michael stepped toward Miles and Daniel, "If you two could please kneel." The brothers did as they were told. St. Michael pulled the two rings from his belt, "Miles Prower, Daniel. By the eternal wisdom and graciousness of our Lord, he has instructed me to grant both of you with these." St. Michael placed the rings above Daniel and Miles' heads where they floated in place. St. Michael than raised his arms to the sky and said in a booming voice that carried through the crowd, "Lucis et anuli signo muniantur. Et est signum fidei hardwork in nomine Domini.Eam sigillis vos ad bonum et a malum. Notum sit omnibus qui viderint te nuntius et minister Dei.Hoc est aureola. Ut lucere aeternum."

The crowd of angels repeated, "Ut lucere aeternum." The halos sent out a pulse of light and were sealed to Daniel and Miles.

"Please stand." asked St. Michael. The two did so, both now angels, immortal beings dedicated to each other and to honoring Christine's memory by doing their best as angels.

Author's Note: A happy ending for these two boys who have been through so much has finally arrived. But what about Umbra? Will Christine and everyone else hurt by his crimes receive justice at last? Only the Epilogue will tell. Here's the Latin translations: 1. Flumine flammaru Translation: Stream of flame 2. Tenebris flamma Translation: Dark flame 3.Lucis et anuli signo muniantur. Et est signum fidei hardwork in nomine Domini. Eam sigillis vos ad bonum et a malum. Notum sit omnibus qui viderint te nuntius et minister Dei. Hoc est aureola. Ut lucere aeternum. Translation: This ring of light is a mark and a seal. It marks your loyalty and hard work in the name of God. It seals you to good and away from evil. Let all who see you know that you are a servant and messenger of God. This is your halo. May it shine forever.