Chapter 22

This story might last just a couple more chapters because I have a pretty good idea about how it'll end. I had more things planned but I'm rocking minimalism. Besides, I didn't want to throw more things into the story to mess it up. How do you all like the story so far? It seems like yesterday I just started this thing. I'll definitely have this done before my long-awaited vacation. I'm not writing on my vacation just so you all know; I'm going to be lazy. Well… R&R.

Max

Fang and I carried Ari into an empty room. The Flock used to stay in this room. Ari looked exhausted. But there was something very different about him.

I stepped out of the room and slipped my armor on, liking the way the moonlight spilled over it like liquid silver. I shivered a little when the cold material touched my skin. I found out there was two other guardians here, a wild red-haired boy with piercing green eyes named Wesley and a little black-haired, pale-skinned girl with blue eyes named Arietta. I recognized Wesley from the War, but I've never seen Arietta before. Fang recognized both of them because they were both from his district. They agreed to help us. They were going to watch over the summer palace while Fang and I made a trip to Heaven to meet up with the Flock.

Fang helps me straighten up my armor. I smile at him, but he wouldn't look at me. "Fang…" I try to get his attention.

Ari stirs and rises off the floor. "Max?"

I go to sit next to him, "Ari, are you okay?"

"Max, they're planning something horrible," for that moment, all I can see and hear is that innocent little brother of mine who used to follow me around everywhere. Back before the War, back before Lucifer, back before everything, we used to do everything together.

"What are they planning?" I ask.

"They're planning a direct attack at Heaven's gate, Max. That's over three billion demons, fallen angels, and recruits they've picked up along the way, it's bad, Max," he coughs a little, unable to help himself.

I close my eyes, "A direct attack."

Fang

I grab Max's arm and take her outside the room, leaving Ari in there. "Don't trust him," I practically hiss.

"Why not?" her eyes widen, "It's true, every word. I heard Lucifer say it himself that he was going to recruit any angel he could find."

How is it that she's so blind? He's a demon and he's always been. He chose Lucifer's side during the War, he serves Lucifer forever. There is no chance that he could ever change, not in so little time. It's not possible. It's been millennia since the War and millennia of habits and service doesn't disappear in a day. He's tried to kill me, I've wound up almost dead because of him, and he's the reason why Max was in trouble in the first place. If it wasn't for Ari, max would be safe and so would the Flock.

"Max," I exhale in anger, "He's tried to kill us how many times now? He's a demon, it's in his nature to lie and deceive!"

"But he used to be my brother," she shouts back, "I know him better than anyone. I trust him because he's telling the truth!"

She turns away from me in a whirl. Shutting the door behind her, she goes to speak to Ari.

Max

Ari isn't lying and I know it, I feel it somehow. Trust your heart, the Voice says. But I don't know what my heart is telling me to do! I know Ari isn't lying and I know that what he knows is probably valuable but what about Fang? My heart is torn.

"Ari," I walk back into the room, trying to sort out my thoughts, "Why should I trust you?"

He turns his back to me and lifts up his shirt. Where the black scars used to be is immaculate skin. There are not wings on his back so he's not an angel, but he's not a demon either. "What are you?"

"I don't know," he answers truthfully.

"Are you….human?" I ask. If he's of neither Heaven nor Hell, what is he? Should it matter? Where will he go? He's my brother, I feel like I should do something to help him.

"Max, I want to help you," he says, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"How? Why?"

"I chose not to be a demon anymore." I'm confused. How can this happen?

"When you left," Ari goes on, "Lucifer was furious. He struck down at anyone who he suspected of helping you escape. Then he asked me. He came to me very politely and very patiently and I knew that something was wrong. I told him I didn't know where you were and that was the truth. His voice became low and dangerous. He told me that if I didn't tell him where you were, I was to be banished from Hell."

"How can you help me?" I ask quietly, taking this all in.

"I'll go with you wherever you need me to and I'll testify against Lucifer if you need me to."

Fang bursts back into the room, "Max, we need to leave now."

Ari looks at me, hopeful. He's dying I realize. He's away from his home and away from what he needs to survive. What do I do? What should I do?

I look at Fang, whose stance is rigid and his dark eyes are filled with hatred. He looks like an Angel of the Apocalypse. I loved him even though it's not possible.

I look at both of them, one blonde, one dark as midnight, one my only brother and the other my only love. They were as different as night and day. They couldn't co-exist. But one of them would have to make a sacrifice for both of them to survive. I turn to Fang, "He's coming with us."

So it's a shortie but I didn't feel like writing all that much and I'm so confused right now it's not even funny. Oh and I have over 3000 hits on this story, thanks a bunch, dollies! Reviews? eskerrik asko(Basque)