Chapter 22: Awake

Claire turned to him with that beaming smile of hers. Her beautiful face was all that he could concentrate on as he reached out and pushed a strand of hair off of her cheek. The light all around them was intense and brilliant, softening her features and everything around them. He couldn't imagine being anywhere else.

And then it shifted. The light dimmed a little, no longer having the warmth it had a moment ago.

She looked like she was about to say something when a look of horror crossed her face. Staring just past him, she froze as if time had stopped. A zing of alarm shot through Alex's body and the hair on his arms stood on end.

Immediately, he grabbed her by the shoulders and searched her face. "What's wrong?" he asked, his voice stammering.

She remained frozen, staring just past him, with no sound coming out of her opened mouth. Alex tried to turn around, but something prevented him from moving. It was as if he was losing a battle against an unseen force that kept him rooted to the spot.

And then someone from below tugged at his shirt. Alarmed, Alex looked down to find a young blonde boy who had an uncanny resemblance to his younger self. "Leave mommy alone!" the boy yelled at him with a protective glare. "You're not my father! You're someone else! You're hurting her!"

The small child pushed Alex, causing him to take a step back from his mother. There was a sword in the young boy's left hand, and he held it high in a threatening manner.

"My son…" Alex said with confusion. His mind was reeling.

A large shadow fell over the boy and Claire, and Alex finally realized what she was so afraid of. It fell over him as well as he became unstuck, finally turning to look behind him. He found himself staring at a cloaked figure.

A cloaked figure with wings.

Relief flooded through him. Defending the newcomer, Alex turned back to the two of them. "It's ok! It's ok. He's just an angel. He's just... He's family."

Claire shook her head, her lips sealed as she tried to pull her son closer to her, stepping backwards, away from Alex. Fear was in her eyes as she now stared at him as if he himself had sprouted wings.

The young boy pulled away from her, stepping closer to Alex. "No, he isn't!" he screamed, jabbing the sword in the air, dangerously close to him.

Alex looked at the boy's scowling face and wondered how they had gotten to this point. The shadow that encompassed them all was expanding with every passing moment. He looked back to see the cloaked angel growing in size, his outstretched wings spread out to their full span. It grew darker and darker, enveloping everything around them.

And then Alex felt a white-hot burning in his chest.

Looking down, he found that the young boy had shoved his sword into his torso. Blood spurted out through the open wound and onto the boy's hands. It ran down Alex's shaking legs. The pain made his sight dimmer, as if the sun had disappeared altogether.

"ALEX!" Claire's voice echoed in his head as he stared into the eyes of the child. The blue eyes that were filled with hatred.

The blue eyes that were his.

~~~**D**~~~

Jolting awake, Alex clutched at his chest and opened his eyes immediately. Breathing heavily, he laid in bed for a moment, hearing the echo of Claire's voice in his head. The dreams were incessant now. Every time he closed his eyes there was a new horror to experience. As if his brain was trying to make sense of everything that was happening to his body.

Or perhaps it was trying to tell him something. To warn him of a darker future.

Exhaling deeply, he rubbed his face and slowly pushed himself upright. Glancing around, he found the bed empty. The clock on the nightstand read: 3:00AM. He moved slowly and finally stood up, wondering where Noma was. It wasn't like her to stray too far from him.

Trying to shake the dream from his thoughts, he walked to the window and pushed the curtain aside. Idly rubbing his chest, he glanced outside and noticed the moon beaming down on the parking lot. Letting go of the curtain, he started to turn away when something glinted in the distance.

Alex turned back to the window and took another look. Off in the distance, just under the Motel 6 signpost, something glinted, and then moved. It was a shadowy figure gesticulating.

And then another figure stepped out into the moonlight.

"What the…" Alex hissed.

~~~**D**~~~

Leaning against the signpost with her arms crossed, Noma remained quiet and patient. She waited, allowing for him to say what he needed to as he pleaded his case. As expected, Furiad wore his full red armor, sword at his side glinting in the moonlight. He at least had the decency to take off the helmet while speaking to her, but otherwise he seemed ready for a war if need be. The fiery angel shifted and moved as he talked to her, which was unusual for him. Noma guessed that Furiad wasn't used to being so open with his own emotions.

It wasn't surprising to her that he'd find them. She knew that he would track them down and had been wondering when it would happen. Noma expected to trade blows with the angel she once had an affair with so long ago. What she hadn't expected was what was coming out of his mouth.

"His way is not working, Noma," Furiad reiterated for the fifth time. "We need to go. Leave Gabriel to do his own dirty work! You know that Gabriel will not rest until the Chosen One bend's to his will. Let them go to war, while we leave. You don't need to be in the middle of this, Noma! Michael and Gabriel can have at it!"

He threw the helmet he was holding down onto the ground, not caring that it bounced off the gravel and tumbled away. Furiad watched as Noma silently stepped away from the signpost, relaxing her arms and placing her hands in her back pockets. She felt his gaze and the heat behind it.

"He is the answer to this…this mess," Noma said, quietly disagreeing with him.

Furiad stepped closer to her. "You don't have to stay with him, Noma."

"Furiad…"

He moved closer, intimately closer, and then gently cupped her face with both hands. His thumb tenderly rubbed against her cheek. "I've never forgotten about us. Please, Noma. Let us leave this all behind."

She searched his face for deceit, and only found raw emotion. This was Furiad, not Gabriel, playing at her heart. And although she felt for him, her heart belonged to Alex. Gently, she pulled his hands away from her face and then held them briefly, giving them a squeeze. "You know that I can't. I need to stay."

With a heart-breaking look, he searched her face for one last glimmer of hope. And then a second later, sure of her sincerity, his expression turned to a scowl. He stepped away from her and said with a resigned tone, "He will be our downfall."

"I don't think so," Noma said quietly. "He will make it better."

Furiad shook his head with anger. "He won't. And Gabriel's plan will see to that."

"And what plan would that be, exactly?" She took a step closer. Maybe his love for her would also bring full disclosure of impending events.

Furiad froze for a moment as if he heard something. He dropped down to pick up his helmet, and then pulled his sword as he straightened. Turning, Noma found Alex standing in the middle of the parking lot, barefoot and shirtless. His hair was sticking up at odd angles and he looked like he had just woken up.

"Alex!" Noma stepped towards him, attempting to put herself between him and the armored angel.

"What do you want, Furiad?" Alex called out, his hands balled into fists.

Noma knew that a confrontation between them would not end well. She stepped closer to Alex, trying to remain calm, even though all she really wanted to was grab the Chosen One and fly off to safety. "He came to talk to me about a few things. He's not here because of Gabriel."

"Are you sure of that, Noma?" Furiad's voice was filled with anger.

She turned to find Furiad in a fighting stance; his helmet back in place, wings expanded, and his sword pointing at Alex.

"Are you scouting ahead?" Alex asked calmly, not moving from his own wide stance.

Furiad's eyes remained focused on her. "Are you sure? This will be the last time I ask."

Noma's heart ached for the red warrior angel. But she was not in love with him and had come too far with Alex. She knew what Furiad was offering her. It would be easier to sit the whole thing out. To give up on what Michael had asked of her so many years ago. Why bother to defend the human race? Why bother to help the person who may possibly destroy everything? Why take the chance? Yet the idea of all of that happening while she sat on the sidelines made her feel ill. Leaving Alex alone in the chaos… she couldn't do that.

"What's he talking about, Noma?" Alex's hand pulled at her arm now, breaking into her thoughts.

She tilted her head for a second, giving Furiad a saddened look. "You know my decision. You've known my decision since my imprisonment in the aerie. I'm not coming with you. Go back to Gabriel and tell him what you want."

Furiad stared at her for a moment and then finally blinked. "So be it."

And then abruptly, the angel flapped his wings and began his onslaught. Leading with his sword, he charged at Alex. Noma immediately released her wings, yanking Alex close to her body, and turned as she used them as a shield to protect him. Bracing for impact, Noma held her breath and Alex froze against her.

But Furiad pitched and rolled out of the way, immediately tilting the sword to the side to avoid stabbing the one he still loved. Instead, he flew upwards into the air above, letting out a growl of frustration. Hovering there, he stared down at them, moving the sword from one hand to the other and back again, as if he were conflicted about his next move.

Noma lowered one of her wings and looked up at him. Alex glared up as well, pulling away from her as she released him. Under the moonlight, the tattoos on his body stood out in stark relief against his pale skin.

"Don't do this!" Noma called out.

"He will only bring us more death!" Furiad yelled. "And Gabriel will make sure of it!"

Noma straightened and Alex stepped further away from her. His hands were clenched as he stared upward, concentrating.

"No one controls my fate! No one!" Alex called out, anger getting the better of him.

"You have no idea, Chosen One." Furiad spat out.

"Go! Furiad, just go!" Noma yelled.

The warrior angel looked determined. "You bring this on yourself!" Furiad finally cried out and then flew at Alex once more, knocking Noma out of the way with the tip of his wing.

He slammed into Alex and they rolled into the desert sand. Smashing the sword hilt into Alex's face, Furiad knocked him backwards before Alex had a chance to kick him. The blonde man couldn't see straight as he tried to sit upright, his skin feeling raw from the tumble. His blurry vision made Furiad show up in triplicate as the angel stepped closer to him.

Standing over the Chosen One with his wings outstretched, he held his sword with both hands and pointed it down like a dagger. Aiming it at Alex's chest, he paused and stared at the disoriented expression that Alex now sported.

"Forgive me, Father," he said more to himself, and then shoved it downwards in order to finally end it all.

But before the blade touched his skin, Alex threw his hands up in defense. A few words spilled out as he intuitively muttered them under his breath. A fierce wind kicked up abruptly and Furiad was shoved backwards by an invisible energy. His sword flew out of his hand and lodged point-first into the sandy ground, jammed all the way down to the hilt.

The warrior angel found himself weaponless and covered in sand. Unsettled, he stared at Alex as he slowly stood up and faced him. Quickly, Furiad went for the sword, attempting to pull it out of the ground before Alex could move, but something slammed into him once more, knocking him onto his back and pinning him down.

Frozen, Furiad watched helplessly as Alex advanced on him with one palm facing out and a look of furious determination. He was still muttering words, just under his breath, causing fear to spike through the angel.

"Alex!" Noma's voice echoed across the courtyard.

The Chosen One stood over the prone warrior and lifted his other hand. Furiad felt his wings disappear and something tighten in his chest. Pain shot through his body, making him shudder and cry out. His entire body trembled as he clutched at his chest.

Noma couldn't believe what she was seeing. "ALEX! STOP!"

Alex remained still, hands poised over Furiad's trembling body. He was causing him pain, but Noma wasn't sure how nor was she willing to let it continue. Using her wings, she rapidly crossed the distance and yanked on his arm, hoping to break his concentration. "ENOUGH!"

She pulled him back a step and he blinked as his words halted. Furiad stopped shaking and let out an exhausted groan.

"What are you doing?" Noma said, harshly, roughly grabbing Alex's face with her hands and turning his head so he would be forced to look at her. "Alex, this isn't you! I know you."

His bewildered blue eyes stared back at her. Speechless, it took a moment for him to close his mouth and come back to his senses. She caressed his cheek and ran her fingers through his mussed hair. Sand flicked out of the blonde strands and seeded the air.

"I…he…," Alex whispered. "I felt like I was…"

Furiad groaned and rolled away from them. As quickly as he could manage, he yanked the sword out of the ground and released his wings. When he turned to face them, Noma noticed the anguish in his eyes as he continued to retreat, putting as much distance between them as he could.

She let go of Alex and she stepped towards the wounded angel. "Furiad…"

"You've made your choice. May Father return soon," he said quickly and took off into the sky. The moonlight glinted off of his armor for a moment and then he was gone, swiftly disappearing among the darkness.

When Noma turned to Alex, she noticed a change in him. He wasn't shocked any longer and definitely stood taller. The lost look he had the moment before had been swallowed and replaced by a scowl. Without a word, he turned and made his way back to motel room, leaving her to stand in the sand by herself.

Sighing, she wondered what new powers had yet to surface. Was what he had done to Furiad the same thing he had used against Gabriel? For a fleeting moment, she glanced up at the sky and wondered if she should have taken the easier route. Shaking it off, she trailed behind the blonde tattooed man, and hoped her strength and resolve would hold out for what was to come.