CHAPTER 19

Date: December 2nd through 5th, 110 P.A. / 2114 C.E.

It was December…an icy mix of rain and snow fell outside, and Arei gazed out the window, eyes distant, trying her hardest to ignore the howling from the room she leaned her back against. Kaliesha had come not a few weeks ago for the anesthesia treatment, and had immediately noted Arei's scent in Abaddon's fur, his odor in her hair. She had laughed, bowed to Arei, and proceeded to treat the ill god. And now the violent attack had come…this was the second time she had been present during it, and like the last time, was unable to leave. Whatever her bond with the seraph was, it would not allow her to disappear during his suffering.

Byron and Zered, along with Marie and a man named Jeremiah, the Lead Librarian, had joined her company to try to distract her from her God's pain…but they could all see their words, their strategic games they encouraged her to play with them, was only working so well. She was only thinking of Abaddon…and no matter how she smiled, even laughed with them, it was forced…she stiffened whenever Abaddon screamed in agony, and more then once she went off on her own, unable to be affected by their calls.

Jeremiah, the oldest of the bunch, was the first to comment about it. "I've never seen a Priestess looking so disturbed at God Abaddon's transient insanity. They usually put some distance between them and him…ignore it. At least, they don't stay around the entire time. I find her behavior rather…odd."

Zered smoked his pipe, knowing well the health risks of the habit, but not caring anyhow. "It's not so strange once you give it some thought. She cares for him…and though I do not believe he will ever openly admit it, I believe he feels a similar fondness for her. Do you agree, Byron?"

The young man flushed. "Yeah, I suppose…I think Arei reminds him of Goddess Ai…and to her, she looks at him as a mix of a guardian and…well, something else, though I will not openly speculate on what."

Marie scowled, "It's not our business. Besides—"

Arei spoke up, glancing at them. "You know, I'm not deaf. And you would be distracted too it someone you were loyal to is screaming like this. He's hurting, and I can do nothing to sooth it…."

Her jaw and fists clenched, and she looked away from them swiftly, saying nothing more. The truth was, she was torn…she did not know what to feel. She was still upset with him for going inside of her as he had…he hadn't even apologized for shouting at her, after all this time. He'd been regarding her at a cool distance, as if they were just business partners…which, though true, was not all they had shared. He used to be kind…if prone to lecturing, but still, he had not been this numb to her before. It made her uncomfortable, but all the same, she did not wish to backtrack. She was no longer a child in soul…and she wanted him to recognize that.

And there was the memory of their union in itself…his mouth and paws against her, the thrill of ecstasy as they came to together, whole and complete. The soft, longing glimmer in his eyes that made her feel like she was someone he saw…not to be passed over and forgotten. The meals they had shared, the conversations, the tasks they handled the burden together. His teaching, her playing. She was caught between her aversion to him and her fondness for him. His howling only made this feeling worse, for she wanted so deeply to go to him, but her mind knew to do so would be foolish and dangerous.

Perhaps her confusion stemmed from the fact that he usually had all the power…but right now, he was utterly helpless to fate, and Arei was in charge, in control.

Hours upon hours past…she began to feel sickened of it all. She did not want this! She did not want this type of life! There had to be something more than this passive place…there had to be more than being his tool and a scapegoat to everyone else. Slowly, agonizingly, his screams and her own silent ones melded, becoming almost unbearable for her to deal with. He was not a god. Not her god. He was a pokémon…and like hell he would order her to be silent and motionless! Her body was her own…she was not a slave, but his second-in-command, and currently, she was his superior!

She would not bow to him, but stand up, right next to him. And she didn't give a damn about what he or anyone else thought! In this type of passionate, revelation-forming state, she became rash and heedless of the danger…she would go to him, sooth her anxiety, and help him!

She darted to the doors, fumbling with the lock…Byron saw this and ran to her, pulling her hands away from the lock, blocked her way.

"Priestess, are you as insane as he is? You'll be killed—"

"Get—out—of—my—way! I order you, Attendant! I am going to him, and I'll be damned before I'll let you stop me."

Her voice contained an angry, icy edge that none of them had ever heard before. Attendant Byron hesitated, but he knew well his place—he unlocked the door, the screaming coming louder as he opened the heaving doors a crack. Arei stepped towards it, her mind made up…she would go in, and endure the pain of the episode with him. He shouldn't have to suffer alone…he shouldn't! She ordered the doors to be locked behind her…and entered into the Room of Solemnity.

The light was dim at best, the room empty of furniture, save for a stone block in the center of the room that acted as a table or a pedestal. She was uncertain what its use was, though the last time, she had found Abaddon curled up on it after his episode, weak and tired. She called out quietly for him, before spotting his form leaning against the opposite wall, his face in shadow. His breathing was labored, and he was trembling, twitching with exhaustion and pain. Blood and open sores oozed from his body, and she could smell vomit and bowel on the floor. He was sleek with sweat, his paws and wrists torn from striking at the walls to help relieve his agony, but to no effect. His head jerked towards the sound of her voice…the light shown in his eyes. The whites had turned reddened, his pupils were slits…the gaze struck fear into her heart. Those were Abaddon's eyes…they held none of the sanity or recognition of her that she knew. A snarl rose from his throat, his omnivore teeth bared…this was not her companion, but a monster in his place.

As he stepped towards her jerkily, she began to realize that this might have been a very, very bad idea. She backed away at his approach, then turned and swiftly, banging on the door, screaming to be let out…but no one could hear her. Even if Abaddon's howls could be heard, it was only because they were not vocal—they made no true sound. But this room was made to withstand his power—and as soundproof to add. And besides, no one would reopen to chamber now! She was trapped, and—

A shadow crossed over her…she heard rasping breathing. Shaking with fright, she turned around slowly, eyes wide…and faced her companion, who stood not a foot from her. He gazed down at her, tilting his head quizzically…he now had something to focus on besides his pain. To channel it into. He did not recognize Arei as anything but a stranger, an invader in his torture. He might use that.

She leaned back against the steel wall, arms flat against it as she shrunk away. "Abaddon…it's me. It's Arei. I'm here to—"

He lurched forward, his paws reaching out to grasp her, and she shrieked, darting away. He turned and stepped towards her, stiffly, slowly…there was no need to run. In this confined space, eventually, he'd catch her. And once he had…!

Another wave of sheer agony crashed over him, soul-shredding, as if his bones were being shattered into countless splinters, his cells on fire and crushed in the same moment. Nausea struck him, and he spat up blood. His lungs were even worse. He was reduced to violent, shuddering coughs, on his hands and knees, feeling as though his chest was full of shards of glass. The world swirled, tilted, blurred…Arei, hesitantly, then not caring about the potential consequences, ran to him, placing an arm around his shoulder, the other against his chest, murmuring his name with a whimper. Tears soon ran down her face as he sputtered and chocked, clutching at her robes in the pain. He should just be able to die rather than endure this suffering! If only she had one of the rebels' guns, if then she could shoot him, painlessly, swiftly, and let him have peace from the misery.

Abaddon lurched into her, grabbing her wrists, pinning her blow him. His tail lashed violently, and she gasped in pain as it came down on her leg. Something cracked, but she could move her leg—it wasn't broken. Fractured, perhaps, but not broken. She struggled, but it was in vain…he held her now, and she could not break his grip. Snarling at her cries, he bit down at the curve of her neck and shoulder hard, feeling flesh and muscles tear, blood flooding his mouth. It tasted sweet to him, and shard of pleasure, distracting him from his body's breakdown. She thrashed violently, hitting him, screaming, screaming…he hated the sound. He rammed his fists and knees and tail into her, hearing things break, not caring…her shrieks turn to sputters and moans, whimpers of hurt. Then she stilled…before ramming her knee had between his legs.

Having no external genitalia, this did not hurt him as it might have a man…but it was still a tender area, and so he howled at the sharp, shooting pain, releasing her roughly. She rose, shakily, limping away from him, towards the door, leaving her blood on the floor. It hurt to move. It—

He grabbed her from behind, turning her around by her side, slamming her into the wall…his paws wrapping around her throat. Fury and agony mixed…he wanted to hurt her. To kill her. To make the pain go away by hurting someone else. As he began to strangle the life from her, Arei realized with a start that she was going to die. He'd murder her, and her choice to be next to him would be for nothing. She would be labeled a fool, and her affection for him would mean nothing. Weeping, she wrapped her arms around him, begging him to stop.

"Please, please Abaddon, don't! I don't want to die like this! Abaddon—? Abaddon, NO! No…Mewtwo, NO!"

Time paused…his grip slackened as he stared at her. He held her still, and as she gained breath to speak, she murmured, "Mewtwo, please…I'm here to help you. Please…please…."

She touched his face…he shivered…. His pupils widened….

"Arei…?"

She smiled. "That's right."

He released her fleetly, breaking away, shaking his head. "No…no, you can't be here!" He saw her injuries and began to tremble. "No…Arei, please, leave me! I might hurt you more…I might KILL YOU!"

But Arei now knew she would not leave…this was Abaddon…no, this was Mewtwo. Her Mewtwo. And she wouldn't leave him to suffer alone, no matter what the risks. "I know, but I'm staying."

"You're such a fool…Arei…!"

Another wave crashed over him…he collapsed to his knees, clutching his side, curling over his middle, a moan of torment escaping him. Arei, again, went to him…his mind slipped, and again, he attacked. But his paws and tail were all that beat upon her, and these struck her back…she held him to herself, his face to her neck…as he thrashed, she held on, through the pain, through the tears, through his screaming…and eventually, he stilled with the lack of strength. Eyes barely open, he leaned into her embrace, his cheek pressed to her collar…she stroked his fur gently, avoiding the cuts and sores…trying to sooth him however she could. She positioned them so his upper body leaned into her, his head in the crook of her arm, his lower body sprawled upon the cool floor as she laid him down. She tore a piece of her robe, using the strip as a cloth to dab away his blood and sweat using her saliva…he'd long since shattered the pitchers of water that had been left for him, and she did not let him go.

Eventually, she came to sit against the pedestal, Mewtwo's head in her lap, her arms about his chest. She dabbed his face tenderly as he howled and moaned in his pain…he had nothing to retch up, nothing to excrete of waste. His body was dehydrated, and he had not eaten for almost a day now. Oh, how cruel that was…but had he any energy to burn, his body's attack would have been all the more vicious. She cradled him to her, holding him, talking to him gently…and at times, when he could, he listened. It fell into humming, stroking, and the clone curled up towards her soft, whole warmth…feeling blind in the pain but to her scent, her presence. Arei knew she was badly injured…hell, she might even be dying. The bruises upon her flesh were dark and ugly, and the bite would have open just clotted…she spat up blood, wiping it away on her now torn, messy robes. Hours, then a day passed…she did not sleep, but kept watch over him as he slept.

Then began the shaking. He howled, grasped at her robes and he convulsed violently…she watched as his wounds healed, mended, an she held him tight, knowing each moment made him more and more whole. That the energy spent into this violent recovery only helped him. At last, he murmured her name…then sagged with unconsciousness.

The doors created open as the final screams quieted…the group she had left outside looked in, worried, frenzied, exhausted—they hadn't slept since she'd entered. The mess that she was, Arei was still able to smile as they filtered in, surrounding her. So, stroked as his face absentmindedly, gazing down at him with a warmth that escaped only her.

"He will be alright. Next time, though, I'm going to be with him from the start…maybe that way I can keep him from spilling all the water."

As if that was the greatest concern. Marie and Byron were horrified at her own state, crying out in dismay at her bloodied robes. She brushed their concern aside. "I'm okay, really!"

"Like hell you are! Look at your shoulder!" Marie cried.

Zered went to get bandages…and Jeremiah merely stared….

She should have died. She should have been killed by him. But somehow, she'd managed to tame the demon. And now…and now….

The God and Priestess grasped at each other…he in his sleep, her with the kindness, most angelic expression on her face, as though he had not been the one to tear into her so violently. Jeremiah saw it them…he was one of the first to suspect a shift. This Priestess was different, like Christina. Special. She cared for her god like a mortal man. And what the outcome of that was, he would only privately speculate. To voice his opinion might prove to be her doom. And seeing the god like this, he would never dare do that. For even gods needed companions. Beloved ones. Why else was there a pantheon? Why else was Arei there?

He trembled and bowed to the God's partner…in all sense of the word, though neither she, nor Abaddon, knew it then. But Jeremiah saw. He saw….