My Price

Taking back my body, wrapped around in Aegis sinister clutches, I shadowed stepped towards my estate. Not caring for the consequences.

"You damn idiot! If we do not switchback, we are dead!" Aegis bellowed harshly.

Saying nothing to this Dark Passenger, my heart and soul shuttered when all of a sudden. The angelic presence grew more vigorous.

Sensing divine judgment locked upon me, a feeling of death latched onto me. "Arsene Snow, you are mine!" She coldly proclaimed.

Caring not for my own survival, the connection I held with Lilith suddenly vanished, leaving me frozen and bare.

"DIE!"

"YOU FOOL, GIVE ME CONTROL!~"

Blinking before me, the four-winged Angel with her indifferent gaze materialized. Spearing her arm towards me. I did not know why but I could see her arms, the tension of her muscles, the opening, and closing of her pours. I could see it all, yet only calm remained within me.

Not retreating, nor fighting, against the invincible. The Bed of Chaos became my eyes and ears. I could at this moment see all, feel all, and hear all. But the only thing within my eyes was the silver glow around my estate.

It was then at that strange moment. I was no more before the four-winged Angel but rather at the doorstep of my estate.

Caring not that I had just shadowed step over a few hundred miles, I rushed through the doors and up the stairs. Seeing Eroma flat on the floor, unconscious, the knot within my soul turned even colder. I ran into the chamber Lilith resided, ready for death.

"Sene?" A joyful voice suddenly called, melting my soul.

Ignoring the bloody air emitting from our chambers, Lilith flashed me a smile. "Did someone miss me? But you're being rude. We have a guess."

Noticing another soul within the room, blood slithered its way out from my nose as I stared at the man with long silver hair that flowed to his back.

He was around my height, standing tall like a spear ready to strike, and gaze so profound, Asmodeus felt like nothing.

"Seems I came at the right time." The Stranger with silver eyes uttered, waving his hands towards Baphomet and Azeroth, knocking them upon the ground without concern. He proceeded to return our bed to its original state without any sigh of dirt or blood.

Taking a seat, a sigh escaped his lips, "Do you remember who I am?"

"Zariel Snow," I uttered, knowing there was no one other than him.

He smiled, nodding with acknowledgment. "It is indeed good to see you again, elder brother. It seems like not all your memories were scrambled."

Gulping down against my will, my heart bled for some strange reason. I was angry, sad, but most of all happy.

"Your cute!" Lilith suddenly uttered, breaking the ice, as I was simply staring.

"Don't let my wife hear you say that. She is already on end with how close we are." Zariel calmly replied, "But I am afraid I am here on business--"

Pausing for a second, Zariel frowned, glancing down at Greyson's body. A handkerchief suddenly slipped from his pocket and into my hand, "Clean yourself. There are quite a few things that we need to go over, and I would rather not see you covered in blood like before."

Holding Greyson Hankerchief, I wiped my nose, feeling a bit lightheaded the longer Zariel lay within my eyes.

"First off, Congrats on the Marriage. It has taken you two long enough. Secondly, the entire family will be there to see you off. Thirdly your child." he fired off in quick succession.

"What about our child," I finally uttered, finding it hard even to speak.

"Well, the price, of course. My wife, Vancuroo, Zero, and all the others all had to pay the same price, and you are not exempted. Even if the Abyss disapproves, the price must be paid. I paid most of them, but there is one we could not."

"Our child," Lilith and I uttered together.

"Till the Gates of Iluthath is open once more, the day the child is born is the day it vanishes into Iluthath itself," Zariel explained calmly, tearing his gaze away he peered down a bit lonely.

Widening my eyes, my soul began to pound, "So you are saying!"

"Yes. All the children we had. On the day of their birth, they vanished from our arms, with no exception." He explained bitterly, shaking his head with a broken stare. "So was the deal I made, behind everyone's back to bring you and Vancuro back."

Standing by my side, Lilith quivered as I held her close. "How do we open the gates?" I asked, finally understanding what many of them had to give up, what he gave up.

"Opening the gates will happen, but you have an enemy that I require you to kill. Two of them, in fact. Loki calls them the Shadow and The King."

Narrowing my gaze, meeting his cold silver eyes that shimmer brighter than stars, I frowned, "Why?"

"Because your protector cannot protect you any longer. Certain events happened that forced these Fallen Angels to act, and now my hands are tied because of your involvement."

"Certain events?" Lilith Questioned with a dark expression.

"Like that idiot who is now sitting upon the Heavenly Throne. I can't say more due to certain prices I had to pay, but you guys are in a very dangerous situation. And Aldrich cannot protect you any longer. He has fulfilled his end."

"I'm sorry, what? Aldrich, was my protector?" I muttered in complete and utter disbelief, "Bull shit!"

"Well, he hates the both of us, but yes, he was. I will let you hear his story before you run your spear through his neck. I just came to warn you of the two fallen. Watch your back when dealing with them. You are already in their webs.

Opening my mouth, Zariel vanished, leaving only a distant silence in the air.

Lowering my head to hide my face within the shadows of my hair, a cold droplet fell upon my shoulder. Noticing the tears falling from Lilith, I sighed.

"They gave up their children for you. You know." She cried, wiping the tears building up in her eyes. "All of them did."