• Cassandra stood staring at the man she loved, both human and Angel. She didn’t try to fight back her tears this time. She stood there facing him and everyone else 'he' loved. She couldn’t keep the frown off her face as crystal clear tears streamed down her face, she was hurt beyond repair. She made a mental note in her head to never try again. To give up, turn away, run and never fight for mankind’s sake again. She had so many things she wanted to yell at him. Her Eric; her Michael, the disguised Archangel of life. So many bad things boiled up ready to explode shred his life to bits, but she couldn’t do it. Not even if it meant saving her own life. She loved him to much. He was part of her no matter what he did or said. She looked him straight in the eyes, his green mesmerizing eyes. How could he crush her so fast, in a split second the world turned to ashes around her, everything was a lost cause. She wondered if he had any feeling of sadness in his cold, cemented heart; the same heart that once flourished with love and admiration for her. She watched as his eyes looked past her, the demon himself landed gracefully behind her, no more then twenty feet away, to close for comfort. She new what she had to do, as her last act of bravery. She would show the world what true love was, as she turned from Michael, Angel of life, and turned to face what would be her last breath of air. There stood the Morningstar, Lucifer himself.
    "Well, well, well-" the terrifying smirk on his face launched her heart further into annihilation.
    She had to think fast.
    "-so how are you? In love? depressed? crushed? Mourning over the lost of hope and freedom? Just give it up. Hand over the sword and I'll personally let you live." his voice was cold, yet alluring, he had his hands held out beckoning me forward so I could place the only thing left in the universe into his hands.
    "I can’t do that Lu, you know me to well and know that asking is a lost ca-" he was in front of her in a split second.
    "Now, now, Gabe." he paused placing a hand on her stomach. His voice was entrancing, even to an Archangel.
    She swung her hand at him with such a force a small 'whoosh' could be heard, he dodged it as if being playfully swatted at. Her stomach twisted into knots, as his grin turned to an expression of pure bliss.
    "You really ought to think about handing it over." He drew out the last word.
    "I said NO, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!" she was losing her temper and fast, she maintained her position in front of Eric and the family she still loved.
    "Well, I'm only going to ask of you one. . . more. . . time, and then I'll take it by force, and the world WILL go into damnation, the Apocalypse will begin and everyone you love will die along with it." She had newly formed tears in her eyes again but this time of pity for the world and its wicked ways.
    "So?" she challenged, taking a step closer to him, as he recoiled a good thirteen feet away from her.
    "And if I stand here, and give you the Sword of Mankind, how can you Lucifer, the Morningstar, say you are trustworthy enough to be believed when say that you shalt not slay me, when you know I will be utterly helpless. You will, we both know you'll kill me. But that’s only the half of it. I will NOT sit here and watch you kill every person." she broke of and choked back some tears as Lucifer stood there, arms crossed, waiting for her to continue.
    "I'm not going to let you kill God’s world. They might not love me, but deep, deep down, there has to be some small feeling. And if there's nothing, I'll still die trying to save them." Cassandra hidden Archangel Gabriel, Protector of light, balled up her fists and heightened her senses to the world around her. Drawing every bit of energy she could to her physical forum.
    Lucifer stood there laughing in spite of her trying, then he abruptly stopped and snapped his fingers, Azazel the Bringer of Darkness and Abaddon the Despoiler appeared at his left and right side. Their swords in their hands, ready to strike when ordered. They used to be her loyal friends, fighting along side her. But all that changed when over half the population of Archangels and Fallen Angels were slaughtered in combat by the likes of Lucifer and his demons.
    "It’s a little sad that you failed yet again this cycle, to convince Michael, the supposed chosen right hand man of God, to embrace his destiny. He’s part of you, Gabbie" he grinned in such a way that shivers ran up her mortal spine.
    "And with out him this world will perish today and you will be slain.... while he stands there completely dumbfounded that he’s the key to saving the world, yet again. I'm not going to take it easy on you this time, Gabriel. I'm not going to kill you and let you come back next cycle you have been the world’s last string of hope, and now your going to destroyed like the rest of the Archangel's and then your little lover, Michael. Too bad the almighty God couldn’t be here himself to witness his last creation fall to rubble." He lifted his hand as to signal Azazel and Abaddon to attack her.
    "That’s a little unfair is it not?" a male’s voice came from behind her, her heart fluttered some.
    It wasn’t Eric, but she new the voice well enough that she didn’t turn around to greet her long time friend and partner over the generations of past cycles.
    "Levi, you shouldn't have come here." She breathed as she felt him walking towards her.
    "Nah, I know you’re a little bit happy to hear from me, plus, if you’re not coming back anymore, I think it should be my time to go as well, don’t you think?" He unbuttoned his collar shirt and cuffs, pushing up his sleaves, ready to try and do as much damage as possible.
    Lucifer looked amused.
    "Your pesky conduit? How cute, and what’s he going to attack us with? Blind hope?" He laughed some more looking at his two soldiers.
    Gabriel took a small glance over her shoulders to see everyone’s frozen faces, as they stood there, not knowing what to do, or maybe Lucifer had them in a demon’s trance. Making them stand silently as they struggled to run free. Why'd he have to make them stay and watch the bloodbath that was sure to follow? She bit her bottom lip looking at Eric, her love. Lucifer cleared his throat.
    "Um, honey I'm over here." Cassandra said, looking back at him.
    "Well?" He had his hands up again.
    She grinned and with stunning speed, moved her hands so fast in an upward X that her arms appeared as brief flashes and two swords were in her hands. In her left hand, Michael’s sword, a sword with a blade of black fire, the only sword that could defend well in battle against Azazel's and Abaddon's swords; and in her left her own sword, one of the two swords hand crafted by God himself to kill Lucifer. Its twin was possessed by Abaddon. She gave Michael’s sword over to her conduit, and best friend Levi. He took it as if he new exactly what he was doing, but she could sense his rapidly beating heart. Lucifer looked amused.
    "I got Abaddon and Lucifer, just..." she paused. “Just try your best to prolong Azazel from getting to me." She didn’t want to give him false hope. She knew he hated it.
    He just nodded and focussed all his attention to the demon flanking Lucifer’s right.
    "Well, let’s see. You think he can give you enough time to kill Abaddon and get to me, is that correct?" He didn’t want an answer he was just stating the facts.
    "But the funny thing is. He doesn’t know how to wield Michael’s sword, let alone kill a demonically strengthened Archangel do you? He’s just a human bound to be your... Slave... Till you set him free and you Gab." he clapped. "You alone think you can defeat Abaddon and I... while holding that God-forsaken child in your stomach?"
    Levi looked over at her as her face went white, she could feel Eric’s eyes on her from where he stood. Lucifer seemed to scan all of their thoughts.
    "Oh, whoops. Did you never tell him?" he grinned, that terrifying grin.
    "N-no." her voice was small and frail, but she soon pushed that aside, like it would ever change a thing.
    "Sis-" Levi pleaded, but she cut him off.
    " -It doesn’t matter now. Let’s just get this over with. For all we know he could be lying, I cant be pregnant. I’m an Archangel and can only give birth if impregnated by an Archangel."
    Levi looked back at Eric.
    "But he’s-" He started but became silent when her glare sent him back three steps.
    "He's not who we want him to be or thinks he is. Michael is gone, history, died years ago with the others. The man behind us... is just a human, an avatar of what is left of Michael’s soul." It killed her to talk like this but it was true. Levi nodded as two grey blurs zipped past them. Lucifer hand sent his demons to flank the two of them.
    "Shall the bloodbath begin? Its time you two were... permanently terminated." Lucifer started to snap his fingers, as Gabriel took her chance and sized up Abaddon. Her sword dug deep into his chest from behind; as she used her speed to make her body seem transparent as she snuck up behind him. She snarled and no one moved. True, her sword couldn’t kill him, but he would be paralysed for ten minutes at the least. She hoped it gave them enough time.
    "Don’t you even dare think that I will fall with out taking anyone with me!" She twisted the sword in his chest, a loud ripping 'crack' rung through the air, as the Last Battle began.