There was a deafening silence in the woods. The battle had waged for no more than an hour. Sounds of combat filled the mountainside. Falling to nothing more than the wind kissing through the trees. Swords had clashed, ending in a quietness. Gasping breaths disseminated to nothing more than the echoing unspoken words of fear and hope. The moon beaming down in a burning light of solitude. All eyes blinded by David’s. His wounds closed instantaneously as he stood from the floor. No thoughts passed through his mind, as if he were possessed by another entity entirely. Eve looked on at his stature, shoulders locked to the sides. Gabriel’s brother was standing before him, but he didn’t feel his presence. It was one of another, as a stranger.

  David’s hair flowed as if a calm wind blew through it, though the winds of the Earth were brought to a sudden halt at Gabriel’s last blow through his horn. Eve attempted to reach for him, in desperation to feel his lively touch once more. Though Virgil had kept her pulled back, grabbing onto her forearm. “David!” She cried out.

  “That’s not David!” Virgil screamed at her, tightening his grip. David snapped his neck, looking in the two’s direction. Virgil was terrified, not understanding how such a cosmic power had never been witnessed before. Nor has he ever read or heard about once in his life. Eve looked at David’s energy, no longer bearing a resemblance to his own. It was both serene and chaotic, incompletable to her eyes. The pure essence of white.

  David turned his head back to the battleground, stepping forward. Men and women of the Order stepped aside immediately, moving slowly to his rear. Abandoning the fight with the Legion. Falling inside the entrance of the Commune, taking defensive position behind the pillars. Eve broke Virgil’s grip, smacking him inside of his elbow. She ran up, behind the pillar. Grabbing it as the wind around David picked up, forcing her from going any further.

  David finally spoke, with an echoing heavy voice. “Give up your arms, and you will be given the light of mercy.” He commanded.

  “Do not be afraid my Legion. It is nothing but a ruse!” One of the Dark Ones said, pointing their finger at him. The Legion stood their ground, preparing to attack.

  “Those who lay down their weapons and bow, will not be harmed,” David said once more.

  “He can’t take us all! He doesn’t even have a weapon!” One acolyte called, covered in dirt, and sweat. He leaped forward at David, four others joining with him. In an instant, David formed one sword of light in his palms, slashing one down as he turned to nothing more than ash. Forming a spear of light in the other, David impaled one as he slashed the other two down. Their bodies follow that of their fellow brother. No one had seen it coming, nor were they even sure what happened. It had happened like a flash.

  “I will say, one last time. The light of the father knows mercy, but it also knows justice.” David commanded as the weapons disappeared. The Legion now divided, one half still prepared to fight and die for their chance of freedom. The other’s slightly losing grip on their weapons. Questioning if what they were fighting for was worth their lives. Or if they were deceived all along.

  Gabriel had laid his back against the elevator, taking full sight of his brother. Not sure if he was captivated by the beauty of David’s light. Or terrified by its unprecedented power. Though he was now sure, David had a special power all along. He was the hand of God himself. Eve was still being blown back, every attempt she had made to reach him, was met with a stronger push against her.

  The sounds of steel falling to the grass and cobblestone followed, as well as the sound of knees. Falling forward overcome by themselves, their fear overcame them. Nearly half of the Legion had surrendered their arms, begging for their lives with their heads against the dirt. “Cowards!” The Dark One called out. “Kill him!” He called out. As a now unmotivated army of the darkness stood before David, shouting their final war cries before charging at him.

  The weapons of light formed again, David striking down acolyte after acolyte. Ashes of their brothers floated in the wind like a sandstorm. One had struck at an opening at David’s back, though not even making it close. A shield was summoned behind him. Blocking the attack. David turned around, stabbing his spear through his stomach, turning him to ash. Changing his grip to the center, swinging it around cutting down others with the tip. Every strike was perfect as if David knew where everyone was at every turn. Once there was a slight break in the action, David grabbed the spear as if it was a javelin. Launching it out, breaking the sound barrier. The pulse in the air turned all who were standing with a sword to ash. Stabbing into one of the Dark Ones as he faded into nothing but a shadow. Proving nothing more to Master Hawkins, that they had committed heart, mind, and soul to the darkness.

  The attack proved that they stood no chance against David’s aura. Though they had to strike before he could kill one more of them. They leaped from their positions, charging at David as if they were flying from the gate. David grabbed one that Master Hawkins had burned earlier, by the head dodging the other’s thrusting attack. Blades made of pure darkness; a polar opposite of David’s weapons made of pure light. David spun around, throwing the burnt one against the wall. David blocked the last one with his sword. Parrying him quickly, stabbing David in the stomach. Though David stood unfazed, grabbing onto his arm. Slamming his forearm against his elbow, snapping it along with his sword. Releasing a demonic scream, David removed his hood. Grabbing onto the top of his head. “Repent,” David said one and only once.

  “No.” He said spitting at him. A cracking in his face began as light poured through like a volcanic eruption of fire. The man screamed, his eyes pouring with light as he finally exploded into a flash of light. Once his wound had healed. The final Dark one took no time, recovering from their injuries and spinning into a black hole. Retreating from the battle entirely, they had lost all hope in the skirmish against the Order. Living to fight another day. David turned to the rest of the Legion, those still not wishing to bow. Charged away, fearful of their demise. They turned accepting their defeat, having lost all their leaders and most of their army. They ran to the gate, fleeting with nothing more than their downfall.

  David lifted his hands as they ran, his feet levitating only inches from the ground. His head turned towards the night sky, firing singular beams of light striking two retreating soldiers at a time. Repeatedly. The winds around him lifted in a gust of energy. Drawing from everyone around him, Eve saw as each person’s energy left their bodies. Kevin along with the Watchers closest to David began to fall to their knees. As if their spirits were being taken from their bodies slowly.

  Eve forced herself forward, she had to stop him before David would bring the end to them all. She could see his skin breaking from the overload of energy within his body. She pushed forward, her hand raised blocking the light and spinning winds against her eyes. “Eye!” Gabriel yelled out, not being able to lift himself from the ground. It was a massacre of the enemies running for their lives in a panic. He would never do this, she had to hope. Hope to stop him from committing any more needless death. She kept taking strides forward, stumbling and catching herself. She was the only one to stop him. Her crystal neckless blowing behind her along with her hair. She was halfway there, stumbling over, catching herself from being blown away.

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  “David!” She cried out, she picked herself back up from the ground. She charged forward, driving everything she had into her feet. Lifting one at a time. More and more were being murdered, nothing left of them but their ashes in the wind and their swords left behind. Once next to him, she reached out. Her hands burned, grinding her teeth in agonizing pain. This was not energy she could touch. Reverting her energy into a shield around her fingers and palm, she pushed through the aura. Grabbing David’s thigh, gripping tightly. “If you can hear me!” She pleaded up to him. “Please stop this! This is not you!” She screamed, tears burning away from the radiating heat.

  Everyone was lying on the ground, gasping for air. Gabriel reached out to Allison lying next to him, his vision fading. Mustering everything to crawl next to her, it was helpless. All he could do was slide his hand under hers gripping it tightly. She turned her head towards him, eyes full of fear of death. Stephen managed to crawl over to Virgil, who had passed out. Fighting everything to slap him awake, “wake….up.” He said as Virgil opened his eyes. Virgil never had a high energy reserve; he had the worst of times holding onto life. He starred at Stephen, nodding his head slowly. “Breathe,” Stephen told him. Ethan and Chris had fallen into a deep sleep. The only way their bodies knew was to conserve their last handful of spirit. Kevin crawled over to Jasmine.

  “You’re not going to die a guardian.” He said, transferring some of his energy to her. She slapped his arms away.

  “Neither are you.” She said Jasmine believed now that she was content with death. Kevin wasn’t going to let her. Not now. Richard slammed his hands to the ground, using his energy to pour into a shield around the entrance. Though it was helpless, his strength fell as he passed out. Janice charged over to him from her position, pulling out her shield placing it on top of both of them.

  “I have seen too much death today for you to go as well.” She muttered. Impressed by his valiant effort. Everyone was doing their best to hold on if it had not ended soon. They would fall into their early passing into the afterlife.

  David shifted his head towards Eve, taking a break from the massacre. “David. Please.” She said, pulling on him, her gentle tug was enough for him to lower to the ground. Placing his feet on the ground. “If there is anything left of the boy I love in there. Please, this isn’t like you.” She grabbed him by his face, “It’s over. You can stop.” She said looking into his eyes. Though she could see past the blinding light, seeing his slight green iris.

  “I can’t,” David said, his voice had returned. “They deserve this.” He said once more.

  “This isn’t you, David. You’re merciful, I am begging you with everything. Please stop.” She repeated to him.

  “What kind of world is this if there is nothing but pain and sorrow from the wars they make?” Every bit of patience he once had, was not overshadowed by his hatred and vengeance. Wrath had come over David’s heart.

  “One where we give forgiveness and love. The forgiveness and love for the world that you had taught me to bear.” She said, pulling his face closer to hers. She didn’t care that his forehead burned hers as she rested on it. Her energy field was dissipating. David’s eyes eased; the light dimmed. His green eyes were breaking through his luminescent sclera. “Please…” Her voice grew weaker along with her body.

  David lifted his chin, pressing his lips against hers heavily. She returned his touch, the winds surrounding them and falling to the ground. The glow in his broken skin faded away, only leaving scars all over his body. Looking like cracks in a dry desert, Eve wrapped her arms around him. As they continued, the fires stopped. The moon turned back to its normal silver light on the forest tops. David grabbed her head, passionately. Neither of them had felt more at peace than at that moment. Eve had never felt as one with another person before David. As if the tapestry of stars were surrounding them within space and time itself. Energy broke from them, returning to where they once belonged.

  Gabriel was shocked back to life, like being hit with a jolt of lightning. As well as the rest of the Watchers. David’s body wore tiresomely. Falling to his knees out of Eve’s arms. Lying down on the ground dwindling into a deep sleep. Eve looked down at him, failing to catch him. She dropped down as well, was he dead? She panicked. Placing her hands on his chest, his warm chest raised and lowered steadily. She took a deep breath, glad that he had been alive. Even after it all, she was proud he was now at respite. As the Earth fell back into a balance and rest, so did her head against his chest.

  Everyone awoke from their slumber, coughing and breathing as if brought back to life. Stephen picked himself up, looking at the remnants of the battlefield. The last of the Legion were long gone into the forest. The surrenders were still bowing, afraid of standing. Unexpectant of retaliation, David had stricken a fear deep inside of them. Never to recover from again. Stephen walked around, helping each up from the ground. Kevin reached his hand out to Jasmine, pulling her up to her feet. The guardians recovered. Walking over to the surrendered Legion, placing bindings around their wrists. Allison opened her eyes, scooting over to Gabriel. Placing her hands on his legs to heal them.

  “It’s over, isn’t it?” He asked her.

  “For now.” She said Allison knew that their war was never over. Everyone knew they would fight in this battle for the rest of their lives. Understanding that they were bound to this life, their only release was death.

  “Stop healing me,” Gabriel said to her. “I just want to lay here with you for a while.” Allison managed to crack a smirk, although they had all had almost lost their lives. She was simply happy it wasn’t that way. Allison lifted him up, lying his back against the wall. She sat down, Gabe putting his arm around her shoulder.

  “What do we do about them?” Allison asked him. Looking at Eve and David, asleep in the grass.

  “Nothing.” Gabriel said, “No one will say anything.”

  “He broke his oath,” Allison muttered.

  “He broke it a long time ago when he saw her,” Gabriel told her under his breath. He no longer cared, nothing mattered to him at that moment. No oaths, no council, no war. All that mattered to him is that they had each other. Besides one.

  Jasmine trod across the grass, walking up to Carlos’ body. Now at peace, dropping to her knees. Tears poured down her face immediately, she promised she wouldn’t cry. Not in front of him, her promise to herself was now broken. Placing her head against his arm, as she lifted it. Chris squatted down next to her. Placed one hand on her back, rubbing it trying to counsel her. Fighting his tears, he knew better not to cry. Reaching over, he closed Carlos’ eyelids. His best friend was now gone, they both believed he was now at rest in the heavens above. However, heaven had felt so far away.

  Master Hawkins got on one knee, tired and brittle next to Eve and David. “We should get them inside where it’s warm.” He said softly to Ethan and Richard.

  “Don’t.” She said in the quiet, she felt at peace. Her body was in pain, not wanting to move it any more than she had to from her serene mind. Wanting to remain ignorant from the aftermath of the battle for as long as she could. Eve was in a dream, and she did not want to awake to reality.