“No!” came Dmitri’s anguished scream. He dropped to his knees beside her, cradling her head in his arms. She began to cough, black ooze came from her mouth, and the area around her chest where she was hit began to fester. Recognising this as the same malady that he had helped refine, he traced the glyphs and summoned fire and water. As he poured the magic into Claudia, she stiffened as it coursed through her. Her breathing returned to normal as the pain began to ease. Then her eyes widened as the corruption got aggressive, attacking without mercy. Dmitri summoned more and more magic, determined to save her. She turned and looked at him, “I love you Dmitri,” she whispered, tears in her eyes.
Dmitri intensified his efforts, “I won’t leave you,” he replied through clenched teeth, tears streaming down his face.
She reached up with one hand, the corruption beginning to track down towards her hands, turning them black, “You gave me everything I need, I’m dying happy,” she croaked through parched lips.
Dmitri looked towards the sky, where Uriel was evading Akahaziel’s magic, “Uriel,” he cried out, his voice breaking, “I need you to help me!” His magic unable to stem the flow of corruption, he held her hand tightly; letting go would be giving up.
Uriel landed behind him and rushed over, kneeling beside Dmitri, “I’m sorry Dmitri,” he said softly, “she’s gone.”
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“No!” denied Dmitri, “She can’t be, we’re going to be free together!”
“Dmitri,” whispered Uriel gently but firm, “We need to get you out of here, I’ll take you to her, some years from now.”
“But she is here!” snapped Dmitri.
Uriel sighed and turned to Wayte, “Guardsman, I need you to perform one final duty, protect Dmitri and I while I Shift him away.”
Wayte saluted, “May you find happiness yet Dmitri,” he said softly.
Dmitri moaned and clutched Claudia closer. Uriel raised his hands and began to chant, an unearthly chorus rose to accompany Uriel’s chant. Dmitri broke down once more upon hearing it, knowing that Claudia would have found it beautiful. He looked up at Uriel; a whirlwind of feathers was beginning to envelope the two of them.
In the air above them, now able to fly, Akahaziel was relishing each kill as he launched each corruption blast at the pitiful humans scurrying around below. It had brought such pleasure reducing Dmitri to a blubbering mess. Suddenly, he could sense a different sort of magic than what Dmitri and Claudia had used; Uriel! He scanned the area, looking for the Arch-angel. There! Standing there his arms raised, chanting. No! Not this time! Akahaziel unleased a blast of corruption directly at Uriel.
Dmitri felt as if he was in another world as the sound of Uriel’s chant washed over him, growing towards a crescendo. Through the whirlwind of feathers, he could see a dark shape in the air; Akahaziel! He saw the demon unleash a blast of magic towards Uriel. He cried out, reaching towards Uriel when an awful scream ripped through his mind and feathers flew everywhere. Dmitri’s mind was in agony, as if he had been torn from existence. His vision went black, releasing him from the pain. All was silent.
