Abyss of the Fallen

by Diana Estell

  “I know you don't, but it’s there,” said Dagon in the same sing song voice. “Now, you sit, while I fetch your gift.”

  Dagon came back over to the couch with something hidden under his shirt. He brushed off the couch with his hand and eased himself down.

  “I can get my present from under your shirt if you like.”

  “Just close your eyes.” He wasn’t sure how much his hormones could take with Mary’s persistence.

  “Okay, you can open your eyes now.”

  Her mouth hung open at her surprise.

  “Cigarettes and a lighter?”

  He wasn’t sure if her look projected disappointment or approval.

  “And not just any cigarettes; these are no ordinary smokes. You will be smoking Dagon. That sounded better in private. On second thought, that didn’t sound good either. I don’t think I’ll ever get the knack of this human life.”

  Mary bust up laughing. “Are your home-made cigarettes in my pack?” she asked between breathless gasps.

  “Yep, none other,” he said, then laughed.

  “Do I tap it to light it?”

  “Nope, I rigged you a new lighter. Now, this flame will never run out, but it only works on metal.

  “Only on … oh never mind.” She placed a cigarette in her mouth, and with her new lighter, she lit the end.

  “Looking back, I guess it wasn’t the best gift to give.”

  She took a drag off the cigarette and exhaled. “If it’s from you, then it’s fine. Does it refill by itself?”

  Dagon kissed her cheek. “Yes, it does,” he whispered in her ear.

  With one hand she grabbed a fistful of his hair and brought her mouth to his. The fingers of her other hand cradled the cigarette. The smoke from it lazily spiraled in the air.

  “Why must you always pull away like that?”

  “Mary …”

  “Please don’t feel bad, but I’m trying to quit smoking.”

  Seeing her gently stroke a stray hair of his between her fingers, diffused the awkward interruptions and boomerang conversation shifts.

  “Why would I feel bad about that?”

  “Because you gave me these as a gift.”

  “Gift or no gift, your health is more important.”

  “Have you thought about quitting ever? Your health is important to me as well.”

  “No, not really. I’m too far gone.”

  “No, you’re not. Why would you say something like that?”

  “Why wouldn’t I?”

  “The fact we found each other after centuries would be a clue, that’s why.”

  His kiss said everything he couldn’t.

  “You know, the gift does smell nice.”

  “That’s all right, luv, you don’t have to spare my feelings.”

  “Dagon, it’s …” Mary held the shrinking cigarette between her fingers.

  “It’s all right, that’s what it is. You and I may be the only ones who think they smell even remotely pleasant.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes. It’s hard for me to believe, but I sometimes forget what we have and have not talked about, for our conversations have taken so many unexpected twists and turns. Maybe I’m more human than I think.” He paused. “I’m not saying that you have a bad memory. I’m just drawing a correlation with analysis, between human and Seraphic natural qualities.”

  “What?” Her face trembled, her eyelashes fluttering. Her cigarette bobbed up and down

  “Let me put out the cigarette, Ok?” Mary handed it to him, and he flicked it out. “We’ve covered a lot of ground, that’s all.”

  “How do you figure? You have centuries on me.”

  “For me, we’ve covered a lot of ground.”

  “Yes, I guess we have.” Mary winked.

  Dagon blushed and forged ahead, covering more ground, or perhaps, the ground should cover him up. “There are two Seraphs, who I’ve known for … well … for a very long time and …”

  “The ones who are guarding Mark?”

  “Yes, you remember. Well, they don’t think that my smoke is pleasant at all.” Dagon smirked.

  “Maybe because I have been dreaming of you since I was young, it’s easier to believe in Seraphs. But the thought of others around here is harder to grasp.”

  “Totally understandable.”

  Her shoulders slumped.

  Now what?

  “Do they really not have a choice but to let him go?”

  “They will fight, but they won’t win.”

  “This One Voice that you mentioned many days ago … I think … He’s powerful. I remember you saying that he is the creator of everything. Can’t he do anything about this?”

  “Mary, for now, Savila has dominion over the Second Land. Humanity is bound to her, and so is Mark. Savila told me that blood beyond Mark’s will be claimed. Human blood is guilty and thus stained, so the only thing which could happen is that Savila will rise to power.”

  “The ruler with the Stone of Kings?”

  “Now that’s a good possibility and one I never thought of.”

  “Really, you’ve never thought of this? Didn’t you mention how the Stone of Kings will follow the Stone of Power?”

  “I did, but I assumed it would be the prince from the Golden Land.” He clapped his hands. “Ah … what if the strike is merely symbolic to cut at the heart of the Golden Land through an earthly ruler? A coup de grâce.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “A final blow.” His mouth dried and puckered, emphasizing the incontrovertible truth.

  Mary trembled, and Dagon placed his hand on her shoulder.

  “There is a prince of the Golden Land?”

  “There is.”

  “Is he an angel like you?”

  “There are more than angels in the Golden Land. He is ruler and nothing like me.” He said the last words through clenched teeth.

  “Maybe the prince can do something.”

  “He is not human.”

  “Maybe that’s the point. You’re not human.”

  “Thank you for drawing that point out.”

  “You know what I mean.” She smacked his shoulder.

  “I’m also half-human, the prince is not. I know the Golden Land will try and defeat Savila.”

  “Is this possible?”

  “No, a finite impossibility.” Dagon sighed. Why wouldn’t Mary want to know about all of this? I would if it were me. “The laws are the laws. The blood of humanity is both tainted and bound.”

  “And the prince?”

  “To clean, to reverse the laws. My title is powerful; why else would Savila need it?”

  “Isn’t there another way out of this without bloodshed? There has to be a way to prevent Savila from rising to power.”

  “It is prophecy. Unchangeable prophecy.”

  “Are the Seraphs guarding Mark good or evil?”

  Crestfallen, Dagon stood and walked over to the window. Taking a deep breath, he plunged ahead, taking this opportunity to explain an emotional truth.

  “This is hard to explain and harder yet to say. In a manner of speaking, I guess they are good. Before they gave me the old heave ho out of the Golden Land, I told everyone I was sorry for what I did. No one helped or came to my defense; they just watched me walk away. Not even the One Voice did anything, nothing. I became a pariah.”

  Mary walked over to where he stood and put her arms around him. “I’m sorry, honey.”

  “I know you are, but the consequence is the same.”

  “Yes, but it brought you to me.”

  Dagon turned sharply around. “Do you not think if I could, I would turn back time and spare you from all of this?”

  “But we would never be together.”

  “Yes, but what is love if it only seeks for the sake of oneself? Do not misunderstand what I’m saying, but if I could, I would take back everything I did to save you. Even if it meant I would never be with you. I love you very much.”


  “I could never misunderstand that. I would do the same for you. I love you. Still, we were meant to be together.”

  “Yes. You are my bonded mate and with us co-ruling, we have a chance, but without it, we don’t.”

  “About this bonded mate stuff, what does that mean, really?”

  “Mary, you are my wife.”

  “I’m your what?”

  “My wife. Though it has not yet been made legal in human courts.”

  “We are married?”

  “Yes.”

  Mary opened her mouth, but Dagon held up his hand.

  “Luv, before I found you, as per my agreement with Savila, I knew I would have a bonded mate though at that time, I knew you not. Not until after I clinched the deal, so to speak, did I see you on the bridge. I fell in love with you and hid you in my heart. It was then that I saw my fatal mistake. I knew that I would be made half human, because my title of light is for humanity. Savila told me my title would have to be sealed over humanity and likened unto them and likewise, my bonded mate would be bound to me. At that time, I did not love, only thirsted for dominance. My love for you aside, that does not change what I agreed to.” Dagon paused, allowing Mary time to understand.

  “What happens if we are not properly bound?”

  “We would die, and we would have no chance of helping humanity. Even your sister would suffer a similar fate.”

  “Catherine.” Mary put her hands over her face, then dropped them slowly. “I have not been a good big sister. She’s always been stronger than me in many ways. I’ve been hiding from hurt.”

  “I would like to meet your sister very much. Do you favor each other?”

  “Wait, I’ll find a photo of her.” Mary smiled and left the room.

  She returned holding a photo in her hand. “It’s not current.” She handed the photo to Dagon.

  Dagon looked at the photo. “You do favor each other.”

  “Yes, I guess we do. We are similar height and build, but her hair is straighter than mine.”

  “So, she’s stronger than you? How? You have a strong personality.” Dagon’s eyebrows crested.

  “I know, bossy.”

  “Mary …”

  Mary waved her hands. “Ok. Catherine just has a stronger sense of herself. She came out kicking my mom said.” Mary looked at the photo with Dagon. “I miss her and don’t want anything to happen to her. We must save her.”

  Dagon placed the photo on the couch and held Mary. “This is the cold truth: Mark is tied to you, we are tied to each other, and we are tied to Savila. Each fate rests on and changes with the other, but whatever we can do to protect Catherine, we will.”

  “Will I be immortal then?”

  “Yes, I believe that you will be, for I am immortal and our reign, like Savila’s, will be eternal.”

  Mary seemed somewhat content, yet her expression still seemed torn. When she finally spoke, Dagon’s throat constricted. “Do you need me to rule with you, Dagon?”

  “Baby, why would you ask that?”

  “I don’t know, I just wondered.”

  “Among many things, this has plagued me. The answer to your question, and I hope that it does not sound manipulative, is ‘No.’”

  “No?”

  “Mary, this is likened unto a marital alliance of old. I need you for the title and rule with me you may, but without trying to sound callous, it is not necessary.”

  Mary stiffened, her shrunken cigarette bobbing in her hand. “So I get knocked off in the end. I can’t believe that I—” Mary fell to her knees, crying.

  Dagon stood there, helpless. He may only be half a man, but right now, he needed to be more. He knelt and cradled her. To his relief, she fell into his arms.

  “I would never hurt you. If I could cry right now, I would. You have to believe that I would never hurt you,” said Dagon, as he rocked Mary gently.

  Mary sobbed, and her tears flowed into the forest of his chest, when Dagon groaned loudly in pain.

  “Are you all right? What’s wrong?”

  “I don’t know. I feel something ... moving ... inside my chest.”

  “What … what is it?”

  “Not sure, but it has subsided.”

  “Is it your heart?”

  “No ... maybe I don’t have one.”

  “Of course you have a heart.”

  Mary snuggled against his chest. She ran her fingers through his chest hair, which Dagon enjoyed. Maybe they had a chance.

  What is going on inside of me?

  Something again moved around inside his chest. There are songs which could be written about this stuff. Pieces in the heart … stuck in my heart.

  “Dagon, my tears are going into your chest.” She propped herself on her arm, tracing the area where her tears once were. “And…” She sat up; her eyes open wide. “And … they’re glowing as they disappear. What’s happening? How is this possible?”

  Dagon examined his shirt and chest. “Quite simple, I’m your knight. My heart is but your shield. Your tears are now inside of me, I believe. I will carry your pain, joy, love, fear, everything. I would die for you ... repeatedly, if need be. I would come back to life to give it again for you, over and again.”

  “How is that simple? You’re my knight?”

  “Not in shining armor, but yes, I’m yours.

  “I will carry your pain, joy, love, fear, and everything. I’m yours too. Are my tears really inside of you?”

  “Yes, I believe so. You can’t carry my burdens. They’re too heavy, but I’m glad you’re mine.

  She sat straight as a board. “Look here, Dagon, if we’re together, then we’re together. That means helping each other and sharing.”

  Dagon just nodded.

  “Are my tears causing you pain?” Her eyebrows furrowed. Her nursing fingers examined his chest.

  “The pain, I believe, was my heart warring against itself, warring from the bad decisions that I have made, against the goodness of your love within me.”

  “Your heart is good. Why should it war?” Mary moved her hand over his heart.

  “My old memories are fighting. But I’m strong, baby, strong for you.”

  “I’m strong, too.” She pushed him onto the floor and kissed him.

  His heart, hormones, and emotions warred, but he would win this battle. Holding onto her hips, he lifted her up and set her beside him.

  “We’re married.”

  “Mary, I want to … I really do, but it needs to be fully legal. I don’t care what people think, but we are being watched … and …”

  “We are being watched?” Mary looked toward the window.

  “Not like that, luv. To protect your memories, your joy, your peace, I want everything right. As far as us being watched, I don’t want to give ammunition where it is not needed. I don’t want to be trapped by a hidden loophole. Our marriage being legal is for you, for us.”

  That evening, the semi-married couple lay together on the floor. Mary’s head lay on his chest. “I’m listening to your heartbeat. A heart of gold, of silk, of substance, of love, and of armor.”

  “Your heart beats with strength, kindness, and compassion.” Dagon stroked her hair.

  He listened to Mary’s hidden memories in his heart. Vivid memories of sadness, pain, and regret for not being a better big sister. Some of joy, which now lay in pieces, free floating within the very depths of his being. Hollow voices from the past remained as agonized whispers. Please, leave me alone … Help me … I love you, Mom and Dad … Catherine. These voices mixed with his memories. Murderer… I have been paying …

  He didn’t want Mary to know about the teardrop voices or the pain they caused him. He didn’t want her to deal with anymore, so he stoically kept quiet. The voices screamed on within his heart, though the most troubling voices pumped fresh blood of fury into his veins. Please leave me alone … Help me. Did someone hurt her? His blood boiled while Mary nestled on his chest, fast asleep.

  23

 
It’s Time, Luv

  “You guys better have a good reason for leaving Mary vulnerable,” Dagon shouted at Mr. Cool, Razz, Sledge, and Friar.

  “We did our job, boss. Look at her, how does she look?” Mr. Cool asked.

  “Well, I guess she does look peaceful.”

  Mary groggily called his name, and Dagon reassured her. She told him she dreamt of being a character in Dracula, a book she read long ago.

  “Mary, it’s just a dream.”

  “Someone owes us an apology in shades of green, isn’t that right, boys?” Friar said.

  “Yep, someone does,” said Mr. Cool.

  Verbal ping-pong ceased when the Bennetts left for home. With trepidation, he told Mary that it was almost time. She reacted with a deep sigh as Dagon stroked her hair.

  Offering his hand to Mary, she stood and placed the gifts in her purse.

  “Can I do a load of laundry? It’s easier than hot-wiring the laundromat machines and carrying all those coins … what a pain, plus coins are petty.” Dagon dropped his laundry bag next to the washing machine.

  “What in the world! You want to do this now? With everything about to happen. Wait, you hot-wire machines? Let me get this straight. My boyfriend-husband is a rich, older-than-the-dinosaurs angel with superpowers who steals?”

  “You think I’m older than the dinosaurs?”

  “Well, you are. That’s beside the point. What about stealing and petty stuff?”

  “But at least I look young.”

  “Dagon, just answer the question!”

  “Oh, all right. Picking locks are fun, breaks up boredom. And coins are petty; that’s just the way of it.”

  “So, not only do you hotwire machines, you pick locks?”

  Dagon held up his hand. Mary froze.

  “Mary, it’s time to—”

  “To what? I’m afraid to ask. I’m not ready.”

  “There is no being ready for something like this. I can be with you in the alley at first, but then I have to go into the field.”

  “Are you going to be the one to take him?” Mary was visibly shaken, and he held her.

  “Well … no, but I do have to be there.”

  Mary got up, shaking her hands. “If you go into the field, I’ll be alone in the alley?”