Sanguinary Angel.

The Drawing Down

Prologue
Swooping low, Lewin threw himself through the narrow street and into the paved city square. Onlookers gawped at the winged man as he flew towards the podium at the far end of the square. A figure crouched on a rooftop and watched Lewin as he sped across the top of the crowed. His long sword shone in the dying light of the sun. Shots rang out across the square; musketeers began to fire from their positions at the podium and the second level balconies. People shrieked and scattered to whatever safety they could find. Lewin began to weave left and right bullets whistled past him. The closer he came to the podium the more shots buzzed past him. He was hit, a bullet tearing through his left shoulder, another through his leg. His speed held and a smirk broke his face, he could see his target, Lahban Sowsier, the demented grin on the face of the politician turned king showed his confidence. Lewis laughed as he closed in on the monarch, a bullet smashing into his pelvis, he ignored the pain and plunged towards Lahban. The king was unarmed and stood with arms outspread as if waiting. As Lewin swung his blade towards the neck of Lahban time seemed to stop. One thought cleared in his mind, it ends so easily. The sword cleared Lahban's neck and left Lewis's hand, seeming to glide through the air as it did so. Lewis continued to move, the power of his charge carried him onwards though his body had no strength left in it, he crumpled into the wooden floor and came to a rest. He began to feel the pain of the bullet wounds intensely, then they began to fade. A cool breeze caressed his face. The world moved like a dream around him, even his own thoughts seemed to come from a far-off place. The end of millennia of war, death and madness. His end, my end.. Lewis smiled as the sun sank below the mountaintop. My end.

The crouching Figure watched the scene below, watched as the head was cut from Lahban, as the decapitated body toppled and as the angel crumpled to the floor. He felt tightness in his throat and tears welled in his eyes. "Rest now, my friend your part is finally over." He stood, took one last look at his fallen friend, turned and began to walk over the rooftop.