Chapter Twenty-Four

These Eyes are not my Eyes

“Kayde, I don’t want you here.” Lucien murmured as he topped the stairs and paused at the threshold to his bedroom.

“I want to be with you...” Kayde responded quietly

“JUST LEAVE!” Lucien barked. “Go be with your brother!”

Kayde jumped slightly at Lucien’s harsh tone, but wouldn’t back down. “Stop being mean to me!” he responded, hurt, just before breaking down into tears. “I-I just want to be with you! I don’t want you to be alone!” He added as he boldly threw his arms around Lucien and squeezed tightly.

“Kayde...”Lucien softened his tone drastically while he nudged the boy gently “Please let go”

Kayde whined softly but did as he asked, before the other turned to face him and wrap his arms around him.

“I’m sorry.” Lucien sighed as he stroked the other gently and held him. “You’ve always been such a good friend.” He smiled ever so faintly. “I would like it if you came to sit with me.” He tried to shuffle the angel towards the bed.

“I didn’t mean to yell at you...” Kayde said meekly, as he sat on the edge of the bed, wiping his eyes. “I just... you...”

“Shh...” Lucien interrupted him. “It’s okay” He pulled the boy close and held him gently. “I’m lucky to have you guys, and I’m sorry for yelling at you. Just be a little patient with me, okay?” He exhaled audibly.

“When Sareth leaves, it makes me sad too.” Kayde said “You’ve both come and gone more times than I can really remember and I still cry every single time.” He confessed. “I don’t want to lose either of you anymore.”

“That... What bothers me the most right now is... what those demons could be doing to him, Kayde. You know?” Lucien laid back in the bed. “It makes me feel so furious and helpless at the same time. They have him somewhere and can do to him whatever they want, and there’s nothing I can do to prevent it.”

“I want to go rescue him too, you know.” Kayde said. “We’re just sitting here while there’s no telling what they’re doing to him.”

“Where would they be keeping him?” Lucien questioned

“I have no idea, Lucien”

“He’s in the stockade outside the execution yard.” An unfamiliar voice interrupted on the two boys. As they both looked towards the source of the intrusion, they would see Loki standing at the door and leaning against the frame nonchalantly.

“Who’re you?!” Kayde hopped to his feet immediately, unable to ascertain who or what the person was.

“Kayde wait.” Lucien grabbed the boy and pulled him back to the bed. “That’s Loki.”

“Aha., please. Eamon will suffice.” The dark haired boy grinned faintly.

“Loki? Kayde questioned, sounding alarmed. “He’s a Nephilim! W-w... why is he here?!”

“It’s a very long story.” Loki said fondly. “Needless to say that I realized the Nephilim way of doing things isn’t the only way to do things. But listen Lucien...” He stepped towards the two boys. “If I could promise you that I’ll see to it that Caelan does not suffer any, would you like that?”

“It’s a trick!” Kayde objected immediately. “He wants something from you!”

“Your little friend is quite astute.” Loki interjected. “However.. it is not what you think”

“You know I would want that more than anything...” Lucien said softly. “But what is it that you want from me?”

Loki gave a coy glance to the boy. “For this favor... I would ask you to make me into an angel” He said after quite a pause. “You must realize that I am putting myself at great risks if I do this for you, and I believe you will find that what I am asking of you is reasonable.”

“An angel?” Lucien pondered. “But why do you need to be an angel to be a good person?”

“But you don’t seem to understand, my boy. Nephilim is in my soul. This Eamon person you see before you is but a mask that I wear.” Loki learned forward and closer to the two angels. “Would you allow me the pleasure of showing you my true face? Then perhaps you might understand my request better.”

Lucien nodded, while Kayde could only stare at the dark being with curiosity.

“Very well.” He gave a grin before grasping his chin and tugging at it until a seam was revealed, and a mask began to become apparent upon the demon’s face. With one quick motion, the face of the boy that he was wearing was quickly removed, and what lurked underneath was the unmistakable façade of demon. His eyes were deep black pools devoid of life and his face was thin and gaunt, stretched in an unnatural manner. His hair was now white and stringy, and his ears were long and pointed. His height and other physical attributes seemed to have changed as well, including his posture. He resembled a much younger version of the old man that Lucien and Caelan met in the woods so long ago, except that two knobby horns could be seen perched atop his head.

Kayde couldn’t help but draw away from the demon , feeling quite uncomfortable, but Loki quickly grabbed his arm.

“Does this face displease you, child?” Even his voice and diction had changed. It seemed his whole personality was different. “You’ve not the faintest clue of how many children I have killed to steal their faces, nor do you have the faintest clue of the things that I want to do to you right now. You offend my senses. You disgust me, you filthy angel.”

Kayde quickly jerked his arm away from the creature and recoiled to get some distance from the thing. He was only a few moments away from drawing his weapon on it before Lucien interrupted.

“Please stop.” Lucien spoke softly as he grasped Loki’s arm. “I want your help.”

“And why should I help you, angel? What reason in the whole of the cosmos would compel me to want to help you?” Loki retorted.

Lucien could say nothing to the demon, but instead he rasped the demon’s hand to remind him of the mask, and motioned it back towards his face.

Loki made an incredibly dark scowl at Lucien, but returned the mask to his face without any objections. Once in contact with skin, it sealed itself once again. And his body and form re shifted back to that of Eamon. “I-.. I apologize.” The dark boy stammered slightly and backed away from the two, feeling entirely ashamed of his words and his actions.

“Is it true?” Kayde asked immediately. “Is it true that you kill children and steal their faces?”

“Not in a very long time...” Loki replied quietly. “This face is the last face that I ever stole from anyone. They all have their own personality... but this is the one that I want to keep... even though it is not my own.” He smirked. “I’m living a lie... if you make me into an angel... it will become the truth.”

“But I am not sure how to do that yet...” Lucien responded.

“It’s okay. I am sure that you will repay me someday.” He smiled faintly.

“I remember you...” Kayde furrowed his brow and scowled slightly. “Me and my brother fought you many years ago.”

“I’m sorry...” Loki said softly. “I honestly do not remember. I hope I did not put you through too bad of an experience.”

“Nothing any worse than the rest of the Nephilim, so you’ll have to forgive me if I try to talk Lucien out of this.” Kayde murmured.

“Then I suppose it is I that owe you.” Loki nodded. “I will do this thing for you, and ask of nothing in return.” he glanced at Kayde. “For you and Lucien, and your brother... and for Caelan. It is very Nephilim of me to expect something in return, I reckon.”

Kayde glanced away, actually feeling a bit of shame over his harsh attitude towards the boy.

“Please.” Lucien interrupted again. “Just help him. If he has to die, don’t let him suffer.”

Loki smiled. “I understand what everyone else sees in you now. You really are something.” He cautiously reached a hand out to place atop Lucien’s head.

“How are you going to going to accomplish what you say?” Kayde asked of the dark one. “Those two demons are like nothing I’ve ever seen.

“Heh.” Loki grinned. “I am quite familiar with those two, and their tricks. I am far more cunning than the two of them combined. They’re flippant, rash and impulsive. It’s a great weakness.”

“Yes.. but.. how?” Kayde continued. “What will you do, and why will you not rescue them instead?”

Loki sighed. “I am afraid that there is only one way out of this situation for Caelan. The question is... how long are you willing to let him stay in the hands of those Nephilim?” He paused. “I’ve already planted the seed of suggestion in the mind of one of the church officials. What Hugiin and Muniin don’t know... is that the humans are planning to execute Caelan tonight.”

“Wait!” Lucien finally chimed in. “You’re going to kill him?!”

“What would you have me do, Lucien?” Loki asked. “Two Anunnaki, one Grigori, and the Metatron himself could not prevent those two from taking a casualty. Kaydin’s hands are tied...The only thing that can be done is to wait for you to realize your full powers, and possibly defeat them. Until then, the best I can do is manipulate the humans into acting without the demon’s wishes.”

“My ring...” Lucien thought out loud. “I need to find out where my ring is! Caelan would know... if I could ask him.” he sighed. “If I had it, I’m sure that I would remember everything, and get all of my powers back!”

“You will get your ring when you age of sixteen years. Not a day sooner unless master Caelan says otherwise.” A small voice came from somewhere near the ceiling.

“What the hell?!” Both Kayde and Lucien jumped, as Loki straightened himself and perked a brow.

“A gnome?” The demon questioned, half amused.

“Master Loki. It is a pleasure to see you again.” A little man peered down from the edge of the bed frame overhead.

“Couldn’t I persuade you to hand over this child’s ring?” Loki pressed the issue, as both Kayde and Lucien just stared in bewilderment

“Did you know that little man was up there?” Kayde asked quietly.

“Yeah.. but I didn’t know that he was alive...” Lucien said .

“’Fraid not. I am to do as master Caelan bids, and nothing more.” The small gnome replied “But t‘won’t be much longer until I can relinquish the artifact. Patience, sirs”

Lucien started to take a stand but was stopped by Loki. “You can’t convince him otherwise.” The demon murmured. “He is but a golem, existing only to do his master’s bidding.

“But... I need that ring.” Lucien said softly. “Caelan would want me to have it now more than ever.”

“Patience child. Trust that Caelan knew what he was doing.” Loki reminded. “Everything will work out.”

“How do you know?!” Lucien shot back. “Everyone keeps saying that but how can they know?! It’s like none of you care what’s going on and it’s pissing me off! You all keep saying that it’ll be okay, but none of you are doing a damned thing to MAKE it okay!”

Kayde wrapped his arm around the boy and pulled him close to hold him. “If you want to try and rescue him, I will help you...” He said softly.

Lucien gazed at the other boy for long moments to take consideration of his offer, before finally realizing that even he himself couldn’t allow anyone else to put themselves in danger to try and rescue Caelan. He suddenly understood why no one was willing to let him put himself in danger by risking it as well. “No...” the boy finally stated. “I can’t let you do that.. and I can’t let Caelan’s sacrifice go to waste by putting myself in danger either”

“That’s a smart boy.” Loki said before patting Lucien gently. “I need to get going if I am going to put my plan into action. I’ve still yet to figure out how I am going to keep the demons from noticing that the humans have taken Caelan .”

“Those miserable humans... They’re just as responsible for all of this...” Lucien growled in derisiveness. “Is this how they show their gratitude for us? We could just leave this planet and let you demons have them all.”

“Please don’t talk that way...” Loki sighed. “That is exactly what we would want you to do... so that in the years to come... we could use your own creations as soldiers in the war against you.”

“Why are you all so evil?” Lucien asked. “Why do you get such joy out of hurting us?”

“I... I don’t know.” Loki turned away. “It’s like we’re created with these things imbedded in our souls... it’s like... having someone else’s thoughts inside your mind. The hatred is... not our own. It... comes from somewhere else.”

“So you’re... like... slaves?” Kayde questioned.

“I suppose that one could put it that way.” Loki replied. “I’ve pondered it all the years since I left Caelan when he was but a boy. It was as I began to become close to him and come to know the kindness he was capable of that I realized the hatred I felt for him was not my own. He always treated me well, and no matter what... I still hated him, and I could never figure out why.” He sighed deeply “It made no sense to me, so I tried to silence that hatred. I wanted badly to return the kindness that he showed me, back to him. So... I did the only kind thing that I could do for him. I knew he wasn’t safe as long as I was near him, so I left. In the years since then ... I have learned to ACT kind, but it still doesn’t feel real to me.” He gazed at Lucien. “I want to be free of this.”

“As soon as I can fix it, Eamon... I will.” Lucien said.

Kayde reached out and grasped the hand of the dark one. “I’m sorry. I really had no clue. I guess some of you are victims just as much as we are. This sorta complicates things”

Loki smiled faintly. “You’re good friends, but I must depart now. I will return later this evening; do try to let everyone know as so they don’t attack me.”

“If you see Caelan, tell him I love him.. please..” Lucien said with a meek frown.

“If things work out, I will take you so that you can tell him yourself.” Loki replied before vanishing in a swirl of dark shadows.

“The whole world has been turned upside down, Kayde.” Lucien murmured “Caelan is missing, a demon is helping us... the Nephilim are fighting amongst themselves...”

“This war will never cease to surprise me” Kayde murmured softly.

“And I have headboard carvings that come to life and can talk!” Lucien added with a simper as he glanced up towards the gnome man, rather annoyed.

“At least you still have a sense of humor...”

“I don’t know what else I can do. I feel pissed off at everything right now” Lucien sighed. “I feel utterly helpless. No one prepared me for this.”

“There’s no way for anyone to prepare for something like this, Lucien.” Kayde said as he allowed himself to lie down on the bed

“I guess” Lucien said as he flopped back into the bed himself, defeated. “What am I gonna do, Kayde?”

Kayde grabbed the boy’s hand and held it gently. “Just be patient Lucien... Just be patient.”

“Mm.” Lucien hummed softly as he lay on his back and allowed his mind to wander.

It was really the first quiet moment he’d gotten since the disappearance of his other half . He was not one who handled sudden and unexpected changes well, and the effects of this particular, jarring blow were just beginning to creep their way unto the boy. For the moment, all he could do was stare up at the ceiling while he lost himself within his own thoughts. As he grasped for a pillow to cover his face with, and stifle the tears that he couldn’t stop from flowing, he sighed deeply to inhale the scent of his missing companion – his love.

Slowly the edges of sleep began to creep upon him as he lay motionless and defeated on the bed. Strange vision like dreams began to permeate and mix with his thoughts which gave way to vivid mental images of Caelan. This served to comfort and lull the boy off into sleep which instantly brought a new change of scenery to him once the world of dreams finally claimed him.

Suddenly he found himself running down an unknown street in what appeared to be a middle class suburb. It was a semi-wooded area, and many of the houses on either side of the road were large. Up and down the street were several parked cars, and the area was quite a contrast to anything Lucien had ever seen in the Area of Wissembourg. For only a brief moment did he feel the shock of unfamiliarity fall over him -- and it was enough to make him stop dead in his tracks -- but he quickly recognized where he was and what he was doing. He assumed the identity of the person in the dream, and everything seemed normal again.

“Um... Alex?” A dark haired boy that’d been running with him stopped only a few feet ahead. “We gotta get to school. We’re already late.” He paused in consideration and returned to the blonde boy’s side. “You feelin’ okay?”

“Yea, Sareth,... I... think so.” Alex responded with a noticeably uneasy tone. His voice carried slight British accent. “I just...” He paused. “Ah.. it’s nothing” He shook his head.

“I know we haven’t known each other for that long, but you can tell me if something is bothering you.” Sareth smiled before nudging the boy.

Alex grinned faintly with fondness “I just... felt this... tremendous sadness come over me all of a sudden.” He tried to laugh it off. “Must be turning emo.”

“Aha.” Sareth laughed. “You can’t be emo and blonde at the same time.” He teased.

“Is that so?” Alex responded with a simper as he tugged the sleeves of his shirt in a self-conscious manner before hiding his hands inside of them. “How about we just skip school for today?” he suggested as he shifted awkwardly.

“The biggest nerd that I’ve ever known wants to skip school? Now I know the end of the world really is near” Sareth nudged the boy again before turning around to walk back in the same direction he’d been running from. “Let’s go then.”

“Where you goin’? Alex questioned curiously as he secured his book bag and hurried to catch up with the other.

“I’m gonna go to the park, I think. Maybe sit and read.”

“Oh.” Alex replied in an uncharacteristically meek manner. He was not used to being this self conscious and unconfident around anyone. He was usually the one keeping everyone else on their toes, but Sareth kept those tables turned on him somehow... and it thoroughly intrigued him.

“You can come too” Sareth said with a smile.

“Okay” Alex replied with a fond grin just before the dream seemed to skip ahead and fast forward, much as they often do. He next found himself sitting on a bench under an enormous oak tree that seemed a relic from an ancient era. Sareth was sitting just next to him and had his nose buried in a book, while Alex was occupied with watching the geese splash about in the pond.

“Sar...” Alex finally spoke up, having more than sated himself on the silence. “Do you think there will be a nuclear war?” He drew his attention away from the birds and gazed over at the one on the bench beside him.

“Does that worry you?” Sareth looked across to the other and gently closed his book.

“Well... uh. I don’t know. I suppose that it does.” Alex responded as he pulled his knees up to rest his chin on them.

“Alex...” Sareth began “Can I ask you a question?”

“Uh... sure” The boy answered.

“You’re one of the most self-confident people I’ve ever met. How come you always seem so shy and timid around me?” Sareth asked with a faint grin.

Alex picked his head up from his knees and looked over at Sareth with a furrowed brow. He’d not been expecting such a question, and it caught him unprepared. “Ah... um... I --”

“What could it be...?” Sareth leaned closer to the boy. “Do I intimidate you?”

Alex began to blush faintly at first. “No...” He said very softy. “You don’t intimidate me.”

Sareth suddenly smiled big and roughed up the boy’s hair. “You’re cute.”

Alex’s blush deepened at that comment.

“Ha! So that’s it.” Sareth responded to the noticed blush. “Can’t resist me, eh?” He snickered.

“Wh... what?!” Alex shot back his reply. “I- I’m not gay!” He recoiled quickly and straightened himself up to try and look as serious as possible.

“Oh geeze. I have found you to be adorable since the moment I met you.” Sareth grinned. “And it’s got nothing to do with being gay.” He winked.

“R-really..?” He tried to allow himself to relax. “You don’t think that I’m weird?”

“Never” Sareth smiled “You’re one of the most intelligent, witty, well spoken and articulate people I know... well.. except for when you’re around me.” Sareth grinned. “I think that makes you very attractive and impossibly adorable.”

Alex shrunk slightly and blushed again, noticeably responding to the compliments he was given by Sareth. Of course, he’d been fairly used to hearing such compliments throughout his life, but they seemed to carry far more weight whenever Sareth said them. “I’m glad.” He finally sighed out his brief reply, really unable to say much else towards the situation.

“Oh, just come here.” Sareth reached out an arm towards the boy and urged him to come closer so that he could hold him.

Alex glanced at the arm briefly before he smiled at recognition of what was being offered to him. He inched himself closer to the boy sitting next to him before he nestled in close and relaxed comfortably against him. “It’s really strange that I haven’t known you for very long... but it feels like I’ve known you all of my life. From the first time I met you in class, you felt like someone who was very important to me.”

Sareth chuckled. “Maybe I am.” He patted the shoulder of the blonde boy gently. “You feeling more comfortable now?”

“Yeah...” Alex sighed softly, releasing some of his own tension as he realized that the place he suddenly found himself in was incredibility comfortable and familiar to him. “I dunno what it is about you”

“A-ha.” Sareth squeezed fondly. “Not to worry. You’ve had the same effect on me.”

Alex grinned. “Can’t resist me either, huh?” He said a he nudged the other and finally rested his head on the shoulder of the boy.

“Resist you?” Sareth grinned. “I’ve never been able to resist you, Lucien.”

“Lucien?” Alex gave a puzzled look to Sareth. “How’d you know my middle name?”

“Uh.” Sareth faltered slightly. “Well... there’s a lot that I know about you, though that just happened to be a coincidence.”

“Really, now?” Alex grinned faintly, thinking that the other boy was just joking around or kidding. Anyone could’ve easily learned what his middle name was. “What else do you know about me, then mistah stalker?”

“Well... I know that you really enjoy walking around at night and gazing at the stars. I know the familiarity that you feel while watching them, and slight sense of homesickness and sadness that comes with it.” Sareth said, pausing before revealing more.

“How... did you know that?” Alex asked, feeling somewhere uneasy and quite intrigued. He’d never told anyone such things and felt slightly vulnerable, yet comfortable with the fact that Sareth was aware of them.

“Because... I feel the same way when I look at them.” Sareth responded softly. “I also know that you have a fascination with angels, just as I do... and you probably even pray to them.”

“What are you trying to tell me?” Alex furrowed his brow.

“That this is not the first time me and you have been together” he replied with all seriousness in his expression. “I am familiar to you, and know stuff about you because we have shared many lifetimes together.”

“... Past lives?” Alex questioned, looking even more intrigued than before.

“Mmmhmm.” Sareth hummed.

“You mean to tell me that we’ve had past lives together... and that you can remember them?” He was still unsure if he believed the other, though it interested him highly. For that moment he put a bit of space between himself and the other boy, though he was still unsure of how he should react to Sareth’s claim. “Tell me more...” He requested, cautiously.

“Lucien!” A voice pierced the boy’s sleep and pulled him out of slumber immediately. Standing at the door was Kaydin, who was gazing at the boy. “If you wanna go see Caelan, hurry up and get ready.”

“Wh-what?” Lucien stammered and tried to get a grip on his surroundings. The dream was so real to him that now reality itself seemed like the dream and for a few moments the Alexander identity still lingered within him before finally fading. “What... just happened?” He asked timidly as he gazed up at Kaydin, suddenly realizing what was going on and where he was.

“I’m going to take you to see Caelan.” Kaydin reiterated as he moved to wake Kayde up, who’d fallen to sleep as well. “But we have to go right now” The angel added.

“O-okay..” Lucien responded, still feeling somewhat disoriented. He found that bits and pieces of memory from when he was Alexander lingered with him, though none of it was really much consequence. He could remember his mother during that life time, the house he lived in, the school he went to... and even the first day that he met Sareth. None of it brought him anymore insight on who he was as an angel, or any of his powers.

“We.. fell asleep? Kayde questioned as he groggily pulled himself to his feet. He was left feeling somewhat guilty that he could be caught sleeping during such a dire turn of events, and while Caelan could’ve been enduring torture, or things much worse.

“It’s okay” Kaydin said softly to the boy. “You and your brother are coming as well.”

“Did you meet Loki?!” Kayde questioned, immediately remembering his encounter with the demon.

“Loki?” Kaydin questioned. “What are you talking about?”

“He came here...” Lucien said softly. “He said that he was going to see to it that Caelan was not tortured and tormented at the hands of the demons.

“A demon came here.. and you didn’t... tell us?” Kaydin looked at the boy with dire seriousness. “Well... No” Kaydin paused in consideration. “They’re not going to torment him. They’re going to execute him within the hour. I thought that seemed a bit odd, but if Loki had something to do with it, then I suppose that it makes sense.”

“Yeah... he said that was the most he could do.” Lucien murmured.

“Well... if that’s true, he did Caelan a great favor.” Kaydin replied. “Nephilim love torturing angels for as long as they can, and rarely allow death to come in the way of that.”

Lucien allowed his emotions to get the better of him at the mention of those words, and tears began to flow once again. He tried desperately to stifle them and be strong, knowing that he was going to see Caelan, but it was of no use.

“Are you sure that you want to do this, Lucien?” Kaydin questioned as he offered an embrace to the boy.

“Yeah...” Lucien got a hold on himself and nodded. “I want to see him” He gathered his resolve as grabbed up a cloak to throw around himself.

As the three angels were just getting ready to leave the room, they were joined by a fourth – Loki – who came back to report the situation on Caelan.

“My apologies for the intrustion.” The demon said immediately after noticing Kaydin. “But if you wish to go see Caelan, the time is now.” He nodded at the still groggy Lucien.

“Your timing is impeccable” Kaydin replied rather sternly, still having a bit of trouble gripping with the fact that a Nephilim was offering them help. “Lucien was just telling me how you were trying to help us out. It’s appreciated.”

“I wish to go as well.” Loki replied. “I can assist you in remaining inconspicuous and unnoticed.”

Kaydin nodded. “Jeryn isn’t going to take this well, but I suppose that you’re welcome to come. But know this. If you’re leading us into a trap... you will be the first to die.”

Loki nodded to the angel without offering a verbal reply.

“C’mon you two.” Kaydin motioned to the two blonde angels. “Let’s get Jeryn and –“

“I’m here.” Jeryn interrupted, making an appearance at the door. He made no noticeable reaction to the addition of the demon, except for an intensely long stare. It was as if he were probing the deepest recesses of the chaotic demon’s mind and soul. If Loki had any intentions to betray the angels, he would’ve certainly seen it. “Let’s go.” He said after a long pause, as if giving his approval towards the addition of the Nephilim to their group.

There was a brief moment where everyone gave an awkward glance to each other, as the gravity of strange situation really hit them all. It was a historic moment indeed, as it marked the first time that angels and Nephilim worked together towards a common good. Then all four angels vanished in a bright flare of white light, while the Nephilim followed in a dark swirl of his own.