Chapter 19 (Clare)

Her mother was so quiet, body blazing. Not able to see her mother's face as Franchesca was mid-air between Clare, separating the three of them from Barbatos. Clare yelled at her mother to get her attention but she didn't acknowledge Clare.

About to yell again, she caught the movement from the corner of her eye as a man from the back of Barbatos flew straight up in the air screaming something. Lifting her head toward the man attacking the Tempter. Everything moved so fast, her eyes barely able to keep steady to see what was happening. With the same flaming eyes as her mother, the unknown man plunged a thin sword from the top of the Tempters head down his middle section, swift and elegant.

Mouth opened wide, a huff left Clare at feeling instant relief of this unsightly occurrence and uttered disbelief of her own eyes. Ignoring the persistent urgings from her brother to leave, she looked closer and saw the demon's body knit together, healing fast.

A brisk and steadied movement later Barbatos bolted straight for Franchesca, plunging his hand into her body.

Everything slowed as Clare and the others watched Franchesca’s body fall lifelessly to the cold hard cemented floor, leaving her dripping heart in Barbatos's hands. Clare bared witness to the entire thing, she broke free of her brother’s grasp and ran to Franchesca’s side screaming,

“Mom, talk to me, mom, MOM, mom,” she lifted her mother’s head onto her hand, holding it screaming,

“You can’t be dead mom, please, don’t leave, MOM, mom.” She slapped her mother, once, twice.

She looked up at the Tempter, holding her mother’s heart like a trophy to be discarded, Barbatos, duke of hell. And in that time Clare's body burned with the heat of rage.

No tears shed her eyes, no thought deluded her mind as Clare gently put her mother’s head on the ground. Her challenging gaze never left Barbatos as she got up. A taunt, he tightened his fingers around her mother’s heart. Clare charged him and for once she wasn't thinking, she was doing.

Her brother screamed behind her, “Clare. NO.” Nathan went to grab her, missing her body by millimeters. Barbatos taking his position gleefully to defend himself, making his answer to battle obvious.

Thick fingers dug into Clare's nape torching her skin like a skillet burns to stop her in her tracks. Turning to punch the person, she came face to face with a pissed-off Kalbreal. Teeth grinding as the burn worsened but he didn't let go, she growled, “Lemme go.” He pushed her slightly but it was enough that she fell down, hard.

Kalbreal pulled out a sword, his voice a loud commandment as he ordered, “Gustav.” No second wasted, he plunged it into the Tempters brain. Feet slightly parted, sword dripping of blood, Kalbreal watched Barbatos, as the Tempter said his last words,

“Angel of fire, how to yield thee grace when thy sire naught Infinity nay Paros.” Kalbreal smiled, and with a quick brisk of his feet, he moved whilst using the sword to slice off Barbatos head. The Tempters body burst into blue and green flames melting into lava that burnt through the floor as Kalbreal’s blade shattered into thousands of tiny pieces.

Kalbreal dropped to the ground on one knee, his gaze a new as he took in all that was Clare like he had just seen her for the first time. Feeling uncomfortable with the way he stared, she focused on his chest, surprised to see it not moving at all, like he didn’t just kill a Tempter, like it took no strength at all.

His face softened, eyes dropped, “I was too late, MY APOLOGIES Clarebella.”

“You can’t save every soul Kalbreal, Adonai is with you,” That came from the older man before his back turned to the four of them. Clare didn’t take a minute longer to register what had just happened before she rushed to her mothers’ side. Hair falling down her back she dropped her body on the floor beside her mother’s now lifeless form, “mom, mom, talk to me mom please I’m sorry, please, I didn’t mean it, I love you, just wake up, please, please.”

Her eyes burnt with unshed tears as the misfortune of ungodly minutes consumed her, taking in her mother’s body lying there, motionless. The pool of blood which covered her mother’s blue shirt soaked in a puddle of what Clare's mind refused to register, her missing heart. Another child would have lost it, howled, screamed but Clare couldn't do it. Even as the tears ran silently down her cheeks, passing her lips, landing onto her mother's face, she couldn't break down. It wouldn't change faith, it wouldn't bring her mother back. No amount of weakness would bring her back. But Clare knew that in her strength, as she looked at her lifeless mother in her arms, she would seek justice until her own death.

Nathan sat next to Clare, chest to her back, and held her tightly, “It’ll be ok, it has to be.”

He cooed, “I’ve got you, now you must let her go. You have to be strong sister, it’ll be ok,” as if to convince himself.

Clare knew it wouldn't be for a long time, but she wasn't going to tell him that.

This day would haunt her, but not because of the reasons Nathan thought. She’ll miss her mother and mourn her death, but she'll move on. It was part of life, but what would haunt her was the burning truth behind her tears, even now as they came down faster. The real reason her heartache burnt into her veins, the confession behind the sorrow that took over every emotion in her body, as she closed her mother’s eyes and sang, “I was looking out the window when I saw the stars were bright, but then I saw the reflection of your eyes and I said to myself, it's a beautiful day, but I don't know where I'm going but I know I’ll be with you till the end of time..” Beckoning her mother’s body, on top of her lap. Clare sang for all the words that were never said, the feelings that were never shown.

“So close your eyes, and lay your head down on my pillow, and when you wake, I will be there with you, I will be there with you.” And lastly, she sang for the love her mother never shared, truth was, her mother never loved her. Clare wondered why, but as her mother’s vessel rested on her lap, Clare finally knew the reason, because she didn't know-how. So Clare sang for the person her mother couldn't be but sacrificed her own life, so Clare could.

Nathan unable to handle it got up and walked a few steps away. He grabbed Kalbreal by his arm, “Help her, you’re an Angel, save her, please.” Kalbreal dropped his gaze in response.