Dark Seraphim

The wind howled through the darkened forest as Asrael stumbled forward, his body screaming in protest. His wounds burned—his side, his arm, his very essence—but none of that mattered now. He had bought himself a moment, a sliver of time to escape. But even that would not last.

He pressed a bloodied hand against a tree, bracing himself. His vision swam, the world tilting as his strength wavered. Damn it. He was weak. Too weak. And they were coming.

The celestial warriors would not stop. They were Heaven's executioners, relentless and unwavering. He knew them well. He had once been one of them.

A bitter smile ghosted his lips. How things had changed.

From the shadows of the trees, a voice whispered. Soft. Familiar.

"You need to keep moving."

He turned sharply, ignoring the pain that flared up his spine. Selene stood a few feet away, her face partially illuminated by the sliver of moonlight that cut through the canopy above.

Her expression was unreadable—part concern, part confusion. And something else. Something deeper.

"I told you to run," Asrael rasped.

She crossed her arms, tilting her head. "I did. But I came back."

A dry chuckle escaped him, though it hurt to do so. "That was foolish."

"So was staying behind to fight angels with broken wings."

He didn't have a response to that. Instead, he exhaled, leaning more heavily against the tree. His mind was racing, calculating. He needed shelter. A plan. He couldn't face them like this. Not yet.

Selene seemed to sense his thoughts. "I know a place. Safe. Not far from here."

He narrowed his eyes at her. "Why are you helping me?"

She hesitated, her fingers twitching at her sides. "I don't know," she admitted. "But I do know that I remember you. And that means something."

It wasn't supposed to.

But there wasn't time to question it. The hunt had begun, and Heaven did not tolerate failure.

🔥 MEANWHILE – THE DIVINE HUNT🔥

The three celestial warriors stood at the edge of the crater, their armor gleaming under the fractured light. The air was thick with the scent of scorched earth, the aftermath of Asrael's desperate escape still lingering in the atmosphere.

One of them, the tallest of the trio, knelt, pressing a hand against the ground. The soil hummed beneath his fingers, revealing fragments of dark energy still clinging to the earth. His jaw tightened.

"The corruption has taken root," he murmured.

The second warrior, a woman clad in silver and gold, crossed her arms. "Then we're too late. He's already changed."

"Not fully," the third countered. "Not yet. But he will. And when he does—"

"We erase him."

The first warrior stood, his golden eyes burning with divine intensity. "No more delays. We track him now."

And so the hunt began.

🔥 HIDDEN REFUGE – A MOMENT'S REST 🔥

Selene led Asrael through the thick forest, deeper into the unknown. Each step was agony, but he pushed forward. He had no choice.

After what felt like an eternity, they arrived at a small, abandoned chapel, half-buried in vines and time. The walls were cracked, the wooden doors barely holding on to their hinges, but it stood. For now, it was enough.

Asrael sank onto a worn bench, breathing heavily. Selene knelt beside him, reaching for the torn fabric of his shirt. He flinched at her touch, and she rolled her eyes.

"You look like you got trampled by a celestial army. Let me help."

He hesitated. Then, with a sigh, he relented, allowing her to peel back the ruined cloth. The sight made her suck in a sharp breath.

Deep, raw burns carved across his skin where the celestial blades had cut him. Divine wounds. The kind that did not heal easily.

She met his gaze, something unreadable flickering in her expression. "What did you do to make Heaven want you dead?"

He let out a hollow laugh. "I broke the first rule."

"Which is?"

His eyes darkened. "I CARED."

Silence settled between them. Then Selene reached into her bag, pulling out a small vial of something thick and red. "This might help."

Asrael raised an eyebrow. "What is that?"

"Something old. Something forbidden." She smirked slightly. "You're not the only one who breaks rules."

For the first time that night, he felt something other than pain.

Hope.