Novenas: A Rumor of Angels

by Erika

Pairing: David/Max, Earth Angel

Beta: Jose

Disclaimer: The series Earth Angel's belongs to Anne Rice. I am temporarily borrowing the characters. These stories will differ from the actual NBC pilot; it actually draws heavily on the version that came out toward the end of the comic: Tales of the Body Thief.

Warning: Some readers may be sensitive to the religious discussion that may take place in this series. If you are easily offended please read something else.

Series: Conclusion of the Novena series, Cry to Heaven: Temptation of the Flesh, Revelation 6:8. On a Pale Horse, Rising of the Sun, the Setting of the Moon and Heaven's Gate.

Author's Notes: When I wrote 'Cry to Heaven' I also plotted the conclusion to this series, and it has taken me almost two years to reach this point. I would not have been able to finish this series without Jose who spanked me and then gave me kisses. This series challenged me creatively and at times I wondered whether I was up to it, whether I would succeed. If you would like to know what happens to Alex Krycek and Victor Mansfield in the context of this story, well the only version I could think of, that still makes me tingle all over is Carla's Scoundrel universe. I always thought of her Alex as a Fallen Angel and Victor as the one who saved him. Happy reading.

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"Listen, Lord to this cry of appeal; do not let my prayer go unheeded, thought it be from the ends of the earth that I call upon thee. When my heart misgives me, thou will bring me repose; thou, my only hope, my strong tower against the assault of my enemies. Oh let me dwell for ever in thy tabernacle, let me take refuge under the shelter of thy wings!"
(Psalms 60:1-6, KJV)

His side was winning.

Max stood on the edge of a cliff watching over the city, on what would soon be his domain. This is what he will inherit from his father. This conquered people, who had dared to proclaim themselves above God's first creation - the Angels. Why then did the thought of their fate, of their fall, leave a bitter taste at the back of his throat?

It seemed impossible to believe God had put His faith in these weaker beings.

The smoke from the burning city would soon eclipse the sun, blocking its rays from penetrating the smog filled sky. Putting the inhabitants in total darkness, where they belonged. Creating a Hell on Earth.

Max watched dispassionately, waiting for the inevitable, when he would rule this world as sole heir of a darken God.

"I thought I'd find you here," said a voice behind Max.

"I could hear you coming a mile away," was Max's uncaring response, still gazing at the horizon, at the hot embers darkening the sky.

Gregory approached him. "I'm surprise you are not celebrating."

"There is no need for me to gloat. We all knew how this would end."

Yes, in this alternate Earth, where Mutants and Humans co-existed, the only end result would be war. Jealousy, spite, anger were alive and well in the souls of these Humans who had suddenly found themselves to be slightly inferior to the new rising Homosapiens.

They watched in silence as the battle continued before them. As more blood was spilled, and as these beings were brought closer to the darkness.

They both waited for the conclusion of this battle; Gregory, who would gather a few souls to Heaven, and Max, who would be welcomed as this Earth's new ruler.

Just as the hope of these soon to be enslaved people extinguished a cry was heard.

From nowhere an Angel appeared, in full body armour, wielding his sword ready to protect the mutants from the approaching army.

"David?" Max found himself whispering, in shock, hoping that what he saw taking place was an illusion.

"What does that child think he's doing?" Gregory asked beside him.

They had both been informed that neither side could interfere in the final battle. That the Humans must be given a chance to decide their own final fate, without the meddling of the Angels and the Fallen Ones.

The more David fought to save these people, the more he weakened until a blast from below dazed him and he fell to the ground.

~~~~~~~oo(O)oo~~~~~~~

Max rushed to his brother's side, leaving Gregory behind. He picked his brother up, to cradle him, checking him for injuries. The first thing Max noticed was the lack of Angel wings. "David?" a worried Max asked. There was blood, and bruises had already started to form upon this broken doll.

Something was wrong. Angels were not easily killed, at least not by any Human means. Without a second thought, Max sought flight, carrying David in his arms, ready to breach the gates of Heaven.

"Stop." A figure appeared next to him.

"Stand by, Azrael. I have no time for this, David needs your help."

"You can't enter, Max. The gates will not open." The Archangel Azrael stared at him as though weighing his words. "Not for your kind."

"But..." Max didn't understand, as a youth he had visited Heaven. How could there now exist a barrier between the two realms?

Azrael stared at the unfolding scene. The final battle taking place below them. "We have been at war since the beginning of time. We have never stopped fighting."

"I still don't..."

"We are battling each other, Max. Our own brethren, kin, parent, child, lover, friend. On one side are those who believe Humans are worthy, on the other side are those who view themselves superior to the mortals. In the first skirmish so many of us perished. Souls that can never be brought back. The second major confrontation was almost our undoing. Afterwards it was decided, agreed that there would be rules, utmost being, 'No killing between us.'"

"Azrael, kin, I am not here to argue politics. Let me in."

David had to be saved, Max had no time for this nonsense.

As though realizing that Max would not listen to reason, Azrael said, "Give him to me." Max relinquished his brother. "No, come."

Instead of entering Heaven, they ended back on the cliff, where Gregory was waiting for them.

"Leave us." Azrael commanded to Gregory as he laid David on the ground.

Watching Max carefully, Azrael explained. "He broke the rules, Max. That is what I have been trying to tell you. There are consequences..."

"Damn the rules!"

Ignoring the interruption, Azrael continued. "There are consequences, one being the loss of his powers, thus making him vulnerable to the weapons."

Max knelt by his brother's side, concern at David's ever increasing paleness, the laboured breath that seem to indicate...only one thing. Death was fast approaching.

"Is he dying?"

"Yes." It pained Azrael to confirm this truth.

"How long?"

"Soon."

"Is that why you are here?" Azrael, the Angel of Death. How could Max had forgotten what this Angel represented? The position Azrael held in God's Kingdom.

"I felt a tug, an urgent call that brought me here. To be by his side as he makes this final journey."

"If he dies, what happens to his soul?" Could his brother be reborn or would he be forever lost to him?

"If he is reborn, he will not be the same, Max."

"No," Max cried. David was his, Max could not bear to lose him.

"You still have a chance," Azrael informed him, "You could still save him."

"How? How!" he asked, anguish written in his face.

"A soul for a soul," was the quiet reply.

Max stared at him, not believing what he had been asked to do. Sacrifice his life to save another. Die in his brother's place. "I don't know..."

"Do you love him?" Azrael asked, staring deep into Max's eyes.

"Yes." There was no hesitation in his answer. "Always."

"Then trust me. Trust God."

"I..." All his life he had been taught otherwise, and to abandon that teaching, his father, it was something he had never contemplated doing before.

"It seems that I have arrived in time, my son." A man appeared before them, except he was no ordinary man. Of all the Angels God had created, the brightest, most cunning had been Lucifer.

Lucifer who rebelled against God's creed. Made war on his brothers and later went on to proclaim himself 'Lord and Master.'

As he circled them, he smiled, there was merriment in his eyes and lips. The one who reigned in darkness, who bathed in the blood and suffering of others, danced before them playfully as if unaware of the calamity that surrounded him.

"Father," there was a silent plea in Max's voice. He could not live without David, could not live with the knowledge that he stood by as his brother went towards his death.

"I thought I taught you better, Max." Lucifer reached to caress his son's face, a replica of his own features, except where they were dark, he was light. Light blond hair that sometimes gave off the appearance of a halo, deep blue eyes that were clearer than any sky or sea, and a body that rivalled all others. He was a tempest, whose words and voice corrupted those who listened, who fell before him in worship.

"You weren't born to bow. You were born to rule." Lucifer reminded his son, as he looked past Max to gaze upon the face of Azrael.

"You are not helping here." Azrael warned. "Be gone, Demon."

"I would have thought that by now you would have learned other words, brother."

"We have no time for this," Max shouted to his elders. "Tell me what I must do. Now!"

"He was always an insolent child." Lucifer said, somewhat indulgently.

Azrael ignored him, as he bent down to brush the tips of his fingers along David's cold forehead.

"To sacrifice oneself for another, is the ultimate gift. And in saving David, Max, you not only save your brother but this world."

"Don't listen to him. He speaks in riddles and parables. He lies with the truth." The Demon's eyes changed colour. Red as blood.

"You do the same. You are no different and, be warned, I will not be a pawn in your game." Max held tightly to his brother, whispering that all would be well.

"David is dying, Max." It broke Azrael's heart to speak these words, for David had been a favourite among the Angels. A child they had all had a hand in raising, who had been loved by all.

"No," there was anguish in that voice, that denied the truth behind those words. "Please," he repeated as his lips trembled, for if David died, his soul would not be reborn the same as before. The essence that was his brother would die here, on this very ground.

"Come with me, my son. Our time is at hand."

"I can't." Max hugged David tightly to his body. His hand caressed his brother's lips, his cheek and eyebrow. Before he could change his mind, he bent to kiss his brother one final time, to breathe life into him, finally murmuring, "I give thee life."

Silence descended upon them only to be interrupted by Lucifer who raised his head and arms to scream in anger. "NO!"

The sky blackened before them, the wind picked up and carried the Demon's scream with it.

As if awakening from a dream, David gasped as his body replenished itself, he then slowly opened his eyes and gazed upon his brother.

Max smiled at David and kissed him again, "Forgive me," Max told him, knowing how much David loathed these unwonted feelings they each had for the other.

The Heavens opened and light from above encased the brothers, as David responded to the kiss, urgently whispering, "Don't leave me."

As if knowing what his brother had done, the sacrifice he had made to save him, David hugged Max's body as it slumped next to him.

"A soul for a soul." Azrael chanted. The Angel of Death prepared himself to embrace Max's soul but he was stopped when Lucifer stepped into the light and when David refused the sacrifice, willing his life back into his brother.

Both twins lay dying, each having tried to protect the other, and the rain started coming down mimicking the anguish felt in both standing beings.

The Demon stepped back from the light that still engulfed his sons, and quickly planned his next course of action. There was still time. He didn't care if he lost all of his minions but to lose Max, his heir, was unacceptable.

"I will give you back this world, if you give me back my son." God was a giver and taker of life. A mother and father, a caretaker and destroyer. He could be pleaded with, bargained with, covenants could be sought and gained if asked correctly.

"This planet is almost yours." Azrael reminded him. There could be no loophole should a bargain be struck between them.

The Demon looked at his children, who in death had fallen together in a final embrace.

"I could again bring them to heel," Lucifer said in reference to the Humans, "but I cannot have another child." He was no longer pure, his soul was blacken and he could only give birth to death and destruction...a child, to give life was beyond his means.

"You give us back this planet?"

"Yes."

"In exchange?"

The Demon sighed at the technicality involved in this agreement.

"I repeat, 'in exchange?'" Azrael persisted.

"Max must rule next to me."

"I can't give you that."

Angels did not bargain away souls.

"If..." A thought struck him. "If he came willingly, you won't stop him?"

"No. But I doubt he would want to leave David."

A bargain. A bargain that would gain him back his son, his heir to the darkness that embodied Human souls.

"They could be reborn as Humans and, depending upon the kind of life they lead, here with these mortals, when their time is up and they leave these grounds, they could either go to Heaven or rule by my side."

"Their souls?" Azrael asked.

"Would stay the same."

Azrael rubbed his arms, deep in thought.

David and Max had died as Angels, each had willingly sacrificed his life for the other.

Their souls were still here, haven't yet left this plane. There was still time to change this outcome, still time to save them both.

"They can't be interfered with," Azreal stopped the protest that was forming on the Demon's lips. "By either side."

He paused, gathering the words he would need to seal this covenant.

"They will live one normal Human life cycle..."

"And at the end?" Lucifer asked.

"They will be reborn, yet again, as Angels." Azrael promised.

He could win again, the Demon reminded himself. This was only one Earth amongst the many, and soon he would have his child back. To give up the Humans for Max was worth the sacrifice.

As for David ... it was not his concern. If David walked back to the light, he cared not, but Max would come back to him, that much Lucifer knew for it was not in Max's nature to be good.

"Deal. In exchange for this planet, I want their rebirth."

"There is hope for you yet, brother." Azrael told his slightly older kin.

Insolent child. "Don't count on it."

They both watched as the rebirth took place. A swirl of lights, that danced and caressed each other, meshed and then separated to forms two beings. Twins.

As he gathered the two lives into his hands, to take them to their destination, the Archangel Azrael looked over at his brother, Lucifer. "Let them be," he warned, as he flew away.

"We will see," was the calm reply.

Nine months later in a hospital in the outskirts of Moscow, a young woman gave birth to twins, two boys who were immediately put up for adoption.

Their names: Alex Krycek, and Victor Mansfield.

The End.

~~~~~~~oo(O)oo~~~~~~~

Feedback to Erika

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