Death: Us Against The World

Shadows erupt around us, as the Princes and Marshals of Hell arrive. Demons and Fallen Angels -- all come to the call of their Lord. A great crack resounds deep within the earth and I feel it even stronger now, but I am filled now not with ecstasy or grief, but with dread.

All this running and hiding and shielding. And here Hyun stands between the armies of Heaven and Hell.

“Come here, Hyun,” I call. He does, jogging over. I mount Silver.

“Yeah?” he asks, voice shaking, looking up at me.

I turn to War, who immediately starts shaking his head. “No.”

“War…”

“This is it, Death! We can’t outrun the might of Heaven -- we’re damned for sure as it is and I, for one,” he spits on the ground, “am not going anywhere unless it is to follow you into the fray and keep you from getting stripped.” His eyes blaze fiercely with the lust of oncoming battle, yes, but with determination.

“None of us are leaving you, Death,” Conquest comes behind War, Famine beside them. All of their faces are pulled up in wide grins and, damn it all, their wicked delight is infectious.

“So,” Famine claps, “the question is: how do we keep our little baby Death safe while holding out to the last?”

“Is that supposed to be me?” Hyun asks.

War snorts, “No, kid, it’s the Dragon King beneath your feet -- ‘course it’s you.”

“Y’know, couldn’t you use my name just this--”

“What’re you gonna do: kill me?” War taunts.

“Hyun,” Lucifer cuts off the bickering before it escalates further. I breathe a prayer, for he truly is now the Morning Star in all his glory. The most beloved of all God’s sons burns with a light I have never before seen, as if the dawn were breaking from the crown of his golden head. “Stay with me,” he holds out a hand to his son. “I won’t let them harm you.”

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

“I don’t really think you can make that promise,” Hyun grimaces, but he takes his father’s hand. A star-like spark flashes where their skin meets and Hyun cries out in surprise, jerking his hand away to shake it.

“Sorry,” Lucifer grins apologetically. “Here,” he waves his hand and a crooked staff, decorated in webbing lines of glittering frost, appears in a curl of smoke like human breath on a winter’s morn. He hands it to Hyun -- I let out a breath.

“Where did--...How did you--”

“What is it?” Hyun frowns at the staff, turning it over and spinning it in his hands. “Kinda looks like the one from that image in Death's garden.”

I look at Hyun and laugh. If I had ever been unsure of his future place, this final piece of the puzzle completes the picture: the Staff of Winter would not let itself be borne by them who was not to take the place of Death...the place first held by the one once called Winter.

“When in doubt, kid,” War grins, “swing it at somebody and pray the winter loves you as much as it loves Death.”

Hyun cocks his head to the side and nods, despite his obvious confusion, giving the staff a quick spin as he would the jangbong or danbong. “I still don’t get it,” he says, “but I guess running’s not really an option, is it?”

I shake my head, “No.”

He grins, “Guess it’s a good thing that, when I can’t back down from a fight, I don’t.”

“Stay close to me,” Lucifer says. “I’ll cover your back.”

We turn to the armies of heaven, and I can make out the tail-end of Michael’s words to his legions. “Focus on the boy...avoid injuring the other angels...contain and exorcise all demons...be wary of the Horseman and focus on the damned.”

Were I one to choose sides and follow, I would follow Michael. In any other situation I would not stand aside the Infernal opposite the Divine. I would follow the great warrior without question...but this time he is wrong and unwilling to believe that he is right in all but his conclusion.

I am the Horsemen of all mortal conclusion. And this is mine: my final great ride. Silver feels it as well, and he looks at me with pride and annoyance. Yes, we are going to be noble for this final run. I am sorry, Silver. Indulge me...one last time.