Page 40 of Curse of the Asuune

“Father, please don’t hurt him. I’ll do whatever you want,” Sarah begged weakly.

“I’ve grown tired of your indifference to torture. I think I know a punishment that might get your attention,” Samael said as he stood up from his throne and took off his suit jacket.

It was then that Mark noticed the shape Sarah was in. Her clothes had been burned and cut along with her body. She had several wounds that were not healing very quickly. There was blood running down from her forehead and her feet looked blistered. He had caused this, he had done this to her. How could he ever make up for this? Sarah would surely hate him but it didn’t matter. At least he could stop it if he could just beat Samael. Forgiveness was not his objective, he just wanted to save Sarah.

“So…Mark…you think that because you can fight vampires that you can fight one of God’s first children?” Samael said as he rolled up the sleeves on his dress shirt and made his way toward Mark.

Samael back handed Mark and he flew across the room before crashing into the wall. It hurt, it hurt a lot. He was not going to win this but he had to try. Even if he died it would be better than letting Sarah down again. Mark got to his feet and wiped the blood from his mouth.

“You’ll have to kill me before I give up. I’ll fight until my last breath, now let her go!” Mark yelled. He was less sure of himself but he needed to show Samael that he was serious.

“She came here of her own free will. I didn’t kidnap her. She was not forced to endure this torture. She chose it.” Samael quickly crossed the room and picked Mark up by the throat. “You think you even have a chance? Leave while you can still walk out.” Samael threw Mark across the room again and he smashed into the wall on the other side.

Mark was sure he had broken something this time, a few ribs, collar bone, maybe even his arm. Again Mark stood up.

“Is that all you’ve got?” Mark asked as he swayed. He wasn’t going to win but he couldn’t give up. Samael might kill him, in fact, Mark was quite sure that Samael was going to kill him but it didn’t matter. He would not let Sarah down ever again.

“I see what Sarah sees in you. If only my own children had this kind of conviction. But you are still a pathetic human. You will all betray my father in the end.” Samael walked over to the throne casually and removed a sword from it. The blade of the three foot long sword caught fire immediately and lit up the room. “This is your lucky day, Sarah. After I kill this one I’ll give you the judgment you seek. Killing him will bring you more torture than I could ever hope to inflict. Take her to her cell. I’ll be there shortly,” Samael ordered the guards.

The two guards struggled to contain Sarah but even in her weakened state they could barely force her out of the room. “No, Father, Please! I’ll do anything!” The door slammed shut and Sarah’s screams went silent.

“You see, boy, angels can only be killed with an angel’s blade.” Samael held the blade up and stared at the dancing flames. “No human can touch it. If any human were to try, their body would be consumed.”

Samael walked toward Mark with malice in his eyes. Mark stood his ground. If he was going to die, dying for Sarah was a very good reason. Samael lifted the sword and then swung at his neck. The blade stopped just inches from his throat and Mark could feel the holy fire singeing his hair.

“You need to leave.” Samael grabbed Mark by the shirt and threw him at the door. “My daughter needs to suffer and as bad as killing you would be. You abandoning her would be much worse.” Samael thrust his sword into the floor in front of his throne and then sat down. The flames of the sword went out as soon as Samael released it.

“I’ll never leave!” Mark spat back as he tried to get to his feet again. This time he knew for certain, his left arm was numb and it was broken. Mark used the sword with is right hand to lift himself up and stumbled his way across the red carpet. He wasn’t sure how he was still standing. The only bones that didn’t hurt were the ones in his right arm. Sarah was worth it, he could not give up.

“What are you going to do? I can sit here for eternity. You can’t even hurt me. Soon I’ll tire of your voice and have some of my vampires haul you down to the street. I want you to suffer as well. I want you to know that you could do nothing and Sarah will die knowing you left her.”

Mark’s anger rose, if Samael wasn’t going to kill him he would kill himself trying to fight. Mark reached for Samael’s blade and grabbed the handle. The pain Mark felt all over his body was unimaginable. He felt like every cell in his body was going to explode, then a calm washed over him and he lifted the blade from the floor. Flames shot out from the sword and Mark thrust it into Samael’s shoulder.

“How?!” Samael yelled.

“I am Mark Albet, son of Michael! God is on my side!” Mark announced.

“Michael would never disobey father! You can’t be his son!” Samael screamed.

“Exactly, he would never disobey God! Which means God told him to make a Nephilim!” Mark pulled the sword out of Samael’s shoulder and held it back, ready to strike again, this time aiming for his neck.