Bonded

Chapter 17

Adam and Samuel ran down various passageways trying to find the one that led to a winding stair case. Adam looked around frantically and felt frustrated as each passageway either let them outside or dead-ended. He knew time was growing short and they needed to rescue Sarah. As Adam passed by a wall he stopped suddenly, causing Samuel to bump into him.

"Damn it boy." Samuel growled looking at Adam perplexed, "Why did you stop."

"I thought I heard Sarah scream." Adam replied holding up a hand.

"You are hearing things," Samuel said.

"Shut up for a moment," Adam said, "I heard her... there it was again."

Adam heard the distinct scream of pain from Sarah, but it sounded muffled. He placed his hands on the wall. He knew her voice came from behind the wall, but the wall felt solid. He felt the rough cut stone beneath his hands.

"It came from behind this wall." Adam said, "But this wall is solid."

"Let me check it out." Samuel responded.

Adam moved to the side, as Samuel placed his hands on the wall. Adam watched as Samuel closed his eyes and muttered something. Adam eyes grew wide as the wall instantly melted away in front of them. A passageway revealed itself in front of them. Adam heard another scream of pain, which sounded clearer.

"What just happened?" Adam asked confused.

"An illusion was placed on this passageway. A very strong illusion." Samuel responded.

"But how did..." Adam tried to asked, but Samuel cut him off.

"No time to explain, but I need to ask you something." Samuel said seriously placing his hands on Adam's shoulders, "If things go wrong down there and we can't save Sarah." Samuel took a deep breath, "You need to be able to end Sarah's life."

"Samuel you can not be serious." Adam said stumbling backwards as if he had been struck, "We have to save her."

"You don't get the whole picture, boy." Samuel explained, "If Celestia kills her, the fallen will come back into his world and then all of humanity is doomed. You are the only one who can prevent it."

"We must save her first, Samuel." Adam said ignoring Samuel and heading down the passageway.

"Yes we will save her first." Samuel agreed, grabbing Adam by the shoulder again. "But if we can't, you must fulfill your duty as a guardian."

Another scream cut through the empty passageway. Adam shrugged Samuel's shoulder off and ran down the passageway. He saw the staircase, which led down into the earth. Quickly without thinking Adam rushed down the staircase with Samuel behind him. Once at the bottom of the stairs Adam looked around in awe at the glassy black tunnel. Scanning the dark tunnel he noticed a bright light at the end of the tunnel.

"The little w***e is trying to distract you Headmistress." Adam heard a female voice cry out, "The time grows near. Look at the moon light."

Silence followed this statement followed by someone crying lightly.

"Soon you will die." Adam heard another female say and then laugh.

Adam quietly rushed down the dark passageway. Once at the end of the passageway he stopped suddenly feeling his heart catch in his throat as the heat of the room bellowed outward. Sarah laid chained to a glassy black altar. He saw how her face was bruised and bloody. He also noticed a shaft a pale light moving slowly up Sarah's stomach.

As they were rushing down the tunnel, Lilith with her keen hearing heard them. She quickly melted into the shadows and moved against the wall.

"When that light reaches her heart, they are going to kill her." Samuel whispered into his ear.

Adam saw Joshua move into the light with a cruel glassy black knife. Joshua walked up to Sarah holding the knife above her.

"Joshua don't do this." Adam heard Sarah plead, "Wake up from this nightmare."

"Adam we have to do something now, before it is too late." Samuel whispered.

With a deep breath, Adam stepped into the heat of the room and shouted, "Stop!" He held both pistols with one pointed at Joshua and the other at Celestia.

"Adam," Sarah said looking up, "You found me."

"Well, well," Celestia said with a smirk, "It seems the hero is still alive and he has arrived and he has brought Samuel with him."

"Hello Celestia," Samuel said, "It has been a long time."

"You know her?" Adam blurted out keeping his eyes on Celestia and Joshua.

"I have been hunting her for a very long time." Samuel replied with a sigh.

"Really Samuel," Celestia chuckled, "Is that what you call it. There is nothing you can do, the fallen will rise and I will lead them."

"Not if I can do anything about it." Adam said and squeezed the triggers.

A loud sound rung through the room as the pistols fired. Adam watched in dismay as the lead balls stopped in midflight and fell to the ground. It looked as if they had hit a solid barrier. Celestia stood her ground smiling with satisfaction.

"Did you really think I would not be prepared for you this time." Celestia said in a mocking voice. "I have had decades to prepare this time and you will not stop me this time."

Sarah saw movement in the shadows from behind Adam, "Adam, behind you!" Sarah screamed.

Adam felt a sharp pain slice through him as something sharp pieced his back before he could react. Turning his head, he saw the pale face, red eyes, and a cruel smile of triumph. The woman twisted the object in his back as pain ripped through his body. The woman yanked her hand back and Adam dropped to his knees as hot lancing pain ripped through his body. He heard Sarah screaming his name.

Sarah watched helpless as Lilith raised the dagger again. She saw the bloodlust in Lilith's face as the knife came down again, but Samuel intervened. He slammed into Lilith's side knocking her sideways across the room. The dagger flew from her hands and skittered across the ground. Sarah noticed Samuel look up with a look of horror. She followed his gaze and saw Joshua standing over her as the knife seemed to come down in slow motion.

'This is what dying is like.' Sarah thought as her vision faded.

The room swam before her eyes and when the haze cleared, she discovered she was standing in the resting place of the Nephilim. This time all the torches were lit in the large room. Looking down she also noticed that she was no longer chained to the altar. She felt free of pain and exhaustion.

'Am I dead?' Sarah thought confused feeling her body for any wounds.

"No dear child," A familiar voice boomed throughout the room.

"Azazel," Sarah whispered, "What am I doing here?"

"The choice has to be made, child." Azazel spoke.

Sarah saw Azazel pinned to the boulder in the middle of the room. She noticed him straining against the metal stakes that held his wrist and ankles to the rock. In the torch light it seemed as if the stakes pulled loose slightly from the rock.

"What choice, Azazel." Sarah asked as she stepped towards him.

"You must make the choice as to who will die." Azazel repeated as he turned his head to look at Sarah through the metal mask.

"The choice has been made." Sarah blurted out, "Joshua has killed me."

"Foolish child, no mere moral can kill you." He explained, "You will either die or live by Celestia hands."

'Live or die by Celestia hands.' Sarah thought as her head swam.

"What does that mean?" Sarah asked dumbfounded by the response.

"You must figure that out for yourself, Afriel." Azazel replied, "Go back and finish your destiny."

"Wait...tell me!" Sarah yelled as she reached out for Azazel.

"The knife is the key." Sarah heard Azazel say as the room started to fade.

She noticed large spider webs of cracks appearing on the rock. A golden bright light appeared between her hand and the rock. Her vision cleared from the bright light as the altar room came back into focus. Chained to the altar again she saw the knife just started to come down focused on the pale light centered over her chest.

'I don't understand,' Sarah thought, 'The knife should have stabbed me by now.'

Just as the knife came down, Adam's hand touched something warm and slightly wet on the ground. He looked down and saw blood on the ground as he tried to stand. He noticed his blood running down his arm and pooling on the ground mingling with the other blood.

Suddenly he felt a surge of energy rush down his arm and to his shock, a golden light lit like a fuse around his hand. He watched in a haze as the golden light ran through the barrier and up the altar, then he slumped to the ground passing out from blood loss.

'I will save you Sarah.' Adam thought as his vision faded into darkness. He thought he heard his heart slowly stop beating.

Sarah held her breath as the ancient blade swung downward. unexpectedly the blade stopped an inch from her breast as a dazzling golden light appeared between her breast and the knife. Sarah heard an explosion as Joshua flew backwards, hitting the ground. It took Sarah a moment to realize that the shackles had fallen away. She heard Samuel banging against the barrier yelling something at her, but his voice sounded muffled.

Celestia stood dumbstruck by how the events had unfolded. One moment the ancient blade was about to pierce Afriel's heart, then a golden light penetrated her barrier. The golden light stopped the blade in mid strike. She looked down and saw Joshua with burns all over his body. Without thinking, Celestia knelt and plucked the knife from Joshua's burnt hands.

'I will finish this.' Celestia thought rushing towards Sarah.

Sarah started to sit up and suddenly something rammed into her body. Knocked back against the altar the air escaped her lungs. Gasping for breath she looked and froze in terror. Celestia had straddled Sarah and held the knife above her head. The knife came down with tremendous speed. Sarah not knowing what to do, reached up and grabbed the blade as it plunged downward.

Searing pain ripped through her hands as the blade cut deep into the palm of her hands. To her surprise, Sarah stopped the blade. She saw the tip of the blade touching the skin of her breast as she cried out in pain. She watched as blood ran down her hands and dripped onto the white dress. Celestia eyes widen in shock.

'She stopped the blade.' Celestia thought and felt fear run down her back as Sarah's eyes glowed an intense golden color.

Celestia could not believe that Afriel had stopped the blade. She slid her hand further down the knife's handle and pushed, but the blade would bulge. The ancient blade froze in midair.

'How is she doing this?' Celestia thought confused and pushed harder, but the blade would not move.

Celestia centered her strength to calm her fear and confusion. She felt raw power filled her as her black wings unfolded. Smiling she laughed loudly at the confused, shocked look on Sarah's face.

"What are you?" Sarah asked gritting her teeth against the pain in her hands.

"You don't know." Celestia laughed again, "I guess you will die, never knowing the truth."

Sarah felt Celestia push downward and the white hot pain shot through her body as the tip of the blade pierced her bare skin. Sarah screamed out in pain as the blade slowly dug into her. Sarah looked into Celestia face. Sarah noticed that Celestia had a determine look on her face as she leaned over pressing harder downward. The white handle of the knife inches from Celestia heart.

'I don't understand how I can make the choice.' Sarah thought in a panic as the fire lanced through her body.

"Do you feel the knife of Azazel tearing your soul apart as it inches closer to your heart?" Celestia said, "You will die and there is nothing you can do about it."

"The knife is balanced." She heard Samuel yell, "You must pierce her heart with the handle!"

Sarah looked at the handle again and noticed that the end of the white handle came up in a point. Then it all made sense. Everything Azazel had told her.

'I will not die.' Sarah thought, 'Tonight Celestia will die for the fallen.'

Feeling a renewed sense of strength surge thought her body. Sarah gripped the blade tightly, gritting her teeth against the intense pain. With a desperate attempt, Sarah pulled in every ounce of power and strength. Energy rippled from the core of her body and up her arms. She screamed and shoved upward with her arms.

"You will die tonight!" Sarah screamed.

To her amazement, she pushed upward and saw the handle plunge deep into Celestia breast. Celestia face when from determination to shock as the handle pierced her heart. Celestia jerked upright and Sarah let go of the handle. Sarah watched as Celestia looked in confusion at the knife sticking out of her chest.

"How did you know?" Celestia whispered and coughed up blood.

"Azazel told me," Sarah replied feeling sorrow for the woman she had called mom, "He said I would make the choice."

"I was supposed to choose...the book told me." Celestia whispered staring into empty space.

Lilith watching the scene unfold, noticed no one was watching her. She scrambled to her feet and quickly escaped the room before anyone would know she was gone.

Sarah watched as the Celestia slid off her and fell to the ground. Sarah sat up confused as to why she felt sorrow for Celestia. It felt as if she had lost a sister. Sliding off the altar, Sarah's legs gave out and she fell to her knees. She looked at the deep cut marks in the palm of her hands. Looking around, she saw the other sisters trying to flee the room.

'You will not escape justice.' Sarah thought as rage replaced her sorrow.

Sarah reached out with her power. The ancient knife ripped itself from Celestia body. Sarah pointed at each sister and watched with satisfaction as the knife cut cleanly through each sister's heart. Satisfaction turned into sickening horror, upon seeing the devastation she wrought with the knife.

'This knife is pure evil.' Sarah thought with a chill of fear.

With a downward motion of her hand, she watched the knife imbed itself into the altar. Using more of her new powers, she willed the knife to go deeper into the alter in attempt to shatter the blade. The knife drove itself deeper into the altar up to the handle, but did not shatter. Feeling exhausted Sarah game up on destroying the knife.

"Adam where are you?" Sarah cried out looking around the room.

"Adam is hurt badly." She heard Samuel say next to her.

"What do you mean?" Sarah asked looking up into Samuel's face, "Take me to him."

Samuel slid his arms under Sarah and helped her walk towards Adam's body. Sarah gritted her teeth against the pain in her chest. Samuel helped her over to Adam who laid on his side with his eyes closed. Samuel lowered Sarah to her knees and Sarah used her forearms to roll Adam onto his back.

"No," Sarah cried out in anguish, "don't be dead!" She laid her head on his chest and wrapped her arms around him, "Don't leave me!" She sobbed as her body shook with grief.

"Sarah," Samuel said quietly laying a hand on her shoulder, "I think he is gone."

"No, no, no!" Sarah cried harder and gripped her arms tighter around Adam's body. "You can't leave me!" She sat up and banged her hands on his chest. Ignoring the pain in her hands she gripped Adam's shirt shaking him. Then she buried her face in his shirt and screamed again, "don't leave me!'

Samuel felt the entire room shake as Sarah screamed. He heard sharp cracks from all around and saw dust fall from the ceiling. Looking up he saw small spider webs of cracks appear in the ceiling.

"Well this is not good," Samuel said, "Sarah we have to leave now."

When he looked down as Sarah, he stepped back in amazement. Bright golden colors of light appeared under Adam's shirt. He also noticed bright golden tears running down Sarah's face as she laid against Adam's chest.

"Don't leave me." Sarah whispered her throat raw from her crying. She kept her face buried in his shirt as she cried.

'It is not fair,' She thought, 'He gave up his life for mine.'

"I don't think that will be possible." Sarah heard a familiar, but weak voice as strong arms wrapped around her.

Looking up through tear filled eyes. She saw Adam looking at her with is golden eyes as he smiled weakly.

"Adam." Sarah said in a trembling voice. She reached up and touched his face with the back of her hands, "You are alive?" Sarah said slowly not believing he was alive.

She leaned over and kissed him hard, fresh tears running freely down her face. Adam held her tightly, kissing her back. Sarah's heart pounded hard in her chest.

A loud crack ripped through the room. Adam broke the kiss and looked around. He noticed large cracks appearing all over the ceiling.

"We have to get out of here now!" Samuel shouted as a large chunk of obsidian fell in front of the entrance. "Well that complicates things."

"Samuel," Sarah said in a choked voice, "Get Joshua's body and bring it over here. Do not touch Celestia or the knife."

Samuel nodded as he saw the deep golden eyes looking at him. He grabbed the body of Joshua and looked down at the lifeless form of Celestia. Her black wings spread out as she lied on her back. Shuttering he brought the body back over to Sarah as another chuck of obsidian fell from the ceiling crushing Celestia body.

Sarah wrapped her arms around all of them and closed her eyes. She imaged open Plaines, fresh cool air and star filled night. Keeping her eyes shut tight, Sarah kept the vision firmly planted in her mind. Adam saw golden light appear around them as Sarah concentrated. The light intensified and it became difficult to see.

'Open Plaines, fresh cool air and star filled nights.' Sarah repeated in her mind.

"Sarah open your eyes." Adam whispered in her ear.

Sarah opened her eyes and saw the open Plaines of a star filled sky. She felt a light wind blow across her cheek and she shivered, feeling goose bumps rise on her skin. She smiled weakly and feeling exhausted, her body slumped over. The soft grass tickled her cheek as she fainted.

'It is finally over.' Sarah thought as she drifted off and fainted.