Page 104 of Angel's Fall

“Can you blame me?” Antoine laughed. Shaya expected Erik to make some snide remark, but none passed his lips. Perhaps the gun pointed at him was having some effect.

“And what about me?” Christine asked, and Shaya could see how tight she was holding Erik’s hand, even as hers shook.

“You, dear Christine, I will take my time with,” Antoine replied, and that made Erik snarl. “I want to know what sort of magical cunt you have to drive so many men to madness. After I’ve sampled, I’ll decide if you’ll live or if I’ll put you in a mad house. Sabine will join you eventually. I can visit you both at the same time. Now—”

The shot was deafening in such a small space. It echoed on the pipes of the organ and deep into Shaya’s bones, radiating from the pistol gripped in his hands. Christine screamed and grabbed the man she so clearly loved, shielding him and hiding her eyes from the sight. Antoine seemed only mildly surprised to look down at the red stain blooming on his chest.

“Damn,” the monster mumbled as he collapsed to his knees. Shaya fired again, just to be sure, adding another hole to his chest before Antoine fell dead to the floor, a trickle of blood seeping from his mouth.

Shaya fell as well, his gun clattering to the floor as he did. He met Erik’s eyes and saw a new sort of admiration there. “What have you just done, Daroga?” Erik breathed as he continued to cradle Christine against him.

“I lost my brother because of you,” Shaya panted, clinging to the back of a chair as the world spun again. “Now, at last, we are even.”

“And you have saved my life again,” Erik murmured.

“Earn it,” Shaya managed to say before his body gave out entirely.

He found himself in a fog; not truly asleep, but unable to move or speak. He could only listen. He heard weeping and soft, soothing words.

“It’s over now...”

“Not yet.”

He tried to open his eyes as he was lifted up and placed somewhere soft and comfortable, and more cool water was poured down his throat. He could only see shadows. A ghost holding an angel, two lost souls who had found one another, united at last.

“You have to go, my Christine. You can’t stay here.” The words were so sad and resigned.

“You could come with me,” the angel protested.

Shaya’s vision began to return, and he saw them more clearly. Erik holding Christine close, his hand against her cheek as he kissed her forehead.

“It will be better this way,” Erik consoled her. “I have to be that man - the one you know I can be and to do that.” She kissed him before he could continue, and Shaya marveled at the sight.

“I love you,” Christine wept, and Shaya knew it was true.

“There is one thing I must ask of you if I am to do this. Ifweare to do this...” Erik murmured and took up Christine’s hand. Shaya saw the glint of a gold ring on her finger as Erik placed a tender kiss on her palm. He whispered something in his lady’s ear that made her heave a sob before kissing him again.

Shaya wanted to sit up and see her answer whatever the request was that had so undone her, but the effort of watching alone was too much. Indeed, it felt wrong to intrude on such an intimate moment. He closed his eyes, just a blink, but darkness began to take him.

He did not hear the answer. He did not know the question.

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