My Fallen Angel

Ow Ow Ow!
Cronus was dragging me behind him, his grip painful on my arm and I could feel my bones protesting --- one good squeeze and he would break it.
But he knew that.
He was gifted with strength.
I was doing my best not to cry at the moment, to be strong, but tears were burning the back of my eyes. I was staggering at the speed Cronus was going, I could barely keep up with his and Iriels pace.
Where were we?
We were surrounded by airplanes, large buildings around them that rivaled the size of the theatre. It was so dark now, there wasn't any humans, and I could tell Iriel was heading for one of the parked planes.
I didn't want to go!
My hand pressed against my stomach protectively, fingers curling against my shirt.
Was all this over the peanut?
One little accidental creation?
"Iriel, please, stop this," I tried, seeing the tall buildings loom over us, foreboding in the darkness, the moon bright and the only light we had.
I felt like I was walking to my doom.
After I'd been tossed into Iriels car, it had quickly become obvious what was going on.
Iriel had been using Cronus the entire time, he'd probably known I was pregnant from that stupid video with Bryan. He'd only been surprised to learn of my pregnancy when he'd realized it was Andys baby and not some random mortals.
But he knew Ashlandil wouldn't leave me alone for five seconds unless it meant taking out someone who would hurt me or the baby, hence bringing Cronus in and making him the antagonist that set Ashlandil on edge.
But why was Cronus going along with this? Why was he doing this to us?
My eyes went to him, almost pleadingly, but he wouldn't look at me. His jaw was set tightly, and he hadn't met my gaze once the entire tense car ride over.
"This is for your own good, Kenali," Iriel informed me briskly over his shoulder, his steps not faltering. "That child will either be our saving grace or our damnation. You will love it regardless of its intentions and will never harm it. I, on the other hand, will do what's best for the humans to give them more time to be redeemed. I won't let a failure on your part ruin what I've been trying to do for centuries."
No!
"It's not going to he evil!" I gasped, almost falling when my foot caught on the asphalt, Cronus grip laxing the tiniest bit, his eyes flicking to me for a split second before away. "It's just a baby ---!"
"A baby that will be the offspring of a dormant angel and a demon." Iriel retorted, his voice harsh.
I tensed at the words.
"I'm not a demon!"
"All fallen angels are considered demons, even if not all of us have completed our transformation over to the darkest depths. It's only a matter of time, dear Kenali." he almost sounded sad for me. "We will all go there one day, even I. Your child could threaten all of the human race. It's only against my better judgment that I'm even letting it live."
No!
He wouldn't hurt my child!
I wouldn't let him!
"I'm not going anywhere with you!" I gasped, jerking against Cronus, struggling against him. "I'm won't let you hurt my baby!"
"I have no current plans on harming your baby," Iriel dismissed instantly, as if that should soothe me. "Don't fret. I just intend for it to be born in the cathedral, where I can watch over it."
"You're not going to be anywhere near it!"
"I don't believe you currently have any say in the matter, dear," Iriel said mildly as we entered the large building, heading straight for one of the planes, all its lights lit up and apparently ready to go.
I could feel my stomach drop.
How was I going to get out of this?
How I would get away from them? Where was Ashlandil?
Had they hurt him?
Did they believe he would let this go?
He would come after me!
"You can't do this!"
"I believe I am doing this. And it's for everyone's own good, Kenali! I swear to you no harm will come to your unborn child," Iriel assured me, pausing by the bottom of the stairs that lead upwards into the plane. "It is safe, as will you be."
"Ashlandil ---."
"Is not a problem," he cut me off sharply, his blonde brows drawing. "He doesn't actually care about the child, Kenali. He cares about you. Were you to leave this child with me, you could always go back to him."
"He does care about the baby!" I snapped; why did everyone keep saying he didn't!?
"I know you're loyal to him since he's been taking care of you," Iriel sighed, almost regretfully. "And I know when Ashlandil loves it is with all of his being. He would never have let us run away with you."
I stiffened.
What did that mean?
I could feel the cold seeping into my skin, making me tense and every part of me start to ache.
"What have you done?" I whispered, feeling like I was sinking, everything starting to tilt sideways.
Was he hurt?
What had they done to him?
Did he need me!?
"I took him out of the equation. Come now, Kenali, don't look at me as if I'm a monster." he looked slightly hurt. "We both know the horrid creature Ashlandil was. He's murdered thousands of humans and angels alike, brought terror and horror into this world; he killed the first woman he ever cared about!"
"That was a long time ago!" I hissed, glaring at him, for once wishing I'd never fallen so I could strike him down now with my full angelic grace. "it was when he first fell, he couldn't control himself! He's not the same ---."
"He is the same, and always will be." he shook his head, his voice frustratingingly calm. "Don't let your foolish heart make you think otherwise."
"I sort of like that foolish heart of hers."
Ashlandil!
All of our heads jerked upward, and we stared at Ashlandil as he stood in the door of the plane, smirking, the light behind him making shadows across his face. My eyes widened as I saw the blood staining the front of the once nice suit he'd worn to the theatre, and I strained towards him, hoping he was okay.
Iriel looked perplexed rather then threatened.
"And how are you here?" he asked curiously, pursing his lips.
"Seraphine apparently doesn't agree with the harming of nephilim children," Ashlandil shrugged, bracing his hands on the rails of the stairs. "Who knew?"
Seraphine?
She was involved in this too?
I shouldn't even be surprised.
She hated us after all.
But even after I'd let her live?
...Maybe I'd made a mistake then.
"Well this is irritating," Iriel sighed. "Ashlandil, get off the plane."
"Nope."
"If you don't I'll have to do something regrettable."
Ashlandil smirked, leaning forward a little more. "More regrettable then what you're doing right now?"
A frown creased Iriels face, darkening it and making him look much less like the kind man he always pretended to be.
"Know that this is your fault, Ashlandil." he said, and then motioned at Cronus.
I screamed as I felt the bone in my arm suddenly snap, an awful pain wrenching all the way to my shoulder, hot and burning and ---.
"Kenali!" Ashlandil bellowed, and in seconds he was off the plane and at my side. I only caught the flash of his red eyes before Cronus was abruptly sailing through the air with a bellow, slamming into the side of the plane and hanging there for several seconds.
I felt Ashlandils arms close around me, pulling me into his embrace and murmuring something I couldn't hear as I held my arm, rocking back and forth on my knees. I'd been injured here on earth, but nothing had ever been broken, and it was the worst pain so far!
It was deep, jarring, and every movement I made spent pain spiraling into my shoulder and hand --- fuck!
"What the fuck, Iriel!?" Ashlandil boomed, his voice echoing through the big building.
"I told you I would have to do something regrettable to get you off that plane," Iriel clucked, crossing his arms. "What did you do to my pilots?"
"They're dead. They wouldn't get off either," Ashlandil snapped, cradling my head beneath his chin, his fingers stroking through my hair, trying to soothe me. "Sorry about that."
"You are such a nuisance!" Iriel hissed at him, scowling, and we all heard the thunk as Cronus finally managed to pry himself out of the planes exterior, dropping to the ground and rolling his shoulders.
"Cronus," Iriel barked, motioning. "Get rid of Ashlandil!""
Ashlandil snorted. "As if. Just try it, Hercules."
Cronus scowled at the name, striding quickly towards the two of us, his eyes blackening. I knew Cronus was strong, but I'd never seen him go dark even remotely.
It was like he grew.
He was tall and broad anyway, but it was as if he doubled in size immediately; I could hear the cracking and popping of his bones as he contorted, and Ashlandil frowned as he watched, his body tensing against mine.
What were we going to do!?
Iriel wanted our baby and he was prepared to hurt us if we didn't comply --- my arm was proof enough of that. I could feel it healing, but oh did it hurt, and I was trying my best to not even breathe it was so awful. It hung limply at my side, I couldn't even move my fingers.
"A-Ashlan ---."
"You gotta go," Ashlandil muttered, and I whimpered as he pulled me to my feet, wincing as he put me in more pain. "Quickly. Get out of here."
"Ashlan, I ---."
"You just gotta go," he grunted, turning me around and shoving me several steps toward the exit. "I'll take care of this."
Him against two angels!?
No!
I wasn't leaving him!
They'd kill him!
"No!"
"There's really no need for any of this," Iriel said calmly, watching as Cronus approached us, Ashlandil only reaching his waist; it was almost like a child facing off with a parent.
No wonder they'd thought we were giants.
Why was Cronus doing this!? We'd never done anything to him to deserve to be treated this way! I'd thought, I'd ---.
I didn't know why he'd killed Geneva, I'd never asked him and he'd never said a word about it..I didn't understand how he could have been so cruel to Ashlandil, taking away his lost love once more. I didn't understand how he could betray us like this again. Why he was doing this to me.
I'd thought we were friends.
I looked at him, clutching the arm he'd broken to my side, seeing his eyes were strictly on Ashlandil. He wouldn't look at me, he hadn't once, and I didn't know if he was doing this out of pure cruelty or if he was being forced in some way.
Either way it wasn't right.
"Ashlandil, your existence isn't necessary, I won't hesitate to have Cronus kill you." Iriel spoke, so matter of factly it made my skin crawl. "Kenali is the only one I want. You're welcome to come along if you so desire so long as you don't interfere."
"You're not taking her anywhere!" Ashlandil snapped, bristling protectively in front of me as Cronus neared. "Not when you'll hurt her, not ---."
"I didn't hurt her. You did. I don't care about Kenali either, I just care about the child in her womb. An impossible child. One that could end the world," he said, as if we needed to be reminded. "Everything could rest on the fate of that one child. Honestly it would be in everyone's best interest if it was terminated from existence.."
I balked, Horror immediately washing over me as I took a step back, the pain in my arm becoming minimal to the worry suddenly ripping through me.
He would hurt my baby!?
No!
No one was going to fucking hurt my baby!
I clenched my hand thoughtlessly, hissing when the pain reminded me the damage done to me. But it didn't matter. I had to overcome it. No one would hurt my child!
"You won't touch this baby," I snarled, taking a step around Ashlandil so I could really look at Iriel, feeling my eyes flare. "I won't let you, Iriel. I will destroy you."
Iriel had the gall to look amused. "You are not a killer, Kenali, you've not the heart for it. Don't give me meaningless threats."
He didn't know me very well.
He didn't know what I'd done just to protect Andiel, to protect myself. I had blood on my hands just like all the other Fallen, and though I held heavy regret over those lost lives, I would do it again.
And again.
And again.
I would do it however many times it took to keep everyone safe.
So if I had to, I would kill Cronus, I would kill Iriel, I would kill all of them.
I didn't have much choice.

Notes

Welp, things are certainly heating up! And we have a surprise guest appearance soon! :D