Free Sacrifice: The Demontouched Saga (Book 5) by Douglas Wayne

in my corner. With any luck she can keep Israfil in check long enough to finish this fight, then I can draw him out.
    Michael, backs up to keep both of us in front of him, though runs out of room when his back hits the wall.
    “Very well,” he says, slamming the hilt of his blade on the top of the wall. The force of the blow splits the sword in two equal halves, which he wields in each hand with a smile.
    I launch at the angel with a thrust to his gut. The blow misses its mark but aided by a blast of flame from Sara, Michael is unable to counterattack.
    For the next few minutes our fight continues much like this, with either side gaining a definite advantage. Michael is good. Much better than any being I’ve ever fought. I need to end this quick though. One of us can keep this dance up for much longer than the other.
    With a last ditch effort, Michael takes a swing at Sara, giving me an opening. I swing my sword in a wide arc at the angel, putting a nice deep gash in his abdomen. My victory is short lived, however, when I notice Sara’s body on the ground pinned to the ground with one of his swords through her shoulder. She is crying out on the ground as Michael holds his his innards in his vessel, thanks to my deep cut.
    “It’s over,” I say, kicking his remaining sword away. “Nobody has to die here today.”
    There are very few things that can really push me over the edge, but Michael tests my patience with another booming laugh.
    “It’s too late for her.”
    The moment I look down at her on the ground, her eyes roll back into her head as she convulses on the charred ground.
    “Save her!” I shout though I really want to finish him off.
    “Why would I want to do that?”
    “Because you are an angel,” I say. “You were sent here to protect us.”
    Michael laughs once more causing me to grip the hilt of my sword even tighter.
    “I was sent to kill my brothers that left the heavens, not to protect your pathetic kind.”
    My anger gets the best of me and I give him a power induced backhand, thanks to the knife in my hand.
    “Do it now or…!”
    “Or what?” he says. “You’ll kill me?”
    At this point it is taking every ounce of my being to keep from thrusting the blade of my sword through this asshole’s chest. Lord knows he deserves it by now. If I had a way to save Sara on my own, I would do it without a second thought. It pisses me off to need someone like this.
    Michael shifts off of his knees, opting to sit his ass on the ground before opening his mouth once again.
    “I will make you a deal, Demontouched.”
    “I thought you weren’t happy with my last one.”
    “I wasn’t. But you did it for the love of another.” He coughs for a few moments before talking again. “I will remove the blade and heal her completely in one condition.”
    “Name it.”
    “I remove Israfil.”
    “Done!” I say, letting a smile reach my lips.
    “And Einuir.”
    The moment I hear that name, my knees buckle causing my stomach to drop with it. It’ll hard enough to close the portal with my powers. We won’t stand a chance if I don’t have them.
    But when I notice her body stop moving, I know the decision I have to make.
    “Done,” I say, lowering my head. The tears start shortly after. He doesn’t even give me the dignity to watch him bring her back, instead causing me to black out as he rips away part of my being.
    Part of my soul.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
    - 13 -
     
     
     
     
     
    When I finally wake up I find myself in the back of my Expedition, lying next to Sara. I roll over and caress her face with my hand, but she doesn’t move. Whatever Michael did to her, I only hope it didn’t kill her. I know I wasn’t able to save everyone I tried it on.
    Stepping out of the car, I have to shield my eyes from the bright morning sun. Once my eyes adjust I take a look at my surroundings to see I’m parked in the middle of the highway. Which highway is another question though I’d guess I’m still