Maximum Ride Fan Fiction / Maximum Ride Fan Fiction ❯ If I Asked You To, Would You Kill Me? ❯ Renaissance d'un Ange ( Chapter 21 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Irene Sharda
Sky explains how he became leader of his brother-in-law, Toya's, old gang, and how they changed from the Fallen Angels to the Avenging Angels, and what their purpose now is.

Non Anime: Maximum Ride Fan Fiction / Maximum Ride Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Suspense / Sci-fi / Romance / Adventure / Action | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 05.23.2008 | Pages: 10 | Words: 24.4K | Visits: 195 | Status: Work In Progress

Chapter 21
“So, what happened after that?” Fang asked in solemn earnest. He glanced back over to the framed picture on the bureau, have a totally new view on the background of the two smiling people from the photo, who would never smile or laugh again. He felt a pang of shame as he remembered his previous thought about Sky killing his own wife and brother-in-law. Now that he'd heard the true story, a cloud of humiliation and indignity came over him. How could such a thought have entered his head?
Looking closer at his host, Fang could now pick out the individual scars from out of the many on Sky's chest. The small but fleshy one on his right shoulder was from getting stabbed through on that night. He was sure if he could see the back, he would see the gunshot wounds as well.
It was amazing what this guy had gone through. Even Blade was surprisingly quiet with a mutual respect. Fang thought of the idea of physical pain that intense was astounding. He'd been shot once, and he knew that the feeling was not one he wanted to experience again, but to think of Sky's brother-in-law, shot not once, not twice, but twenty-five times! And then Sky sitting there in a forlorn alley, his beloved wife dying in his arms. His thoughts went back to the dream he'd had where Max and he were in the same position, his only family lying dead at his feet by his hands. He had practically went crazy with grief. He'd felt Max's blood running through his fingers, her life slipping away.
It was then that he realized that he and Sky were more connected then he'd ever imagined. They had gone through practically the same things, except Fang's experience hadn't happened…yet. And it's not going happen if I can stop Blade from taking over anymore of my mind or body. Sky is stronger than even I; he's been through hell and prevailed. He should be able to help me find a way to stop what's happening inside me.
But first he wanted to know the rest of the story. “What happened then? How did you survive?”
Sky had paused some to drink some water, and had been silent for a while. Putting the bottle back down again, he looked back at his young guest. “Hungry? You haven't eaten for some time.”
Fang blinked at the change in topic, then realized that his stomach was growling. He blushed slightly; being so enthralled by the story, he hadn't noticed his hunger was growing. What was he going to do? He couldn't very well tell his host, what it was that he had a hunger and thirst for. But he couldn't let his hunger go unchecked either. He might as well play it safe for now and make up some excuse, and then find a food source later.
“No, I'll be fine. I'll get something later—”
Before he could even finish his statement, Sky reached under his bed and pulled out a small, silver thermos. He then threw it over to Fang, who caught it expertly in one hand. The thermos was surprisingly very cold.
Sky nodded to it, “That aught to hold you.”
Fang sighed, “Thanks.”
Well, he could at least try to drink whatever was inside, even though he knew his body would more than likely reject it. Opening the top, he let the dark liquid slide past his lips, but the minute it hit his tongue and the smell hit his nose, he opened his eyes wide in realization of what the drink really was.
Taking a big swallow, then looked up at Sky, who was smiling with knowing curiosity, he licked the small red droplets from the pointed tips of his fangs. “This is—how did you—?”
Sky put his hands behind his head and laid back to relax. “I do notice things that go missing, Fang. Like, four missing vials of plasma for instance? It was only a matter of time before I put everything together. In case you forgot, I am a genius you know. However, I also understand why you didn't say anything, I mean, it is bizarre to say the least, and disgusting, and mortifying, but that doesn't mean you have to starve yourself. The stuff you're drinking now is a blood alternate. We use it for those who have lost too much blood, and we don't have the right type in stock. It acts as the real thing for a short time, until the body is able to sustain itself again. In you, you'd have to “eat” more frequently, but your body would be satisfied. Think of it as if instead of getting turkey breast once every few week, you'd be getting turkey lunchmeat every other day. It should work, and I won't have to exhaust my small blood bank. What say you?”
Fang had finished the canister of blood solution, or whatever, and put the thermos on the ground, licking the excess off his hands. “I know my new eating habits are kind of creepy, and I don't even know how I came to be this way. I used to eat normal food, but ever since I've been in Jeb's clutches this last time, and since my body began to transform to look like this, I've adopted more than just vampirish looks, but their eating habits and aversion to light as well. I mean I can drink water and stuff, and I can go out in the sunlight, but the sun is starting to bother me more than before. I find that it almost hurts me to be out in blasting sunshine. I know vampires aren't real, but whatever Jeb and the whitecoats are doing to me, they want me to turn out as close to one as possible. It's hard for me to resist…blood now, even though before I would have been repulsed, but now it's the only thing I can eat that I won't vomit back up. However, if you can give me a substitute, I would be eternally grateful. I'm sorry I didn't mention it sooner, but I didn't think you'd understand.”
Sky dismissed it with a wave of the hand, “I understand why you might be scared to tell me. If you weren't already kind of abnormal, I would have tossed you out without a second thought. I'll make you some more alti-blood and you can have that. However, I give you fair warning. I don't want to see any fang marks on my men's necks, or the deal's off. Got it?”
“I'd die, before I feed off a human.” Fang replied with a serious air.
Sky nodded, “I believe you. You stopped yourself before you mauled me the day that we met. You've sincerely apologized for every man you've hurt, even if it was accidentally. I know you have self-control, that every so often, rage seems to break through, but you still have a good heart. However, just for good measure, we'll keep your “special” dietary needs between you and me for now. My men might not take it the right way. I'll tell them eventually; I don't keep secrets from them. Yet, one must use wisdom and judge the best time to do so. I don't think their ready for something like that.”
Fang nodded in affirmation, “You and the guys are really close, huh?
Sky sighed and began looking off into another direction, his mind in another time and place. “My men are my new family now, and they're very precious to me. They weren't always my men, though. And when I first met them, they actually wanted to kill me.”
His fingers went to the chain around his neck that held the diamond ring. If it wasn't for his present condition and that of his guest, he could certainly use a smoke. Talking about Aya and TÅya was hard on him, even though it was almost 5 years since their deaths, but he had promised Fang to tell him the whole story…
“Well, it was only the next day that I awoke to find myself St. Derek's Hospital. The bullets had been pulled from my back, having hit my pancreas and liver, but thank goodness my spine had been untouched. They had patched up the wounds in my shoulder and side as well. The pain was great, but the agony in my heart was beyond repair.
“However, no one spoke or talked to me. The nurses and doctors came and checked on me, but they didn't ask me any questions about what happened—they all already knew. Damian's work was well-known in the hospitals of that area, and they had learned that it was better to not speak of it at all rather than risk the same wrath being brought on them. I was okay with that, since I didn't want to talk to anyone either. I just wanted to be left alone in my misery, wondering why I had survived and my wife, the only love of my life, was taken from me.
“Since I was obviously the next of kin, anything that had been on Aya or TÅya at their time of death was given to me, as well as anything that had been in my clothes, since they had to throw my bloody garments out. I woke up one day to find a tray with a paper bag on it. At first, I paid it no attention, but after a time, I got bored and reached out to see what was in it. Inside the paper bag, was only a few items, but each of them became some of the most priceless things to me….
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Sky poured out the contents onto his lap. Out came three things: a silver chain-link necklace, a silver diamond ring, and TÅya's pocket journal. He recognized them all immediately. Lifting up the necklace, he smiled with saddened eyes when he remembered the day he had given it to TÅya. He had given it to him right before the wedding; it was a symbol of their friendship and their bond as brothers, not by blood, but just as strong. The redhead had never taken it off; even until the day he died…
Sky put it down, then picked up the ring. It had taken him more than a year and some loans in order to get the money to pay for it, but it had been worth it. Aya had admired it in a store window, and he had vowed to himself that he would get the ring for her. He would never forget the look in her eyes, when he slid it on her finger on their wedding day. She had never taken it from her finger. She had looked so beautiful, so young and full of life…
And you'll never see her smile or laugh again. You'll never enjoy another day out in the park with him again. They were my everything—and now there is nothing…
Angry tears welled up in his eyes, as he clutched the ring and necklace tightly in his hands. Enraged, He picked up everything and violently threw it away from him! Unfortunately, his arm was still healing, so the mementos simply hit the footboard of the bead, and bounced back onto his blanket.
The snap of the journal's spine against the footboard awoke him from his raging grief, and he realized with horror what he had just done. Resisting the great pain, he crawled to the edge of his bed and gathered the items he had thrown. He proceeded to pick up the journal when a small, sealed envelope fell from in between the pages.
Taking up the envelope, he looked at TÅya's scrawled writing on the front: жаворо&# 208;½Ð¾Ð´ÐºÑ€.
…Skylark…
This letter had been to him?
Suddenly, knock came to his door. He knew who it was, even before she opened the door.
Nurse Martinez came through the door; she smiled lightly, “Hola, Sẽnor Karinkov. I'm glad to see you at least doing something.”
He didn't respond, but the corner of his mouth lifted a tiny bit.
She took up the tray of uneaten food from his bedside, and placed a fresh tray in its spot. Then, checking the monitors, she smiled, waved goodbye, and then silently left.
He thought it interesting that she was faithful to her job, even though he never responded back to her, and she knew that he wouldn't eat the food on that tray either. Yet she still tried for conversation, talking about her family and her goals of finishing veterinary school. It was impossible to say she was getting paid to do it. St. Derek's was a hospital for the low-rent district, and where the patients who were the scum of society went for treatment. Nurse Martinez was paid close to minimum wage, and she had a little daughter, but she still seemed to treat her job with the same respect as those who were getting paid seven times that.
He looked at the food she had brought him. It was good food, but his stomach still turned at the sight. Even though he knew the medical ramifications of not eating in the back of his mind, he really didn't care. He didn't feel like eating, or drinking, or talking…he felt no reason to.
Turning back to the letter, he slowly opened the seal and took out the two small sheets of paper within it. Unfolding them, he felt a pang of sorrow as he looked at TÅya's neat, small handwriting.
The first thing that caught his eye, was that the letter was written entirely in Cyrillic, the written language of his motherland, Russia.
This letter had been meant for him, and for only him to read…what was so secret that TÅya only wanted him to know? Had he known that he was going to die that night? Is that why he gave me his journal!?
He silently began to read, letting his departed brother's words unfurl…
Skylark,
If you're reading this, I am most likely dead. I've written this simple letter to explain and complete some last pieces to the puzzle. First, I wish to apologize that I've gotten you and Aya into all this. You're probably asking many questions and blaming yourself over my death. However don't waste your tears for me; tell my sister not to cry. I would have wanted to die no other way—than for what I believe in.
When you had aspirations of becoming a doctor, you had a passion to save lives. I know you had to give up your dreams for me, and you don't know how I have punished myself day after day for your sacrifice. Yet, I know you still have that passion, even now.
Death may have seemed to overtake you right now, and it seems as if you've fallen into a drowning pool of hopelessness. But Sky, you can, and you have to swim out of it. You have to live. For there are innocent lives at stake, lives that will now be depending on you, as their last hope.
You must be asking yourself now, “What the heck is he talking about, and why should I even care? It's my fault he's dead, and I have no other reason to live either? Why did he die and I survive?”
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Sky was indeed asking the very questions TÅya had outlined. TÅya knew him well…and even though he'd never know that his twin followed him almost immediately to the grave, TÅya seemed to account for her as well.
His mind was confused now, and his brother-in-law wasn't making things easier. The burden of his family's death was a heavy one, and he wanted more than anything to die with them. However, God had another plan, and his life was saved. But what did he have left to live for?
He looked back and continued…
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You are one of the strongest, most honorable men I have ever met, and I'm privileged to call you, not just my brother-in-law, but my brother in all senses of the word. I tell you this as a brother: no one's at fault here. It's not over yet. I may be dead, but you're not! I want—I need—you to live. Aya and your unborn child need you to live! If you give up now, you'll not only be letting us and yourself down, but all our wishes for you, all your feelings for us—it will all disappear, like sand through your fingers.
Everyone was born to live, to live and be free and happy. My body may not be anymore, but I still live. Let's live together, Sky. Let us all live through you, Skylark.
You were not the only one who had a passion to save lives…it was mine as well. You haven't met the Angels, but they are the most amazing group of guys you've ever met. They're experts in their area, and they just need someone to tell them they could be something. Damian manipulated them, like he tried to manipulate me. He used their talents for his own selfish gains, and left them with nothing. The Angels may seem like a tough crowd on the surface, but beneath their hard exterior, they've been used and abused and have been brainwashed into thinking that's all their good for. I saw more, Sky. I knew they needed to be saved from his control. I had to help them, Sky. Even though I knew I would be hated by you and Aya, I had to do my best to save them from this pit they were in. I couldn't stand idly by, while Damian played with our lives like pawns on a chessboard. A bond was formed between the Angels and I, I was one of them, but I also became like a big brother to them, just as you are to me. And I knew that it was my responsibility to take the initial hit that would come from Stockholm, when we finally decided to make our declaration of independence.
I can no longer lead my family, my men, but I'm asking you, my big brother, to lead them in my stead. You may feel that it is none of you're affair, but I tell you now, that without someone to guide them, Damian WILL hunt them down and kill them. I'm hoping you're the man I thought you were, and the man I thought I let my sister marry. If not, let God curse me until the end of time for thinking such things.
My journal contains specific details as to the nature of Damian's human trafficking, illegal drugs, prostitution, slavery, and other illegal operations. It holds the details of my plans, and also gives a dossier of each member of the Fallen Angels: their names, specialties, personalities, etc. I hope that it is helpful to you, I'm not an expert tactician like you, but I try my best…
I'm counting on you, Sky. They're counting on you. You are my only and last resort, I need you, big brother. Please, I beg of you, to let go of your grief and anguish and live again! If not for yourself, live for me and for Aya, for even if you don't tell her, she will still agree with me. It all rests on you Sky. I need you to do what I can do no longer. I plead with you for the lives of my men; I place in your hands all I am and all that I love. Remember that angels are not just pretty but they're dangerous, and that they'll do whatever's necessary to protect those they're charged guardianship over, and they do what's right no matter what happens. Can you promise me?
Forevermore,
TÅya
Sky let the pages slide from his hand. His mind went back to that fated night, and remembered when TÅya had asked that same exact question, while dying in a pool of his own blood, the red liquid streaming from his smiling lips.
“Can you promise me?”
He squeezed his eyes together, trying to keep away the tears that were threatening to appear. How could he ask him such a thing? He knew nothing about gangs, he had no part of it. He wanted no part of it! He wanted to be alone in his misery. He just wanted to be left alone!
The prong from Aya's ring dug into his leg from where it lay on his bed. Picking it up, his mind flashed to the alley, Aya lying in his blood-coated arms, her words as soft as rose petals.
“No Sky…your path is different than mine. You have to…trust your heart… as I have all these years…trust it…to guide…you.”
He squeezed the ring in his hand so hard it drew blood. His heart…what did his heart know? TÅya's face came to mind again.
“…if I die, someone just like me, or possibly even stronger, will rise to take my place… An angel needs to go home sometime, and when they do, they have to make sure another angel…anavenging angel…can fly down from the sky and take over…”
He now realized, that he was the avenging angel that TÅya was talking about. An avenging angel…how could a man who couldn't even save his own wife and child, possibly avenge anyone?
Then he remembered his wife's face, as she bravely and proudly stood up to Damian, despite his words and actions, and had told the snake that she would avenge her brother no matter what it took. She refused to run, refused to hide from him any longer. Aya had given her life to try to stop Damian, as had her twin brother before her.
Suddenly his conscience's voice was added to that of his family's, his mind in utter confusion.TÅya died to protect his men, Aya died to protect and avenge her family. If you die now, what would you have died for? How could they ever forgive you for being such a coward, that you'd let their deaths go unavenged, that you'd let more innocent lives betaken by the likes of Damian? You made a promise; it's time for you to start keeping it…
Yes, he did remember his words to TÅya that night, his very last words to his little brother…
Can you promise me?
I promise.
But still…
Suddenly, his vision began to get dizzy, the ceiling began to swirl around him, and he collapsed back onto his bed. His stress, guilt, sorrow, conscience, and exhaustion-all of them playing their own little part.
His imagination and conscience went wild and began to weave a world that took control over his mind. It was then he saw Damian's face look at him with haughty, malicious amusement, daring him to try to defy him. The pleased smile as he shot another bullet into TÅya's heart. The villain then stepped on his dead brother's chest, crushing his slowing heart, his voice like venom. You're nothing; nothing but scum under my heel…
Covering his ears, Sky clenched his eyelids closed, a strangled cry came from his throat; the nightmare taking hold of his mind.
Aya heaved up buckets of blood as Damian stabbed her over and over again, the assassin, laughing in Sky's face, as he then cut his wife's lily-white throat. The man taunted with cruel laughter. You're my slave, Skylark—I can do anything to you that I wish, and you—can't-do—anything.
Sky's clenched his eyes so tightly together that it was painful. Blood dripped continuously from his forcefully balled up, rigid fists. His heart was on fire. His grief slowly roasted and burned with fire, becoming anger, then twisting into fury, and then finally into full-fledged rage…
Hot tears ran down his cheeks, his breathing ragged and feral, growls escaping his throat sounding like that of a ravenous wolf. Snapping his eyes open, Sky swiftly sat up and pulled the covers from off of him. Putting his feet on the cool linoleum floor, he sat on the side of his bed, taking deep breaths, trying to get his mind together.
Then, with a slight glint in his sky blue eyes and withstanding the aches and pains from his wounds, he stood up on his own two feet. Walking to the sink in his room, he opened the large cabinet underneath it, and searched inside. He remembered the days when he was a medical intern, and he learned that many doctors and nurses left their street clothes hidden in their patients' rooms, where they could get them immediately after their shift was over, rather than having to go all the way to their lockers.
Knowing for a fact that a young male nurse, who was about his size, used this room for that exact purpose, Sky pulled out a black backpack, taking the man's t-shirt and jeans out, he began to silently slip them on. He then went to the closet and put on his own black gym shoes, which was the only part of clothing, short of his underwear and wallet, that wasn't thrown away.
He went to the medical drawers, and began to systematically pull out replacement bandages, a vial of antibiotic, packaged hypodermic needles, and other materials that he would need to prevent infection and to take care of himself until his injuries had healed up for the most part.
Putting them all in the now-empty backpack, he went to the tray of food that Nurse Lopez had left. The lunch consisted of a chicken sandwich, some mushroom soup, a bottle of water, and a sugar cookie.
Downing the soup in one gulp, he then ate one half of his sandwich and all the chicken from the other half. He wrapped up the remnants for later and put it in his bag, along with the cookie. He quickly finished the water bottle, and then refilled it at the sink and added it to the stash in his bag. Zipping it up and putting it on his back, Sky reached for TÅya's journal and slipped it snuggly in his pants pocket, along with his wallet.
Making the bed expertly, he then sat down on the edge to take a breath, going through his plans in his head. Smiling slightly, he reached over and picked up TÅya's necklace and Aya's ring. Carefully, he strung the ring onto the chain, and then clasped it around his neck.
Touching his finger to the ring as it rested on his chest, he felt the cold metal become warm once again. His voice hardly above a whisper, he vowed, “You were right, darling…it is not for us to ask how or why. I still may not fully know why God chose to let me keep living, maybe it was to save TÅya's men, maybe not. But I'll keep living to find out…I'll keep living, for you darling. And I'll keep the promise I made to TÅya, even if it takes me the rest of the life I have. I'm going to live for all of us, and I will make sure, that what happened to us, doesn't happen again. That is my solemn promise.”
With that, he went to the windowsill and raised the pane enough for him to get exit out of it. He was already halfway out, when he heard a voice behind him. “Sẽnor Karinkov?”
He smiled as he looked back at Nurse Martinez, who had walked in, right on time to check his blood pressure. He gave her a broad smile and a two-fingered salute, “Thank you Senorita Martinez, for everything you've done. I know you will be an excellent veterinarian one day. I will remember you, and take care of little Ella. Farewell for now.”
He jumped to the ground and took off down the street. Nurse Martinez watched him, until he disappeared from sight. Her surprised look changed to a smile, “Thank you, and be careful out there, Sẽnor Karinkov.
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I had lived on the streets of Los Angeles for some time, and knew them well. The address TÅya had given in his journal for the Fallen Angels hangout, was in a poorer part of town, at some empty apartment buildings. I kept to the alleyways and shadows, knowing that when Damian found out I had survived, I'd have more hunters on my tail then I was comfortable with.
When I finally got to the one he had indicated, I knew instantly that someone had already gotten here first. The doors were ajar, the windows were broken recently, and the place had a deserted feel about it. The concrete walls were covered in scorch marks and bullet holes. I thought that maybe I was too late! But then I realized there was no blood anywhere, and realized that somehow, the Fallen Angels had gotten away before Damian's men found them.
So where they were now, was the new question…
Where would they feel safe, and yet nobody would think to look for them?
Sky looked at his reflection in the glass window, grimy with dirt—and that's when the answer suddenly came to him. He knew exactly were they were…
It was late afternoon before he made his way to the street, and the shadows made it hard to see in the streetlight-less paths. But he'd traveled this way so often, he knew every nock and cranny of around here. He had lived here for more than two years, some of his happiest days with Aya and TÅya happened on this street, in the shabby apartment in front of him…
He stood beside the adjacent building, trying to figure out the best way he should approach this, when suddenly, he heard impending footsteps!
Quickly retreating to the shadows, ready to strike if necessary, he watched as the figure came forth from the alley. From the gloomy darkness, came a young teen boy! He was big for his age, but a boy nonetheless. He was grimy, and had unkempt dirty-blond hair, wearing a sullied white t-shirt, wrinkled jeans, and a bloody ramshackle bandage on his right shoulder. It took him a minute to realize, that he recognized this boy!
“Joaquin…Delphi, was it?”
The teen turned in surprise at the sound of his name, instinctively reaching towards his pocket for some kind of hidden weapon. However, as Sky came into the open, a look of recognition and a relieved smile came to his face. “Sky Karinkov? I was just thinking of you, actually. You're TÅya's brother-in-law, right?”
This sudden statement surprised him, “How did you know that? And how—?”
Joaquin raised his hand and stopped him, “I'm a Fallen Angel.”
So, the kid was a part of TÅya's gang…no wonder he had acted so surprised when he had told him his name. He studied the boy's shoulder, “How'd you get hurt?”
“I had a run-in with Damian's guys; their bullet only grazed me though. The same way you did, I guess.” The kid nodded to Sky's own shoulder.
Sky looked at where Joaquin indicated, and was surprised to see that his own shoulder wound was bleeding again. Must have been all this running around…I didn't even feel it!
The two sat down on the apartment steps, as Sky unzipped his bag and pulled out the medical supplies he'd taken from the hospital. Joaquin watched in surprise as he began to treat the boy's injuries first! “But your shoulder is—”
Sky cut him off by injecting the area around the wound with antibiotic. “Triage is the first rule of medicine. You haven't been treated, you're younger, and you most likely will develop an infection that will kill you faster than the wound itself. I however have been in a hospital, and my bleeding is just from working my arm too much. I can sew that back up later.”
Joaquin looked at him queasily, “Sew?”
The man looked back at him amused, “Yes, sew. The wound's too wide to heal easily without using stitches.”
As Sky treated the wound, he asked suddenly, “Where are the other Fallen Angels, Joaquin?”
The boy looked away distantly, and instead answered with his own question. “Are you and TÅya still on bad terms?”
Sky smiled at the boy's reservations, TÅya was right when he said that his men were loyal. Joaquin wasn't going to spill his guts to just anyone at the drop of a hat, even if that someone was his leader's kin…
As he breathed he felt the heaviness of TÅya's necklace and Aya's ring on his chest underneath his shirt. A sudden pang of sadness and affection came to his face, one that even caught the boy's attention. “You could say, TÅya and I have never been closer…”
Joaquin studied him, “TÅya told you the truth, huh? He finally told you everything?”
Sky took out his brother-in-law's journal and flipped through it, the pages filled with his TÅya's writing. “Yeah, I still can't believe how blind I was...”
The kid looked at the journal in shock, “How did you get that?! TÅya would never have—unless he…”
He jumped up from his seat before Sky could even finish tying the bandage! His hands were balled up into fists, and tears had begun to well up in his flashing brown eyes, his face filled with rage! “Where is TÅya?! Tell me now! We waited for him for days, and he didn't show! Then Damian's men came and we had to rush out in a firefight, escaping to here, where TÅya said they wouldn't come looking for him. Now you come here, with your questions! Where is TÅya?! He betrayed us to Damian didn't he? He sold us out!! That's why he hasn't shown! That's why—”
Skylark smacked the teenager soundly in the face! His blue eyes blazing, he looked at the surprised Joaquin with contempt. “I'm glad TÅya couldn't see you now, you spineless child… How dare you say those things? TÅya risked everything for you and your little group. He seemed to think you were worth saving…but maybe he was wrong. Let me tell you right now, I wouldn't be here if I hadn't made a promise to TÅya, that I would take his place and save you all from Damian's hands! Damian's mine, my quarrel with him is personal, but you Angels are slowly becoming excess baggage! Don't you know that TÅya would be here himself if he could?!”
Joaquin looked at him, taken aback and shamed by Sky's words. However, before he could say anything, another voice spoke the question. “So where is he?”
Skylark turned around in surprise to see that five young men had come up behind him. Each was dirty and rough-looking, and each held some type of knife, gun, or even a lead pipe, however none of them looked like they were going to use them, they were more in shock than anything. Sky guessed that the men had been lying in wait while he was talking to Joaquin, and that they had heard everything. Turning back to the kid, he saw that about ten more had joined him. They were all different. Redhead, brunette, blond, Black, White, Hispanic, Asian, short, tall, wiry, muscular…however, they did share some things in common: they were all young, between the ages of 15 and 20, and they all had the look of the hardened street in their eyes. And right now, they all also shared a look of concern and fear, and even apprehension, which seemed to be so foreign to them, that they were uncomfortable and ill at ease. In an instant, all the things that TÅya had said and wrote about them was true. Sky could see and feel how his brother-in-law had been so attached to these guys, because as rough and tough as they tried to make themselves out to be, they were still very much children, trying to make it in an adult world, who had only themselves to lean on. So these were the Fallen Angels…
The man that had spoken was a young redhead, about 18, a butterfly knife moved through his fingers with expert speed. It would seem threatening to anyone else, but Sky could see that he was just agitated and fidgety; the look in his eyes was anxious and scared.
Sky didn't want to talk about this out here; they were all out in the open and at risk from prying eyes. He pointed to his old apartment complex, “Calm down kid, it's dangerous out here. Let's get inside and I'll tell you anything you want to know.”
This just seemed to send the guy over the edge. “WHAT?! I don't care about what's dangerous and what's not! I'm no kid, either!”
“Kurt…” Joaquin tried to intercede, but to no avail.
Quicker than he expected, the redheaded teen, called Kurt, grabbed Sky violently by his shirt collar! “I want you to tell me where TÅya is, and I want you to tell me—NOW!!”
His anger was so strong, that Kurt heatedly tore Skylark's t-shirt from right off his back with one large rip!
All of the Fallen Angels could now see the man's heavily bandaged chest, and his bloody wrapped shoulder. But what really stopped them all in their tracks, and make Kurt drop both the ruined shirt and his knife in shock, was the small, almost insignificant ornament from around his neck…
Another teenager, a blond this time, who surprisingly was not only about the same age as Kurt, but had the exact same face, pulled his obvious twin back, and holstered his gun onto his side. “W-Where did you get that necklace? That's TÅya's, he never takes it off.”
Sky smiled, remembering thinking the same thing, earlier that day. He slowly clasped his hand around the chain and ring. “TÅya gave it to me…”
Joaquin looked at him aghast, his legs trembling slightly and his voice hardly above a whisper. It was a look that he shared with the rest of his comrades. “What?! Why?”
The Russian-American turned to the boy, sadness in his clear blue eyes, “He gave me everything…even you guys.”
The blond twin, who Sky would later learn was named Luke, repeated the question, but the twisted look on his face said that he was starting to put two and two together. “But…why?”
“Because, he's no longer able to. TÅya…TÅya is…he's dead.”
The silence that followed his statement, was so absolute, Sky could hear not only the heavy constant thump of his own heartbeat, but also everyone else's too. The horror and shock in Kurt's eyes were heart-rendering, and it was a look that was reflected ten times over in the other Angels around him. He went to his knees in surrender, his fists trembling and clenched tightly, his eyes shadowed and angry tears welling up in them. “TÅya…he's dead? Or do you mean, he was…murdered?”
Sky looked away, unable to face them knowing that the sorrow in his own eyes, would only make things worse. There was nothing he could say that would make the wound easier to bear, so he might as well just tell them outright. “TÅya was captured, humiliated, tortured, and then shot to death—by Damian Stockholm.”
There was a simultaneous intake of breath filled with disbelief, like a bolt from the blue, followed by curses coming from all directions. Kurt hit the ground hard with his fist, swearing like a drunken sailor. Luke leaned against the building in utter shock, all strength gone. Joaquin fell to the ground, tears streaming from his young eyes, loud sobs gurgled from his throat. Poor kid…I wonder if he's ever really experienced death before? How close was he to you TÅya? Sky continued to look at the boy with sympathy as it was obvious that he was not just torn up about it, but he was totally crushed, but then, to his surprise, the boy began to…laugh?!
The other Fallen Angels turned to see what was so funny, but Sky was more concerned with the look on the boy's face. He'd seen that look before. It was one that had almost possessed him all those days in the hospital. The boy had completely broken…the frightening, hollow look in his eyes, the manic smile on his face, the demented sound of his voice as he laughed like a madman…Joaquin had lost it.
Sky was about to go to him, when suddenly, the boy pulled a hunter's knife from his pocket! Holding it in his shaking hands, Joaquin seemingly smiled up at the others, yet seemed to be looking at no place in particular. “T-TÅya can't be gone, h-he c-c-can't have left me alone. T-TÅya would never leave me alone. I-I can't be alone again, n-not again. Wait for me big brother, I-I want t-to come too!”
To his horror, and that of the other gang members, Joaquin raised the knife, the blade pointed inward, and proceeded to bring it down heavily towards his chest! Luke called out to him, running to stop the kid, yet knowing with terror that he would never make it in time! However, just as the apex of the blade was about to do its lethal work, a hand quickly reached out and expertly flicked the knife from out of the boy's grip!
The knife landed soundly a few feet away, a line of red on the edge where it had made contact with flesh. Sky wrung out his hand, drops of blood dripping down to his finger tips, and from there onto the cement. He dropped to his knees and crawled to the trembling boy who was sitting there bewildered, silent tears in his eyes.
Joaquin had never felt so alone before…not ever. He had known from an early age, the world was a very cruel place, but he'd never imagined it was this pitiless. TÅya…gone? How could he go on anymore? He didn't want to go back to the life he led before his “big brother”. He couldn't, he just—
Suddenly, the teenager felt two warm, strong arms envelop him! He looked up in surprise as Sky, TÅya's real brother, pulled him into a secure embrace his eyes also filled with tears and sorrow. His voice was strong and somewhat familiar, as he spoke to him in soft, reassuring tones. “Now what would TÅya say if he saw you trying to kill yourself, huh? He'd kill you himself if he found out, right? Now look, I know you feel betrayed and alone, but just because you can't see TÅya anymore, doesn't mean he's not here watching over you. You are not alone, young one. I know you and I just met, and it's going to take some time for you to trust me, but I promise you, that I'll be there for you. I won't let TÅya's death be meaningless. I promised him as he died, that I would take his place and look after you and the other Angels, that Damian would not get his hands on you. I gave him my word, and—and my word is my bond.”
Joaquin looked up at Sky in wonder, while the other Fallen Angels looked on in astonishment. Sky smiled down at the teen, the look on his face was the very essence of reassurance. It was the same look that TÅya had…
Sky wasn't surprised as Joaquin silently slipped into unconsciousness, the fatigue, both physical and emotional, had taken its toll on him. Luke came forward and kneeled; he smiled gratefully at Sky then he took the boy in his arms and carried him into the apartment building.
Some unknown command went through the group, and they all began to follow Luke. Kurt was one of the last ones; he looked at Skylark hard, but without wrath. A slight smile actually came to the redhead's lips and he nodded at him in acknowledgment, before following his fellow companions into the building. Soon Sky was alone once again…or so it seemed.
“That was a cool thing you did for Joaquin. We owe you our gratitude.”
Sky looked over his shoulder and saw that the owner of the voice, was leaning against the staircase pillar. It was a man about the same age as he, but much heftier and taller. He wore jeans, t-shirt, jacket—normal ensemble for a member of the Fallen Angels, his sandy brown hair was tied back, and his hazel eyes looked at him with strength and suspicion, but also a flash of regret.
Sky turned and looked to the man, “You owe me nothing; all I did was tell the truth.”
The man lifted his eyebrow incredulously, but continued, “The shock hit hard with all of us, but none was hit harder than Joaquin. He is the youngest of us all. He was abandoned at birth, and ran away from the orphanage when he was seven. Abused and manipulated his whole life, not knowing love or happiness, he became cold, hard and unfeeling, not letting anybody get near him. But TÅya…TÅya saw past that icy exterior. He had shown Joaquin a whole new side of life, a warmer, compassionate side. He treated him with respect and loved him like a brother, and in return Joaquin gave him his undying loyalty. Those words he spoke to you earlier, were just out of worry and fear. He'd never believe TÅya'd abandon us. Joaquin was closer to TÅya then any of us, that's why I'm not surprised that he was going to do what he did.”
Sky nodded, “That sounds just like the TÅya I knew. He was playful and immature, but he had a kind, compassionate spirit. He had a deep sense of justice as well.”
The man nodded and looked away toward the sunset, an appearance of pure sorrow on his face. “I knew something was wrong. He'd been reclusive the last few days and had a faraway look in his eyes. I guess…he knew what was coming and wanted to spare us. I wish, he could have just let us help him a little more…then that bastard, Damian…” The man's fists were balled up so tight that his knuckles were white.
He then suddenly relaxed and walked down to Sky, looking him in the eye, “TÅya talked a lot about you, Sky. He always held you in high esteem, and he cared about you very much. However, I cannot accept your help.”
Skylark was slightly taken aback, “What?”
A dubious small smirk came to the man's face, “What makes you think you'll be accepted into our dismal world? You think that someone like you, can survive here? You? A pretty-boy doctor? Hmph…I suggest you go back to your pregnant wife, and just live your life. We'll get revenge for TÅya, don't worry about that. I accept you for being TÅya's messenger, but let's get one thing straight…you're not TÅya, and you're not man enough to fill his shoes”
The young man brushed past Karinkov, on his way to follow his companions. “I'm sure you could go by yourself,” Sky responded, with a dark look shadowing his eyes, “but I have a reason too.”
The man, stopped and turned to face Sky's back, “What? TÅya owed you money or something? Look, we'll take care of this…go home, pretty-boy.”
The russet-haired teen was about to walk up the stairway, when he suddenly felt a grip of iron take hold of his neck! Without even having time to react, he abruptly felt his head crack hard against the pavement, an unyielding foot pinned him down by his chest, and the steel hand kept a solid hold onto his neck.
Totally surprised by the ferocity of the surprise attack, the young man looked up into his assailant's eyes. He was taken aback by the flames and viciousness that existed within those outlandish blue orbs, and the sparks that grated from that steely voice. “Call me that again, and so help me…I'll break your freakin' neck…”
Karinkov's grip on his throat was beginning to cut off his windpipe, the guy didn't think twice that the one-time medical student could easily snap his spinal cord in half if he wanted too…
Something had snapped within Sky as well, and he had reached his limits… “Now, you listen to me, and you listen good—I don't care about you, or Joaquin, or any of you Fallen Angels. But…I made a promise! I made a promise to my TÅya, my brother! I made a promise, to my wife and my baby, while they DIED in my arms!!”
The teen's hazel eyes opened wide in shock. What? TÅya's sister, and his—Damian killed them too?!
Sky looked away, the pain causing tears to spring forth anew. Blood dripped down his arms, splashing on the gang member's t-shirt. “Yes, they're dead too. Aya died standing up to Damian…because of him…so I'm going to kill Damian whether you guys help or not, and I'm sure you feel the same way. I made a promise that I would get vengeance against the man that took my family from me, but also that I would protect you, the Fallen Angels. I do this for TÅya's sake not yours. Now, if you don't want my help, that's fine too, but doesn't it make more sense for us, who have the same goals, to help each other? I was close to TÅya too don't forget, even that would be enough for me to want this, but he also killed my wife and child…the only things I had left in this world. I want to help you; all I'm asking is that you work with me rather than against me. So let's work together and make sure what happened to TÅya, Aya, me, and all of you, never happens to anyone else. So, kid, let's stop that bastard Damian, together!”
The man could only lay there in awe, he couldn't believe Sky's words, but one thing became clear to him… the Fallen Angels and this man… they were indeed the same, both had nothing to lose, they both only wanted to free the world from Damian's plague.
Sky let go of him and stepped away, he waited silently for the young leader's response. The hazel-eyed young man picked himself up and messaged his throat. He looked sideways at the raven-haired widower, before turning towards the door again and as he stepped inside, a small smile emerged on Sky's lips as he heard the man's next words…
“One, my name's Tawny Baxter, just so we're on the same page. And two, well, are you coming in or not?”
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From that point on, I began to be immersed into the Fallen Angels' world. With a little help from TÅya's journal, I quickly learned the names, personalities, and abilities of every member. All of them were willing to do whatever was necessary to avenge TÅya and Aya's death. We slowly began to trust one another as time went on. I found that Joaquin was beginning to stick to me like glue after that day, and I to him. I guess it was fated, ever since the day we met in that alley when I was on my way to tell Aya the news about Damian's decision.
I also found out more about Damian's illegal enterprises, and how much the Fallen Angels hated him. The cruel things he did to them. It was enough to make me hurl…
After some careful planning and the use of TÅya's journal, I finally came up with our strategy against Damian Stockholm. It was a day that none of us would ever forget. It all went down, on a warm night in July…
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxx
 
Damian Stockholm entered his limo, late for another stupid conference meeting. Not that anyone would say anything, they knew better than that. He'd been busy taking care of other business…
He'd just gotten word that Skylark Karinkov had survived his deadly “encounter” and was no where to be found, and also that the rest of the Fallen Angels had still, as of yet escaped radar. Why do they always like to run? Doing it the second time around was just more time-consuming and painful…for them at least.
Putting a cigarette to his mouth, he was about to light it, when the limo suddenly jerked to a stop! He cursed under his breath, “What's that fool doing? He is so getting fired.”
He hit the intercom button, “What happened? And it better not be something stupid like a `red-light' or `there was a girl in the road'.”
The driver didn't say anything, but instead lowered his cap over his face with his gloved hand, before opening the door and leaving the car! Damian looked at him in astonishment. Where was this guy going? Was he crazy? Didn't he know he would get beaten for something like this?
Damian jumped out the car himself to face his driver. It wasn't till then, that he realized that he had no idea where he was. The car had stopped in some sort of forlorn parking garage. What the he—?
He spoke out angrily to the limo driver who stood a few feet away. “Where the heck is this? And what are you doing?! Get back in this car and take me where I tell you. We'll discuss your behavior afterwards and what I'll do with you.”
The other man didn't budge an inch.
Damian ground his teeth, and pulled a gun from his pocket, letting the audible click of the safety coming off be the only warning the man would get. “Drivers are a dime a dozen. I'll say this only once more: get in the car.”
The driver stiffened at first, but still made no move to go back to the car. Instead he smiled slightly and pulled off his cap, letting his long red hair fall out. “Well then, it's a good thing I don't take orders from you anymore, isn't it?”
Damian knew immediately that this wasn't Dominic, his regular driver…this guy was no more than a teenager!
“Who are you?” he asked, still holding the gun at the ready.
The teen smiled and bowed at the waist. “My name is Kurt Lancaster. I am from the group formally known as the Fallen Angels.”
Though surprised, Damian's face didn't show it. Instead, he smirked. “Hmm…interesting. I don't know if you're stupid or just foolhardy, but you saved me the trouble. I just wish that the rest of your little friends could have joined you.”
However, before he could even pull the trigger, Kurt threw something from his hand, knocking the gun clear across the pavement! Looking back at it in amazement, Damian looked at the short dagger that had deflected it—the blade had pierced the gun through the barrel straight through!
Kurt looked back at him, another dagger playfully in hand. He called out to the darkness, “Come on out guys. He's invited us, we might as well accept the invitation.”
From out of the shadows, footsteps echoed. One by one, the rest of the Fallen Angels appeared, dressed in their usual jeans and black leather. Young though they were, they're eyes told a different story. Not only were they devoid of the youth and innocence that should have been there, it had been replaced by things that shouldn't be there, like hate, vengeance, and wrath…
Looking at Stockholm's face, it was now Kurt's turn to smirk. “Well, you know what they say: Be careful what you wish for. You just might get it.”
The Angels easily surrounded him, as a Kurt joined their ranks. Damian however, was not one to lose his cool easily. He ran his hand through his brown hair, and sighed uninterested, stuffing his other hand in his pocket. “I would applaud you kids for your creativity, and I'm surprised how easily you work together. TÅya must have worked long and hard to get you vagabonds to this point…I wonder what you'll do without him?”
Kurt snarled, he gripped the knife in his hand so hard that his skin turned white. It took all of his power to stop himself from going against the plan and throwing the dagger straight into the snake's heart!
Suddenly, he felt a restraining hand on his shoulder, and a hand swiftly remove the knife from his own. He relaxed a little, knowing that their leader was there with them. As much as he hated to admit it, even now, he was afraid of Damian Stockholm, and it was only for his presence, that he could sustain the courage he had…
“Damian, it's been a while. I'd forgotten how much, I hate the sound of your voice.”
The russet-haired tycoon couldn't recognize the new, but strangely familiar voice, or where it had come from. As he looked around, he sighed in exasperation. He so hated not being able to see his enemies/victims. “Oh, come now. Don't be a coward. If you have something to say, don't hide. Say it to my face.”
He felt a slight tap on his shoulder, but before he could completely turn around to see who it was, he was pushed to the ground, and something slammed hard into the palm of his right hand! Grunting in anger at being caught off guard, he tried to get up, but instead cried out in excruciating pain! He looked down and saw Kurt's dagger, thrust to the hilt, through his hand!
“Hurts doesn't it?”
He looked up to see the owned of the mysterious voice, and immediately recognized the man who stood over him. He looked slightly older, and more roguish, with the black leather jacket and uncut hair, but there was no mistaking those cold blue eyes. “Sky—lark? What are you doing here?”
The tall Russian-American, pushed a strand of black hair behind his ear while smiling at him. “You asked me to say it to your face, so here I am. So, I only see one coward here.”
Gritting his teeth in anger and pain, Damian slowly pulled the blade out and absently tossed it in Sky's direction, missing completely. “You're just begging me to put you out of your misery, aren't you Russian?”
Sky stood up straight and laughed at that. “That's funny…”
Then, without a second's warning, Sky lifted his leg and slammed his foot straight into Damian's face, the sound of cracking bone echoing throughout the empty parking lot!
The man fell heavily to the ground, staggered by Sky's sudden kick. Painfully picking himself up with his good hand, Damian wiped the blood from his mouth. “Y-You son of b—ahhh!”
Sky walked up to the murderer, purposefully stepping on his wounded hand, and yanked his head upward by his hair to face his own. Leaning straight into his face, his voice clear but dangerous, “That was the right hand, right? Wasn't that the one you used to stab her with? Wasn't that the one you used to pull the trigger with?”
With each question, he ground his boot heel into the wound making Damian cry out in even greater anguish. Sky smiled as he raised his arm and punched the guy square in the face, taking pleasure in the shock in his eyes. “My name's Skylark Karinkov…remember it.”
Sky left the man with a bloody face, walking away to the outside of the ring of Angels. “These guys are very perturbed with you, Damian…and I must say, their rift with you, takes credence over mine. So, I'm going to let them explain their grievances first.”
Damian stood up weakly, spitting blood and a broken tooth onto the ground. “Sky…when I get out of here…you are going to be so dead, their not even going to find your ashes when I'm through with you.”
“You're in no position to say anything of the kind to our leader.”
Sky shifted his eyes over to the speaker; Tawny smirked back at him. Sky inwardly acknowledged this. He hadn't announced himself as the leader or anything. It just sort of happened. The men hadn't fully gotten used to him yet, and he was still adjusting to their world, but they had a common bond and it kept them together. He'd found it easy to pick up where TÅya left off and continue on. He and the Angels came to an understanding, and they were quickly becoming friends once trust had been established. Yet…all this time, not one of them had called him the leader aloud. And the fact that it was Tawny that said so, TÅya's own second-in-command, made it practically official and all the more precious.
Damian looked at Sky in surprise, “Your leader?”
He laughed aloud, “Ha! So you took your brother-in-law's place? Is this what this is all about? You're going to kill me in revenge for TÅya? That's a laugh! But wait…no, you're here for a different reason, aren't you, Skylark?”
Sky gritted his teeth at the way his archenemy spit out his name, like venom…
Damian looked sideways at him, a shifty gleam in his eye, “You're here for that woman aren't you? You're here to get vengeance for that little whore of yours…and your little unborn bastard too. Right?”
Luke, who stood next to his twin brother, whispered to him. “Why is he trying to provoke Sky further? Doesn't he realize the situation he's in?”
Kurt hunched his shoulders, unsure. “Maybe he's cracked? But whatever it is, it's working. Sky looks ready to beat Damian to pulp just using his fists.”
Luke looked at the man who was the only living kin of their late leader. The man may have looked calm on the outside, but his trained eyes could notice the slight trembling and the paleness of Sky's skin. Was he sick? At a time like this? It wasn't his wounds; they had been healing up nicely and hadn't been infected as far as he could tell. The only explanation was the pure rage that was pent up within in the man, he'd been holding it at bay for their sakes, but Damian was doing his best to put cracks in that dam…
“Shut up…” Sky's voice was low and dangerously unhurried.
However, Damian didn't seem to see how dangerous the situation was getting. “I'm not surprised that street trash like you hooked up with the FAs, since I guess, street trash attracts more street trash…”
The Angels flinched angrily at that statement, but a look from Sky silenced them.
“I said…shut up.”
Damian laughed, wiping more blood from his mouth. “Why should I? Why don't you come in make me? Or are you afraid?”
“Shut up!”
“You're afraid…that you'll be just as useless now, as you were then…that you'll…let them die…just like TÅya….and your wife….and you baby?”
With an almost audible crack, his resolve completely shattered. Sky turned to his mortal enemy, fire in his eyes, and his fists trembling in rage. He came at Damian like a black comet, pure murder in his being!
Damian smiled…
Luke's quick eyes picked up on the gleam of the knife in Stockholm's good hand before anyone else. Realizing with horror what Damien was doing, he instantly moved from his ranks, determined to push the enraged Sky out of the way, even if it meant that his ribs would feel the piercing cold steel instead.
Kurt saw his brother move, and simultaneously also saw the blade in Damian's hand, he immediately knew what was going on, and knew that if he didn't do something someone would get hurt! And most likely it would be someone who was important to him…
With speed that seemed to go against the laws of physics, space, and time, Kurt took another knife from his pocket, one of the many he had on him, and threw it hard!
“Sky! Stop! Luke, get down!”
Though he could hear Kurt's warning, Sky couldn't stop himself in time, from the momentum he had set. Luke could see that too, and instead of getting down, he sped up…
SHINK!
The sound of metal penetrating flesh, followed by the splash of blood rang throughout the empty lot. The Fallen Angels stood petrified by the sound, the drama unfolding around them…
“Ahhhh! I'll kill you, you bastard!!”
Damian shouted out in agony and anger, his hand bloody had been skewered by Kurt's blade, his own knife falling from his hand!
Sky looked up from the ground where he'd fallen, realizing just how close he had come to death…
He then looked up to his savior, who had pushed him to the ground out of Damian's grasp. Luke pulled himself off of Sky, and up from the ground. He was glad to see that neither one of them was hurt, and also that his twin had stopped Damian from being able to do any more harm. He smiled, that was Kurt's forte—no one could beat him when it came to a battle of blades…
Holding a hand out to Skylark, he helped the man up from the ground. The Russian-American didn't say a thing, however as he looked at Luke in silence, his eyes said everything. There was both a rebuke and gratitude in those blue orbs. Luke could only look into those intense eyes for a few moments before he had to look away and walked back to his place in silence, and stood once again by his brother, who smiled to see that he was unharmed.
Sky approached his injured enemy slowly, a look of silent disdain, hate, and even slight pity in his eyes. “Damian…you live by tricks, and by threats, and by manipulation, in order to make up for the fact that—you are nothing but a coward.”
The brunette ground his teeth at the statement, his eyes flashing in anger and holding his maimed hands close to him to try and stop the pain.
“You tried to provoke me before, but I realize how foolish I was to even respond to such drivel from a spineless coward like you…I really must be losing my edge…”
“I'll kill you, Skylark…you won't—”
Sky interrupted the man in mid-threat, “I have no reason to listen to you anymore, there is nothing you can say, that is of any importance to me. Angels—do as you will.”
He simply walked away briskly, past the ring of FAs and disappearing into the darkness, completely ignoring the ringing of Damian's shouts from behind him.
The brown-haired man got up from the ground, holding his bloody arms to his sides. He seemed to have forgotten everything around him, his rage tunneling his vision at one man. What happened to the scared doctor, who observed human life above all else? He would have never involved anyone else, or taken so many risks—How could this Skylark be so different from the one he knew before? It was like he had turned into…
He smirked, “You, taking stupid risks, joining the Angels, and even challenging me, huh? You're like you're brother-in-law now, Skylark? Well, just like TÅya, you're going to wish that you never met me…that you had never even been born. Whatever's precious to you, I'll take away. I'll—
CH-CHINK!
Damian was suddenly silenced by a forbidding sound, in his anger against Sky, he had totally forgotten the ring of Fallen Angels around him. Now, he was brought back to harsh reality as he heard a single loud sound filter through the room into his ears. His body began to tremble as he looked around him, his eyes flickering in fear…
Every single Angel standing there, from the youngest to the eldest, held a semi-automatic gun…and they had all, simultaneously, just taken their safety catches off. All their barrels were aimed straight at him, the looks on the faces of their wielders were like ice, without compassion or mercy.
Kurt smiled slightly, “Your quarrel is with us for now.”
“It's over, Damian. You're through.” Luke added coldly to his brother's statement.
Tawny flicked his lit cigarette to the ground and crushed it beneath his foot. “You killed one of ours. It's only right that we take your life in return, I mean, `a life for a life', right?”
Joaquin's hand on the trigger was firm and unshaken, his eyes held fury, pain, and sadness. He may have been but 15, but he knew how to use a firearm, and still deeply hurt after TÅya's death, he had plenty of reason to use it. “We've had to stand your cruelty and brutality for so long, cowering before you in fear for what you might do to us. I was afraid of to displease you, knowing that any mistake would only be rewarded by brutal punishment. TÅya was the only person, who made living seem worthwhile. But you couldn't take that, and so you took him away. I can never forgive you, not now, not ever.”
Damian fear showing in his eyes, he held up his damaged hands in submission, “L-Look guys, can't we talk about this? Like civilized men?”
Tawny pulled out a fresh cigarette, as he proceeded to light it; he watched the flame of the lighter dance with dangerous conception. “Civilized men, huh?”
He turned his back to Damian, thinking about the idea. The barrel of his gun tapping on his shoulder, its opening still aimed for the criminal tycoon. “Well…the only problem with that statement, is that you don't even know what the word `civilized' means. And as for us…”
The flame was hypnotic, going from bright to dull, never ceasing its enchanting movements.
“Well, we're not even men. We're Fallen Angels remember?”
The fire could be use to aid someone in danger, or to hurt someone just as easily, it was all up to the wielder as to what it would be used for.
Tawny smiled, “Good-bye, Damian.”
With distinct finality, he flipped the lighter top closed, extinguishing the flame utterly and absolutely. At the same time, he easily pulled the gun's trigger…
BANG!
Concurrently, with the immaculate timing and precision, every other Angel followed the lighter's signal, and fired at the same time as their second-in-command.
Damian could hear the bullets wiz through the air, the sound of fourteen guns all firing at the same time was ear-shattering. His mind has paralyzed, and his body with it. Blood splashed up into the sky and onto the ground, like paint thrown onto a macabre canvas, as the bullets penetrated his flesh. It was minutes before the pain of the wounds finally set in. Shock and surprise that he could be hurt, set in much faster, his eyes were wide and his mouth for once, had nothing to say. Even as his body hit the ground, his own red life-force spilling from the fourteen holes that had made their mark, he lay there in disbelief, his body began to convulse as his lungs began to fill with blood. So this is what it felt like, huh TÅya? This is your revenge against me? I'm not dead yet, you Asian bastard. I will not lose to you.
He turned slightly, as the sudden sound of footsteps approached him. A pair of black boots stopped next to him. “This was much too simple for the likes of you, however, time dictates that this be brought to a swift and complete end. I know you're still alive, so don't pretend as if you're dying on me.”
Damian looked up at him, unable to stand, and hardly able to move. “What?”
Sky smiled as he looked down at his bloody form, “You see, I instructed my men to only aim at non-vital areas, which for me, since I was studying medicine before I met you, was quite easy to remember. Death by firing squad is too good for you, we can't soil TÅya's memory by having you die the same way he did. And anyway—”
He bent down low till he was within only a few inches of the man's blood-flecked, sweat-soaked face, his cerulean eyes burning into his own brown orbs. His voice was no louder than a whisper, a single threatening whisper. “I warned you, didn't I…I warned you, that if you hurt Aya, that I would shove a knife through your chest, myself. Like you, I don't make empty threats, nor do I forget my vows.”
“Sky…”
“I let them get revenge for TÅya, but your life was mine to take…”
“Skylark…you d-don't…you don't know…anything…”
Sky laughed slightly, “Insults to the last, huh? That's just like you Damian, however, I don't have time to stand around and listen to them.”
Damian cough a little feeling his body trying to compensate for the sudden onslaught it had endured, but it was a losing battle. “I-It doesn't m-matter…you and them…t-they're going to die t-too. Y-You just bought yourself…a ticket…to death…row.” He smiled despite of the pain. “I…will always…beat you, Skylark…it was practically…written…in the stars.”
Sky however, didn't seem at all intimidated by the thought of capital punishment. In fact he smiled, and came closer to his adversary, as if he wished to share some secret with him. “So it has been written, so shall it be done…”
With swift surety, he brought down the weapon he'd had in his hand, the force of the blow, driving the weapon to sink, to the hilt, into Damian's heart!
Damian jerked and convulsed at the sudden shock, blood gushed from the wound, and was beginning to run from his mouth and nose. He was bleeding internally, and there was no amount of medical intelligence could save him. He knew that the bastard who had just stabbed him had known that too. He painfully looked at the blade that was used, and wasn't surprised to find that it was his own…the same one he had not that many weeks ago, to kill a certain pregnant Japanese-American woman.
“Yes, I used the same tool you used to take her life. I thought it only fitting to use the same weapon to end yours.” Sky quietly answered the question that was in the man's eyes.
Damian spit up more blood, he could feel his clothes soaking in it, his body swimming in it. It was sickening. How had it gotten to this point? He wasn't supposed to die…and definitely not by his hands! This wasn't supposed to be happening! It just wasn't the order of things…
Sky looked as if he was about to take the knife out, and Damian ground his teeth angrily, he couldn't let that little foreigner set the last word. Even as he felt himself losing consciousness, probably for the last time; he took his last energy and spit at Sky, squarely in the face. His voice was faint, but extremely bitter “Go to hell…”
The Russian-American simply flicked the blood from his face, unbothered. Taking hold of the blade handle, he looked down into the man's quickly fading eyes. “You first.”
With that, he twisted the knife viciously, causing the man to make on final gasp of pain, before the light completely left those cunning brown eyes…
After about a minute, Sky stood up straight and walked silently away from the cold body that he'd just murdered. The Angels, who had watched the whole thing, had been slightly surprised of how cold the new man in their midst could be, but felt no remorse or guilt over what he or they had done.
Tawny was the first to leave and follow Sky's example, followed close behind by Joaquin and Kurt. The other FAs began to follow suit, none of them bothering to cover up what they'd done, and not one of them looked back at the dead body of their archenemy, who'd they left lying in his own blood in the forlorn parking garage, it would have reminded them too much of TÅya anyhow.
Once they had gotten outside, the cool night breeze hit them head on, waking them up from the melancholy atmosphere that had surrounded them thus far. The Angels were suddenly startled when Sky stopped suddenly and faced them, His blue eyes were quiet and slightly sad, his black hair swirled with the wind, as he stuck his hands in his pockets, his face had a visage that was both expressionless and tired.
Kurt broke the silence with a quiet question, “What's wrong, Sky?”
Sky smiled slightly, “Nothing's wrong. My promise has come to an end. I've protected you from Damian's hand, and I've you get your vengeance for my brother-in-law's death. I know that this little venture will be hard on you guys in the days to come, I'm sorry for having dug you into a hole even deeper than the ones you were already in. But I promised TÅya that you guys would not die because of Damian, and so…I'm taking full responsibility for his death. It was nice to work with you guys, I have to admit…TÅya was right. You guys are amazing, and it was an honor to have known you.”
The FAs looked at him in surprise. Luke spoke quietly to himself. “So that's why he wanted to take the killing blow for himself…it wasn't just for vengeance, it was because he was trying to protect us.”
It was then that he suddenly heard his brother curse aloud, “Excuse my language, but that's a bunch of bullshit. We all wanted Damian dead, and I'll be damned if I let you go taking all the blame yourself.”
Tawny looked up at the blue-eyed man, smoking a slow ring into the air. “I don't really care what you do, Sky…it's just my job to make sure everyone else follows.”
Skylark looked at them all in surprise, “But…I…”
Johnny, who was already starting the large van, spoke up. “You lead; we follow…what's so hard about that to understand?”
Tyler crossed his arms in agreement, pushing his glasses up on his face. “You think you can get away from us, just like that? You're sadly mistaken. TÅya left us you as our leader, and it's only right that we take his last order to heart.”
“Besides,” Shawn spoke up, his wiry frame laughing as if at some hidden joke, “Damian might be dead, but there is always a chance of retaliation, we'll still need `protection' as you put it.”
Sky could not believe this.He was giving them a chance to get real lives, and they were turning him down?! Why? Where was this sudden loyalty coming from?
Suddenly he felt a playful chokehold around his neck. Turning, he looked at Joaquin who was smiling up at him. “TÅya may have left me and gone to a place where I cannot follow, but I'm not letting the same thing happen to you. I go where you go. I do what you do. All you have to do is lead the way.”
He couldn't believe what he was hearing! “You guys are serious? You—you really want—”
Tawny shook his head and planted a firm hand on Sky's shoulder. “You've already proved that you can lead us; we're not the type to abandon our own. You have nothing to go back to, and neither do we. We're the same, you and us. Just go with the flow…and you'll do fine.”
He then turned to the FAs, “Alright you guys! Stop standing around here and get in the van, I'm not gonna be standing around when the police get here!”
Sky shook his head, totally giving up trying to understand, and instead started laughing in amusement. “Did I tell you to give the order, Tawny?”
The man looked back at him smiling, “No, but I could read it in your eyes.”
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Skylark gazed out into the night sky through his old apartment window. He and the Fallen Angels had been holding up there for a while, but Sky knew they couldn't stay any longer after tonight. Once news got out about Damian, they'd have to run fast and far to escape the manhunt.
As he sat on the window seal, he looked around remembering all the good times he, Aya, and TÅya had here. He had at last avenged them, but that didn't make it hurt any less in his heart. A slight tear came to his eye, as he remembered that night once again; a memory that kept replaying itself within his nightmares.
“I'm sure they're proud of you…and thankful too. You helped them be at peace, in a way.”
Sky turned to the speaker, who had silently observed him.
Most of the Angels had went to sleep, finding somewhere in the apartment to rest whether in a chair, on a table, a counter, or the floor. They had all gone through a lot, and were completely exhausted when they had returned to the apartment building. However there were so still awake, one of them being Kurt Lancaster.
The redhead smiled up at him, knowingly. “I know TÅya was proud of you for what you did, so don't cry for him. He's happy.”
Sky smiled back in gratitude, “Thank you, Kurt.”
The man scratched his head slightly embarrassed, “Oh, I didn't really do nothin'…it just made sense.”
“Not just for that, but for back there in the garage. I was blinded by my anger and reacted foolishly. You saved my life.”
Kurt was glad it was dark or his new leader would see how red his face was getting. “Anytime—but you should really thank Luke, he spotted it before me. Plus, I have to protect him too. I mean, he is my little brother.”
Sky looked at him questioningly, “I thought you two were twins?”
“Yeah, but I was born first! TÅya…TÅya always had a special connection to us since he was the only other twin that we had met. Even though he and Aya were fraternal twins, he knew exactly the kind of bond that Luke and I have.” Kurt looked down affectionately and his brother who was sleeping by his side.
Suddenly, he remembered something and began digging around in his pockets. “Oh! I almost forgot! Before the mission tonight, Luke, Ron, and I went up to Stockholm's mansion.”
Sky looked at him in astonishment, “What?! That was foolhardy and dangerous; you not only could have gotten yourselves killed, but messed up the plan as well!”
Kurt shrugged it off, before smiling as he finally found what he was looking for. “Here, this is all we could find. Damian had had all your other stuff burned. It's kind of bent, but…”
He presented a piece of paper to Skylark.
Taking it, Sky was surprised to find it was a photo. Looking at it closely, he gasped slightly, recognizing the precious item. “This is…this is…”
It was a 5X7 photo of him, Aya, and TÅya right before he had asked Aya to marry him! They had been at the park and Aya asked a passerby to take a picture of the three of them. Touching the photo lightly, he stared happily at Aya's shining face and TÅya looking reckless as ever. He felt as if their twinkling emerald green eyes were on him, smiling on him. Putting his hand to the necklace around his throat, he gazed appreciatively at Kurt. “Thank you so much. You don't know how much this means to me.”
The redhead relaxed and settled down to sleep, “Yeah…I think I do.”
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Early the next day, we left the apartment for the last time. We went south to a roadside motel, where we sat down to talk and plan our next move. We weren't going to turn ourselves in to the police, for we knew we had done nothing wrong. We had simply done a job the law couldn't seem to reach. However, the Fallen Angels had lost their raison d'être and were stuck on what they were going to do now. That's when we got the news.
Shawn called us to television, which had been turned to a press conference about Damian's murder. The police were saying that they were working hard to find the killers, but that the job would be difficult since there were multiple people involved. However, anyone could see that the police were not very enthusiastic in their work; they had probably all felt they Damian's cold sting before, and would probably not be grieving at his funeral.
However, right after the chief of police left the microphones, another figure took center stage, and he was definitely no cop.
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The man on the screen was tall, young, and aristocratic-looking. He had auburn-hair tied back in a small ponytail, and a pair of cold brown eyes that looked awfully familiar. When he spoke, there was a slight trace of a European accent.
“I will let you know that it will give me great pleasure to continue in my father's stead, and I promise that everything will be the same if not better than when he was the company's head.”
Sky looked at Shawn, “That guy is cold and cruel; I can see it in his eyes. And his voice sounds as if it could freeze an icicle. Who is he?”
The man responded bitterly and a look of doubt in his young eyes. “It seems that Damian had children, twin sons.”
All became silent in the room as everyone paid attention to this new information. Sky looked at his surprised, “He looked so young, who'd have thought that he had adult children…”
“Yeah,” the man went on, “the guy there is Ares, the other was Adonis, Adonis died two years ago from tuberculosis. The two lived in Europe for almost all of their lives, probably in boarding schools and the like. Ares is 22 and has his own castle home in the outskirts of eastern Germany, and just comes to the US for business. Ares has taken over his father's company now. Doesn't look like he grievedmuch…”
You could basically hear the sarcasm dripping off his tongue. And anyone had but to look at the screen to see why. Of all the things that Ares Stockholm appeared to be, grieving was definitely not one of them.
The man continued his speech with that arctic voice of his, his eyes almost as penetrating as Skylark's. “We are all deeply affected by his grizzly death at this time, but his murderers will be caught! I will make sure those cold-blooded killed pay dearly for what they've done. They will be as fallen angels under the judgment of God!”
There was a sudden gasp around the room as the hidden threat hit them all. Not only did Ares know who killed his father, he was challenging them…
The man looked hard at the screen as if he knew they would be watching, “So, I say fallen angels, run and hide as much as you want, but one day you will be found and paid back in full for the dishonor you have put to the Stockholm name.”
Tawny reached over and turned the TV off, he then sighed in resignation. “What a nice guy…he's purposefully daring us to do something. I thought Damian was bad…but this guy gives me the total creeps. I'm sure when he says he's going to `pay us back” I don't think he means in a legal way…well, what are we going to do now, Sky? It's up to you.”
The others all looked to their leader, to find that he was standing in a corner deep in thought, while looking at a photo.
Kurt knew which photo, but could only guess what he was looking for. Maybe he's asking his family for guidance?
After a few moments, Joaquin was about to touch his arm, but was stopped by Sky's words. Without looking up, he asked quietly, “How much did you hate working for Damian?”
They all looked at each other in surprise at the sudden question. Shawn answered bitterly, “It sounded fun at first, but I quickly found out how disillusioned I was. I was constantly used for my ability to hack into computers and stuff and treated like trash. If I didn't do the work by the time he wanted, or became tired in my work, he would have me severely beaten and then starved. I hated working for him and I hated him, I hated it more than I hated anything else.”
Kurt spoke up, “It the same for all of us. We were all from of the street, and the promise of food, shelter, and power was hard to pass up. But we were used, he only wanted our abilities and strength. He wanted slaves, not workers. You know this too, TÅya told us you had been forced to slave away your life for Damian because of TÅya's sake. You understand how we could have hated him so much, hated working for him. And then the things we did under his orders…some of it was…sometimes I just can't forgive myself for what I did. I always think there was something I could have done for those poor people I helped to send to hell.”
Tyler sighed in regret, “We all feel shame for what we did, but why do you ask Sky?”
The man looked up slowly, his azure eyes as piercing as ever. “Because that man, is going to pick up where his father left off. He wasn't just talking about his legal business either. Call intuition if you will, but I tell you right now, that Ares is going be twice the monster his father was. I asked you that question, to see if you hated it so much, would you be willing to do something about it?”
Tyler took a step back, “Do something?”
“I'm telling you right now, I'm not going to let this Ares, continue his father's reign of tyranny. I won't let him continue the drugs, and human trafficking, and sex slaves. I'm going to stop his operations, destroy his plots, and make sure he hates even hearing the sound of my name. I know this is difficult, but I'm asking you to join me. I know this will make our lives even more dangerous than they already are, but as Tawny said yesterday, I have nothing left to lose. I will understand if you want to back out now, and you may leave at any time. However, if you stay, you must pledge yourself to this group, and know that once you're in, there is no getting out. Make your choice now, because it's now or never.”
The Angels looked at each other in shock. What were they to say in response to that? Take an active stance against the Stockholms? Become vigilantes who fight what the law can't? Would it even work?
“I'm with you.”
Everyone turned to the speaker, and none were very surprised to find that it was Joaquin. The youngest of them, put his hand of acceptance in the air. “I told you before. All you have to do is lead the way. I go where you go. I do what you do. Plus…it might be nice to play offense this time around.”
Kurt smiled and hunched his shoulders before putting his own hand up. “Hey, if the kid can do it, I can't let him show me up. Plus this may be able to help me atone for the stuff I did while under Damian's thumb.”
“If you're in, so am I. Plus, I'm tired of just roaming around doing nothing. It's time I actually did something constructive.” Luke also raised his hand, joining his twin.
Tawny and Tyler put their hands up at the same time. Tawny smirked, “I told you yesterday, that I didn't care what you did, I just make sure everyone follows the orders.”
Tyler grinned, pushing his glasses higher on his face, “You'd probably be lost without me, so I can't let you do it all by yourself.”
After only a minute or so, all of the hands were raised, all of the Angels were willing to put their lives in the hands of their new leader, they were willing to follow him anywhere. Unbeknownst to him, he had rescued them from death and a whole lot worse, from a life of slavery. They respected him as TÅya affirmed replacement, but they also respected him even more for what he did and sacrificed for them.
Sky nodded affectionately at them, before making his next statement. “Alright, now that we got that figured out, I'm announcing that from this day forth, the Fallen Angels have been dissolved.”
They looked at him in shock, not comprehending. Joaquin reached out to him, “But why Sky? After we—”
Sky smiled at him, cutting him off with a hand. “The Fallen Angels was created by Damian, and with his death I officially disband it. However, with this new day and our new objective, I'm forming a new group, a new gang. From now on, we will be known as: The Avenging Angels. TÅya always used to say to me, `Remember that angels are not just pretty but they're dangerous, and that they'll do whatever's necessary to protect those they're charged guardianship over, and they do what's right no matter what happens.'By joining the Avenging Angels, you have hereby sworn to uphold these ideals and to keep them so that no one will feel the travesty that we have felt by another Stockholm's hands. Look around you at your teammates; these are your brothers, your sisters, your mothers, and your fathers. You were a team before, now we're a family, and I for one, am glad to be a part of it. As you know, I…I would have probably give anything to have again what I have lost, the family I could have had. However, I'm also happy now, because without that night I would have never met any of you, my new family. I am happy to be your leader, but even more grateful to be your friend. This may not be an actual democratic group, but I promise you that I will treat each of you and your opinions as my own. Know that no one is higher than anyone else, and that I will try to lead to the best of my ability. I don't all the lies ahead, but I do know that when it comes we'll face it together.”
At first, everyone was too amazed by his speech to even answer, but soon clapping could be heard, which soon evolved into wild cheering. The Avenging Angels had been born, and despite all their troubles, this was quite a day to remember.
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“…and so that's how we got started. It was 5 years ago now. The tattoos came later and then we found this place. We live a life on the run, but with a purpose. It so happened, that my predictions about Ares were correct and then some. We've had our hands full trying to stop and foil his operations, setting people free that he ships into the country, destroying the drugs that he has sold on the streets, and many other things. We send what evidence we can to the police via an untraceable anonymous link on the internet. And however black Ares likes to paint us, most of the people we help spread the word about us and most people in the towns we go to, know the truth.”
Sky got up from the bed slowly, and pulled on a clean white shirt he didn't bother buttoning. Reaching for a crutch on one side, he walked up jadedly to Fang. “Hey, you must be tired. You should get to bed. Now that you know everything, you're free to roam where you will. Sometimes after a job, the guys go off and have some personal time, that's why there are so few people here. However, they'll be back tomorrow. I'll introduce you to them all then.”
Fang was tired, but he hadn't dared sleep yet, Sky's story of his past had enthralled him from start to finish. “But you shouldn't be up, Sky. You should be resting too, and get your strength back up. I haven't forgotten that it was because of me that you stayed awake all that time and got so exhausted.”
The man laughed lightly, “Oh, I'll be alright, I've been through worse. I have to go talk with Tyler and the others. You just get some rest, you can have a good night's sleep here. Know that we will protect you, and will help you in any way we can.”
The two walked slowly to Fang's room, where Fang yarned and entered the sparse but gratifying room of his own. Sky watched kindly as he entered and settled down exhaustedly on the bed. “I'll see you tomorrow Fang, and we can see if we can find out more about your missing flock.”
Fang sat up swiftly just as Sky was about to close the door. “Wait, there is still one thing I don't understand.”
“Oh?”
He looked at the blue-eyed man with his new silver ones. “Why? Why are you protecting me, and don't tell me it's just an act of good will.”
Sky grinned furtively, “Oh, didn't I tell you?”
Fang looked at him expectantly.
“The company that the Damian, and now Ares owns and is the head of—”
Sky slowly closed the door as he exited the boy's chambers, but not before saying with a smirk. “The company's name is…Itex.”