The Sacrifice

The lights came back on and with it a bunch of hidden railguns, all aiming straight at Sera. They were a lot bigger than the ones humans can use.

'So, this is what those energy cells were for. To power these weapons.'

Sera didn't have time to run away or even dodge the shots. She summoned her weapon as a shield and tried to not die. Shot after shot rang out, they were so powerful that the ground around Sera began to cave in.

Still she held her ground, her arms were already numb from the attacks but she couldn't even move. Her Essence began to dwindle and she dismissed everything except her wings and shield which she still held. At some point she fell to her knees and began screaming.

She couldn't even hear her own thoughts from the constant noise of railgunfire. Her Essence was so low that she had to dismiss her shield as well. She only had her wings to protect her, the pain was excruciating. Her wings felt like they were taken apart muscle by muscle.

It took around one minute of constant bombardment for her Essence to fully run out. As her wings dissipated the shooting stopped. Sera was lying on the ground and around her silence reined.

She quickly glanced towards Bea, she was fine. There was a large dead cat near her.

'She managed to kill the other as well, that's good... and the railguns only shot at me.'

Sera tried her best to see Bea's face but her vision just couldn't focus. If she had to guess there was pain, anger and horror, but she didn't know for sure.

Suddenly there was a flap of wings and a huge demonic man appeared in front of her.

'Seems like Hellfire is still alive.'

From his shadow Faith came out and knelt next to Sera. There were tears running down her face. Sera's mind was getting more and more foggy, but she held on.

"My Lady... Get up, we have to leave... All the slaves are rescued..."

Sera looked at her, then reached out and held her hand. Tears were running down on Sera's face as well. And Faith began crying even more, she knew what Sera was about to say.

"Save them... Get them... To... Safety..."

"No... We can all make it out..."

'No we can't... Nightmare won't let me go...'

Sera took a deep shuddering breath and spoke with as much authority as she could muster.

"That was... An order... Devout Shadow! And you too Hellfire... Get them out of here... Especially Bea... She will not leave... Without me... But you will take her away... I don't care how..."

Hellfire was very surprised that she knew who he was, but nodded all the same and went to start the retreat. Meanwhile Faith couldn't even breath, she held onto Sera's hand like a lifeline.

"Please... Don't leave us... We need you..."

Sera smiled, it was a very sad smile. "You have... Bea... Serve her... As you would me... And tell her... I forgive everything... And will always... Love her..."

Staying awake was getting increasingly difficult, but she wouldn't pass out, not until everyone was in safety. Faith's hand was trembling, but she eventually nodded. She leaned in and kissed Sera's brow.

"I swear, I will find a way to rescue you... No matter where you are... Or how much you suffer... I and Bea and everyone will find a way... Because you are our leader... Our Queen..."

With that she slowly stood and looked towards Bea, she was running towards them but would be too late. Faith looked down at Sera one last time and then ran at Bea.

Faith grabbed her and lifted her on a shoulder, then ran away. Bea was already low on Essence as well, so she didn't have the power to escape Faith.

Sera was lying on the ground when she heard the screams.

"LET ME GO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING! WHY ARE YOU LEAVING HER! ISN'T SHE YOUR QUEEN!..."

There were tears on Sera's face, she was so tired. She watched the skies, like she did that time on the roof. She was dying back then, but somehow got saved. This time, she knew no one was going to save her.

'At least I had some time. Everything since Newber seemed like a gift. Like I should have died then. Maybe I should have, it would have made things much easier.'

She would've laughed but was too tired.

'These past months were amazing. I found new friends and family when I had none. I can only hope... Maybe this is not the end...'

She knew it was wishful thinking, in the end though it didn't matter. Her friends and the slaves had been saved. If her sacrifice was the price, then so be it.

There was a noise next to her. Footsteps, slow and methodical heading her direction. Her eyes were trying to stay open, but her vision was all foggy.

Above her stood a man, he was very handsome with dark hair and dark purple eyes. He stood with arrogance, like she was only a bug in his eyes.

"So... You're... Nightmare..."

He smiled at that. It was a Mad smile. "Oh, so my reputation proceeds me."

'Arrogance it is.'

"Well... It wasn't... Hard to... Guess..." Sera's words were getting more and more slured.

"Yeah well, your reputation proceeds you as well. You even managed to get the attention of my Master. The strongest Evolved to ever exist, killing a Horror of the 3rd Tier as your first monster, just because he angered you."

He began laughing madly.

"The horrible Archangel of Despair, finally dying at the hands of a human girl. The other two would be emberassed, well if they would still be sane of course."

Through the exhaustion Sera tried to pay attention to what Nightmare said, it confused her.

"How... How do... You know... That there are... Three of them...?"

He laughed again.

"Do you know what they fought against? Wait no, let me rephrase that! Do you know what defeated them?"

The smile on Nightmare's face was the scariest thing she ever saw and before she could try to answer he spoke again.

"Madness."

After saying that Nightmare kicked her in the head and she instantly lost consciousness.

[End of Part 1 - Angel of Despair]