The Divide 2 Ch:01

Terrin smiled as he sat up, wind blowing through his long hair. He couldn’t hear anything, other than the sound of Zan’s wings flapping, through the sound of the roaring wind. His legs were wrapped tight around Zan’s scaly frame. His ribs expanded under Terrin’s legs as he drew in another deep breath, entering a downward spiral. Though he was well in control, he let them free fall from their shocking altitude. As he unfolded his wings from his side, the wind caught them and carried them just above the treetops as they headed back towards the kingdom that had been in Terrin’s rule for just over five years now.

“Back home so early?” Terrin shouted over the wind.

“I’m hungry, though we could stop for a snack and continue if you’d like?” Zan joked, as he flew over the herds of cattle that roamed the fields just outside of the large walls that protected the city, which had grown a significant amount since the two races had joined together to live in peace. The cows mooed their disapproval and began to scatter, when Zan’s red wings covered them in shadows.

“Stop that. You know they don’t produce milk when you scare them,” Terrin laughed. Zan only roared in response, the sound nearly shaking the earth. With the kingdom in the north, fields to the south, and woods to the east, all that was left was the divide to the west. The once black rock, created when the large red dragons covered the earth in their molten fire, had since softened and had sprouted an unusual flower. The red and black blossoms covered the divide, creating a small field running down the incline to the lands once belonging to the dragons. Though now it had been renamed The Lowerside, due to it’s lower elevation it formed a deep valley. The Upperside, once belonging to only humans, was so named for it’s higher elevation, creating a steep drop to the sea that required creative thinking to make a path down the cliff side to the harbor below.

As Terrin looked over his beautiful green land, he couldn’t help but smile. A few of the white mountainous dragons soared through the skies. They were more reclusive than the friendly and sarcastic reds, or the ancient and social blue water dragons. They prefered to stay on their mountain tops, or hiding in their caves. The fire dragons like to be in the kingdom. People had long grown used to the sight of the red behemoths flying over their heads. Children used them as jungle-gyms, playing on their large scaly bodies. Terrin had even been trying to convince a few volunteers to step forward to be used in combat for his highest ranking generals, but it was proving to be difficult as neither side was willing to step forward. So far, Terrin had been the only one to ride one of the scaly beasts, besides the head of the guard when the king had been hurt.

“What do you think they’re doing here?” Terrin asked, looking up as the snake like creatures headed towards the castle on feathered wings.

“I’m not sure, but I would bet four cows it’s not good,” Zan said, as another herd scattered underneath him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Another one, my lord,” the head of the guard, Xavier, spoke. Since the day Terrin had returned from the dragons land with Zan beneath him he had trusted this guard. He was the only other person to have ridden a dragon, he had been head of the guard when his father was king, and he would always remain head of the guard. Terrin had to admit that they had become close friends.

“Told you,” Zan said, as he shifted into human form. Since Terrin had become king, he had removed the large window in the front of the castle. It provided a great entrance for the scaly behemoths.

“A Zar?” Terrin asked, glancing at the three snake like dragons who were coiled neatly to his right.

“Yes, my king,” Xavier nodded. Terrin turned to the air dragons that blinked at him with beady black eyes, waiting patiently to speak.

“Thank you for coming to me with this.” Terrin bowed to them. They uncoiled partially, revealing their heads, topped with feathered crests the same as their pearly white scales.

“We were concerned,” the dragon said, drawing out the second ‘c’ in concerned, much like a snake.

“Understandable,” Terrin nodded. “What happened?” He sat down on the throne that had once belonged to his father, and now to him.

“Askirzar, grew sick,” the creature drew out the ‘s’ sounds again. “He attacked his own brood. Many died,” the snake-like dragons were beings of few words.

“How many?” Terrin asked.

“Sixteen,” he spoke again, taking an extra long time to say the number, drawing out both of the ‘s’ sounds.

“We’ll make a trip up there in the next couple of days, our condolences to your dead,” Terrin bowed his head. The white snake nodded sadly, bobbing it’s triangular head as it flexed it’s feathered wings. “We still don’t know what’s causing it,” Terrin began. “But we’re trying as hard as we can.” Terrin stood. “Please, let us know if there’s anything we can do to help your brood.” Without another word, the dragons took their leave. Only Xavier, Zan, and Terrin remained.

“What are we going to do, Terrin?” Zan sat in the throne next to Terrin’s. It was constructed of silver and rubies, next to Terrin’s who’s was gold and a multitude of gems.

“I don’t know. But we need to look into this personally. Maybe when we head down there, we ask to see the body,” Terrin said. “This needs to stop before more dragons die.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~
It had been a year since the outbreak started. One day, one of the noble blue serpents that ruled the sea’s had suddenly turned on a ship, and attacked. No one knew why, but both the ship and the dragon were killed in the fight. People turned towards the dragon, pointing fingers and saying the beast had attacked the ship for no reason. Dragons pointed at humans and said that the ship had drifted into the very clearly mapped out blue dragon nesting zones. As the debate carried on, another of the beasts went insane. This time one of the glorious red dragons burned nearly half the kingdom to the ground, before it was shot down, by members of it’s own species this time.

The reds claimed they had nothing to do with the attack, and were just as surprised as the humans were. This proved to be true the next time a similar event happened. Another water dragon drove it’s long serpentine body up the river cutting through the swamp. It forced it’s way up the stream, attacking anything in it’s path until it reached the lava pits that the red dragons occupied. The dragon emptied the lake that sat near the pits, before crawling through the muck and trees to reach the lava pools. It soaked the reds, solidifying the magma and killing four dragons in the process.

By now people were realizing that it wasn’t the beginning of another war. Something was wrong and no one knew what. It wasn’t long after that the wind dragons began to take ill as well. It was random, with no obvious pattern. They would attack anything near them, humans, dragons, even animals. If there was nothing around them, they would take it out on the environment, slamming their heads and bodies into the ground and other natural features until they would die themselves. It was as if the beasts had lost all control of their own free will and their own, usually sound, minds.

“It’s cold,” Terrin muttered, as Zan pushed his way deeper into the mountains. The snow covered peaks were practically uninhabitable by any other species, and Terrin was well aware that Zan wouldn’t be able to last long in the frigid environment. Neither could he.

“Yes,” Zan said, bitterly.

“Lets just go see the brood and the damage done, and then I promise you can take a long hot bath in the lava pools,” Terrin said. He couldn’t help but smile at Zan’s happy groan. As the bright red feet of the fire dragon landed in the snow, not without a little steam from his hot flesh mixing with the icy ground, several white coils of scales made themselves noticeable, though they still blended in fantastically.

“We have saved the body of the passed ones, as you requested,” the snake said. He fell onto his flat stomach, and slithered through the snow with his wings pulled up tight against his body. Terrin followed Zan, as he followed the other dragons. They led them to a small circle of stones, obviously placed there on purpose. The seventeen corpses, including the original attacker, were placed carefully in the snow.

“How did you stop the sick one?” Terrin asked, looking over the dead sadly.

“He flew into a nearby cliffside,” the leader of the air dragons answered, pointing him out, before leaving.

“That’s new,” Terrin said.

“What?” Zan asked.

“None of them have ever stopped attacking anything to end their own lives, unless they ran out of things to attack. But there’s obviously more dragons here.” He looked around.

“Maybe they were too well hidden,” Zan pointed out.

“Like you wouldn’t be able to see a member of your own species?” Terrin looked up at Zan.

“Whatever is making these dragons do this, isn’t exactly keeping their mind intact,” Zan said.

“Their mind... maybe we could find something wrong...” Terrin said, hesitantly.

“You wish to desecrate the dead?” Zan looked at him with a cold gaze.

“It’s a necessary evil. If we can stop this from happening again...” Terrin trailed off as he drew his sword. He hesitated a moment, before plunging the tip into the skull of the creature, who still looked the same as the day he died due to the cold preserving his body. Zan shut his eyes and turned his head away as Terrin broke the skull as carefully as he could. “Zan, look,” Terrin said. Zan grunted in disapproval before turning back to the body, and looking into the once solid skull.

“What is that?” he asked.

“It’s supposed to be his brain,” Terrin replied, looking at the small black circle that would be the dragons brain.

“Why is it like that? We don’t like to desecrate the dead, but we do know a decent amount about our anatomy, and it doesn’t look like that I can assure you,” Zan said, squinting at the brain through the rolling gusts of snow.

“I don’t know,” Terrin shook his head. As they leaned closer, suddenly the black ball in the broken skull twitched. They pulled back quickly.

“Did that just..move?” Zan asked.

“I think it did...” Terrin leaned in again, and poked it with the tip of his sword.

“Don’t do that!” Zan shoved him gently with his wing. Terrin looked up at him before doing it again, when the blackness jiggled unnaturally. This time Zan said nothing, just as focused as Terrin was. He leaned in again, and pulled back suddenly with a shriek as his face was covered with black slime. “Ew! Get it off! Get it off!” he shouted telepathically. He rubbed his head in the snow, wiping the black muck from his eyes. “This is why we don’t play with corpses!” he shouted, as Terrin burst into laughter. He spit, letting his tongue roll out of his mouth as he tried to get the muck off his face. Terrin continued to laugh. “Terrin!” he whined, scratching his face with his wing.

“Okay, okay. I’m sorry.” Terrin chuckled, before helping Zan remove the goo from his face. Once he was clean, Terrin wiped off his hands in the snow, and they headed back to the dragons brood. “Okay, noted. No more corpses,” he continued to giggle.

“This is so many kinds of not funny, Terrin,” Zan frowned.

“I know I know,” Terrin said, though he couldn’t stop laughing at the dragons unhappy face.

“I warned you. I said ‘don’t desecrate the dead’. I didn’t even look, and I’m the one who gets brain goo in my face?” Zan complained.

“Oh suck it up, you baby.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As Terrin and Zan headed back to the kingdom, Terrin let out a sigh of relief.

“It’s so good to be away from all that snow. It’s still freezing, but the mountains are so pretty,” he said, looking out over the brown and green cliffs. Some were speckled with caves and you could see dragons darting in and out of them, long serpentine bodies glinting in the sunlight.

“I’ve never seen this part of the land,” Zan said.

“Really? All that time and you just stayed in the swamps and the lava pits?” Terrin frowned.

“Yes. It’s too cold up here.” He shook his shoulders, as if shaking loose a thick layer of ice on his red flesh.

“You just-” Terrin was silenced by an echoing screech. Zan looked around, confused, before he felt the giant weight on his head. They plummeted towards the ground, a mess of twisting scales and wings. White feathers fell around them, as Terrin struggled to hold on. Zan let out a surprised sqwauk as they fell, sounding more chicken than dragon. He looked down in just enough time to see they were seconds from hitting the grassy plains below the mountains. With a suddenly calm view, he relaxed and twisted them around, air dragon and all. As the other creature wrapped it’s long body around Zan’s neck, Terrin began to shakily climb up the neck of his lover. He reached just behind his head, and drew his sword from his belt. As he plunged the weapon into the white dragons serpentine body, he was met with a hiss and a mouth full of fangs. As the dragon turned towards him, and Zan struggled to keep them in the air, Terrin was faced with the cold black eyes that had replaced the usual sky blue of the Zar dragons. He readied his sword.

The snake unwrapped it’s body from Zan’s neck, giving him time to breath again. But now it began to coil down his body, heading for Terrin who had since backed up to the base of his short tail.

“Terrin, hold on,” Zan’s calm voice called to him. Terrin did as he was told, and sheathed his sword, before crouching down and locking his hands around the scales and spikes that surrounded him. As soon as Zan felt he was holding on as tight as possible, he fell into a downwards barrel roll. Terrin felt his head spin as he lost track of what was up and what was down. The dragon had been caught off guard and was thrown from the red scales on Zan’s back. It hissed as it caught itself in the air with ivory wings. Zan pulled out of the roll, and headed back to the kingdom.

“What are you doing?” Terrin said, confused as he glanced back at the pursuing dragon.

“I won't kill my own kind, Terrin,” Zan said, angry.

“It attacked us first.”

“He! You forget that we’re not mindless beasts, he has a brood, and probably offspring. I won't end his life,” Zan said, Terrin swallowed. He looked back again, going pale.

“Zan, where did he go?” He looked around, and up, not seeing the other dragon anywhere. Zan took a moment to look over his shoulder, a scowl crossing his reptilian face.

“I don’t-” He cried out as rows of teeth sank into the soft flesh of his neck. Blood gushed from the wound as he beat his wings harder, no longer really moving forward but only hovering in place. He shook his head, trying to free himself from the dragons jaws. He took off, up into the blue sky. He rolled and tumbled as he tried to force the dragon to loosen it’s jaws, Terrin could do nothing but grasp to his body helplessly as he listened to the cries and shrieks of his love. As Zan began to panic and flop around in the air, Terrin finally lost his grip and began falling to the ground. When he realized he had lost his rider, he blinked before looking down. Terrin screamed as he fell, hands outreached for his dragon mate. With a look of pure rage, Zan forced the creature from his neck, taking several chunks of flesh with him. He drew in a deep breath, and blasted the other creature with a wave of pure heat. It shrieked and hissed as one of it’s wings burned away, leaving a few charred feathers left. It fell slowly, gliding to the edge of a nearby mountain. Without hesitation, Zan dove towards his falling mate. Terrin wasn’t far from the ground now, and he knew he wouldn’t be able to make it. He gave it everything he had, but it was hopeless. As he reached the ground, Zan had only enough time to see a flash of green before Terrin was gone. He blinked, and spread his wings to stop himself, though he couldn’t make it in time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Terrin could see nothing but black. He could hear the ever familiar beat of leathery wings around him and smiled. Zan had saved him. He knew he would. As he smiled wider, and attempted to see, there was a moment of confusion. If Zan had saved him, how was he holding him. The red behemoth he loved so much had no arms in his dragon form, only red bat-like wings. Suddenly, a sound so loud he felt his ears ring resonated around him. He blinked and looked around the dark space, seeing nothing. Suddenly, the sounds of wings beating stopped, and he felt the familiar feeling of a landing. Suddenly, there was light. He squinted and held a hand above his eyes to try to block out the sun but it was no good. He frowned as he looked around, seeing only a wall of green. He was set down roughly, onto his feet, stumbling in the grass. He fell on his ass, and looked up, eyes going wide. A very large, very green, dragon stood before him.

“G-green,” he sputtered out. The dragon narrowed his eyes. He looked similar to Zan’s species. At least more so than the others. His scales were a bright emerald color, though it was obvious that they had faded with age, and they were missing in many places from battle scars and other old injuries. Unlike Zan, this dragon had four legs, and then a pair of wings sprouting from its shoulders. Green whisker-like appendages sprouted from it’s snout and hung down past it’s mouth quite a ways. It’s eyes were a shocking contrast to it’s green scales, shining like a ruby.

“Good, we know you aren’t color blind,” he spoke in Terrins head, sighing a deep dragon sigh. A sickly sweet smell washed over Terrin, he knew from books that their defense was a toxic breath they were able to breath at will. Obviously that wasn’t it, but the odor was the same as it was described in the book.

“Z-zan?” Terrin turned his head, suddenly realized his mate hadn’t picked him up. He stood on shaky legs and looked around, panicking.

“I believe that’s the other dragon you were with?” the old green dragon spoke. “That would be him over there.” He raised one giant dragon paw and pointed behind Terrin, who spun quickly. He couldn’t see anything through a cloud of dust that had gathered in the area. “He hit the ground pretty hard. I’m not sure if he’s okay,” he spoke again. Terrin went pale.

“Zan!” he cried out, breaking into a run. He was suddenly scooped up by a large wing.

“Now that’s no way to travel,” the dragon muttered, and walked briskly towards the cloud of dirt that had covered a good portion of the field. Terrin held onto his thick green scales as they approached Zan. As soon as he was close enough, he jumped down and ran to his fallen mate.

“Zan? Zan it’s Terrin, open your eyes!” he shouted, as he stumbled around the crater Zan’s large body had created. He stopped at his face, supporting his weight on Zan’s snout as he moved around to his large eyes. “Goddamnit listen to your king and get up!” Terrin shouted, angry. Zan didn’t move. “Do something,” Terrin looked up at the swamp dragon, who raised an eyebrow.

“Such as?” he looked a little annoyed.

“I don’t know! Your species was known for healing herbs and spells. Heal him!” Terrin shouted. The dragon glared at him blankly for a moment.

“Boom shakalaka. Oops, didn’t work.” He seemed to shrug before turning around and sitting back on his haunches with his tail wrapped around his feet carefully.

“Ugh! I’m glad my people killed all of your species!” he shouted. “You’re worthless!” He turned back to his mate, now in tears. “Zan, please. Please wake up.” He collapsed onto his knees and sobbed on the fire dragons shiny scales.The older green dragon turned his head slightly, looking at the sad sight. Suddenly, Zan drew in a deep breath, letting it out with a sigh, and a few licks of flame poked out from his mouth. Terrin wiped his tears and blinked. “Zan?” he whispered. Suddenly, the large yellow eye opened and blinked as the pupil narrowed to accommodate the bright light of the sun. Terrin smiled and laughed through his slowing tears.

“Ground bad. Air good,” Zan’s weak voice floated to Terrin’s ears.

“You moron,” he stood up and kicked his snout, knowing the dragon would hardly feel it. He backed up as Zan struggled to stand. His back legs were obviously weak as they shook supporting his weight. Dust fell from his scales as he sighed, finally standing straight. Many gaping wounds lined his neck, from the wicked bite of the air dragon. “Are you okay?” Terrin asked. Zan nodded his big head.

“Yes. I think so. Nothing a few hours in the lava pools won't cure,” he said, obviously not so sure. “A-are you okay?” he asked, worried. Terrin nodded and stroked the behemoths snout gently.

“He saved me,” he nodded to the green dragon Zan had yet to notice. “Though he wasn’t anymore help than that.” He glared at the dragon’s still turned back.

“Terrin!” Zan snapped. “Show some respect,” he said, whispering in his telepathic voice, though the other dragon would obviously be able to hear him. “Thank you,” Zan bowed, though it obviously caused him pain. “Thank you for saving my mate,” he said sincerely.

“Mate. Never heard of that before. Things have changed since my time,” he mumbled.

“His time? Who is this guy?” Terrin scowled at his back. “I thought green dragons were extinct. Now I see why if they’re all as charming as this one,” Terrin scowled.

“Remember when we met? I told you about the last remaining swamp dragon? This is him,” Zan nodded his reptilian head.

“So, he’s the king of the swamp dragons,” Terrin said, awestruck.

“You can’t be king if everything in your kingdom is dead,” he muttered, speaking the first words since turning his back on Terrin.

“I would order my people to do it again if all were as rude as you,” Terrin frowned.

“Terrin!” Zan said.

“I knew my people had made a mistake when they agreed to form an alliance with your kind,” he spat, and flew off.

“I can’t believe you just did that,” Zan said, mouth open. The expression was hilarious on one of the big dragons.

“He was a jerk!”

“He’s the last of his species!” Zan said.

“Whatever. Are you able to fly us back east?” Terrin asked.

“I’m not sure.” Zan rose up onto his back legs and spread his wings, but one only unfolded part of the way before he groaned and fell back down to rest on the appendages, keeping most of his weight off the injured wing. “I don’t think so.”

“Then come on, we have a long walk back to the lava pools,” Terrin said.

“Deja vu,” Zan muttered, in his telepathic link with Terrin.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Zan’s eyes fluttered open as he felt the a wet heat envelope his nipple. He smiled and sighed.

“Good morning to you, too,” he didn’t think he would ever get used to his human voice. He knew Terirn obviously found this form more attractive, and he enjoyed sleeping with Terrin in the castle. He had even given up sleeping under the night sky for him. It was worth it.

“Morning,” Terrin smiled, as he crawled up Zan’s body and kissed him, running his fingers through his black and red hair. “Did the soak in the lava pools help?” he asked, rubbing the bruised flesh all over Zan’s body tenderly.

“Yes, but I’m still sore,” Zan admitted, before furrowing his brow. “I’m also still worried about you,” he said, putting a hand on Terrin’s shoulder. “Are you sure you’re alright?” he asked.

“Of course, that dragon saved my life,” Terrin said. Zan frowned.

“That dragon,” he said, mockingly. “Is Lestrazar. You would do good to show him some respect. Especially after saving you.” Zan rolled over onto his stomach, angry with Terrin. Terrin laid down on top of him, pressing his bare chest into his back, his cock nuzzled in between Zan’s round globes.

“I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t mean to offend you.” He kissed the back of Zan’s neck lovingly. Zan smiled and turned around on his back underneath Terrin.

“It’s okay...” he smiled, and they shared a short kiss. “I....” Zan swallowed. Terrin turned his head, confused.

“What?” he asked, stroking Zan’s soft hair.

“I’m sorry I dropped you,” he said. “I was scared and I let my fear get the better of me,” he mumbled, tears beginning to form in his eyes. Terrin brushed them away before they could roll down his cheeks too far. Zan turned his head as he cried, not wanting to look Terrin in the eye.

“Look at me, Zan,” Terrin spoke sternly, moving Zan’s gaze back to his own with a finger under his chin. “We all get scared. You had every reason to be. The point is, I’m okay, and you’re okay. Lets just forget about it and move on, yeah?” Terrin asked. Zan nodded. After the attack by the sick air dragon, they had headed home where two other fire dragons met Zan to help him to the lava pools, while Terrin relaxed in his own way. He had wanted to go with Zan, but wouldn’t be any help and needed a good nights sleep himself. Zan had returned to him sometime during the night. Terrin knew he had left sooner than he should have, just to be in his presence. “Why don’t we go get some breakfast?” Terrin asked. Zan nodded again, following Terrin as he climbed out of their bed.

Once they were dressed, Terrin gave him one final kiss before leaving their safe bedroom, and returning to a world full of responsibilities and troubles. He missed their safe haven. It was always so quiet there. Xavier approached him before they were even down the hall.

“How are you feeling, my king?” he asked.

“I’m fine, thank you,” Terrin nodded.

“And you, my king?” Xavier glanced at Zan, who nodded silently. He didn’t enjoy being called a king, but being married to one, you had to get some title, right? “Glad to hear you’re both alright. We have a lot to do to day,” Xavier said as they sat down for breakfast. “You have that rally for the new soldiers. We are sending them to the  coast to help clean up the latest water dragon attack,” he said.

“Of course, when is that?” Terrin asked.

“Ten minutes, sire.” Terrin groaned.

“I knew I wouldn’t get breakfast.” He stood up from the table and grabbed a warm roll, and shoved it into his mouth. Zan grabbed a handful of ham and gnawed on it as they headed to the rally.

New 'segment'

Okay, so I'm going to ignore the obvious questions for now (about my surgeries, why I'm back to writing so soon, etc) I'll address them in the beginning of the next story chapter I post.

As I've mentioned many times before, I have several folders for my writing. I have the ones I'm working on currently, the ones that are already finished, the ones that need to be edited, and the dreaded 'maybe later' folder. This folder is massive. You ahve no idea. It's full of stories anywhere from four words to forty pages long that, for one reason or another, haven't 'made the cut'. Sometimes I'll write a story and then decide that I'm not feeling it and put it in the maybe later folder. Sometimes I'll just have an idea and I need to start it or write it down before I forget it. Sometimes I'll be almost done with a story and then have a new idea and like that one more, so it gets pushed to the maybe later folder. It's crazy. It's like what you would imagine Joss Whedons mind would look like.

Anywho

So every couple of months I'll take a chance to dig through the maybe later folder of death and see if I can find anything that I forgot about. The Divide was finished for eight or nine months before I posted it. Things just get lost in there like in a really big library. So, looking for a new story to feed to you guys like trolls under a bridge, I dug around and read through some of my old stuff.

I found a story that I was absolutely in LOVE with, Naughty loves it too. It wasn't very far along, but it was very unique and nothing like any of my other stories. I may have even mentioned it before because I vaguely remember i was going to post it. But I decided that I wont be posting this story like I do all my other ones. It's a unique story and deserves a unique debut.

So, for those of you who have yet to notice, there is a new tab up at the top of the page entitled 'The Diary'

My new story is in a diary format, meaning it's like you're reading someones diary. You get no description, or other information, all you get is the tab and the first 'entry'. I'll post a new entry every Friday (this friday excluded since this week is the first post) and entries can be anywhere from several pages, to a couple of words.

Let me know what you guys think in the comment section, and enjoy :)

Short and not so sweet

Okay I apologize in advance since this post will probably make close to zero sense. I'm on a lot of pain meds right now.

So its been a long week. I just got out of the hospital after having two surgeries.

My editor was in a car accident.

I'm on Vicadin and Dilaudid.

No promises on when the next story is going to be posted, I ahve a couple of chapters I can post now or you can wait and I'll post them in a couple of weeks. Up to you guys, comment or email me and maybe I'll be conscious enough to see them. I can't even sit at my desk without being in an unreasonable amount of pain so I'm going to go back to not being a real person curled up in my reclining arm chair and sobbing.

Peace.

Angel Hunter Ch.05

The final chapter, hope you enjoy.

I'll release one more chapter of survivors before I start posting a new story, but I wont finish survivors before a new story. I have several (meaning more than two) chapters planned for Survivors and I feel like if I try to focus on just that I will rush it and end it before its time, so for its own good it wont be finished for awhile.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lex stared at Shep while he slept, he turned his head in his sleep and sighed deeply. Lex nibbled his lip as his eyes traced up and down Shep’s muscled body. Suddenly, his eyes opened and he stared at Lex cooly.

“I hate it when you watch me sleep,” he mumbled and turned his head away, stretching. He had only just recovered from his brush with death, and was still spending most of his days sleeping.

“But it’s fun,” Lex chuckled.

“What’s up with you?” Shep sat up.

“What?” Lex frowned.

“You’re quiet.”

“No I’m not, I'm talking right now.” He stood up from the chair he had claimed as his.

“Yeah, okay. But talking for you and talking for other people are two different things. Normal people talk, you... I don’t know... you ‘Lex’.”

“I ‘Lex’? Lex is a verb now? I’m Lexing? I’m a Lexer? What does that even mean?” he laughed.

“Exactly, now you’re Lexing,” Shep smiled and walked into the bathroom. Lex rolled his eyes and followed him. “So, anyways, I’ve been thinking,” Shep said, as he splashed some warm water on his face and dried it with a towel. “We should get moving. I’m feeling back to normal and with only the big man left, I feel like we should just hurry up and get it over with.”

“About that...” Lex mumbled, Shep glanced at him and Lex couldn’t help but stare longingly at his split appearance, one side looking like that of an angel and the other that of a demon. He wondered if it was just personal preference or something else that made him like the demon side better. “After we kill Michael... what then? What happens to... to us,” Lex looked at the floor.

“I don’t know,” Shep sighed. “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.” He shrugged, and left the room to grab his swords and jacket.

“We’re at the goddamn bridge,” Lex whispered, and followed Shep out the door.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“What’s wrong, Lex? You saved him, he’s healthy again... what more do you want?” The Devil put his hands on Lex’s shoulders.

“I want him... I want to be with him,” Lex whispered.

“You’re with him now, aren’t you?” the Devil asked.

“Yes... but... I feel like that’s not going to last very long. I just want to forget this whole stupid thing,” Lex hid his face in his hands. “I want him to just stop obsessing over killing the Archs and just be with me.”

“Lex?” Lex opened his eyes and realized he had fallen asleep on their hotel room bed.

“I’m awake..” he mumbled, and rubbed his eyes.

“You were talking in your sleep,” Shep said, cautiously. He looked Lex up and down.

“I was?” Lex couldn’t help but blush. “Sorry... what did I say?”

“Are you sure you’re alright, Lex? You seem like something has been bothering you.” Shep frowned and looked at him from head to toe again.

“Yeah... I’m fine,” Lex pushed himself up so he was sitting up in bed.

“It’s just that you’re not that big on sleeping, you’re usually always awake... and you were saying my name a lot,” Shep swallowed. Lex looked at him before standing up from the bed.

“I said I’m fine, Shep,” he grumbled, annoyed, and tried to walk away. He was caught off guard when he felt Shep’s strong arms wrap around his waist.

“Don’t lie to me, please,” he whispered in his ear, making Lex shiver. “What’s wrong?” He pulled Lex down to the bed and pinned him underneath him, his face inches away from the Demon’s.

“Nothing...” Lex said, but his voice cracked as tears began to fill his eyes. One rolled down his cheek and Shep kissed it away and then kissed Lex’s soft lips. Lex kissed back and before he knew what was happening they were making out heavily. He stopped and Shep sighed.

“Talk to me,” he begged quietly.

“After we kill Michael... what happens to us? What are you going to do? After this you have nothing left to obsess over. What happens if you die? What do I do then? What if I die, would you even...” Lex’s voice cracked and he sobbed hard.

“Yes I would care, I can’t lose you, Lex... I love you,” Shep said. Lex stared at him, as if he didn’t believe him. “Let me show you how much.” Shep kissed down Lexs neck, making his eyes shut and a low moan slip out from between his open lips. Shep unwrapped the chains from around his chest and threw them onto the floor. The room was cold but Lex’s skin radiated heat and warmed Shep up quickly. He slipped a few fingers into the waistband of Lex’s leather pants, tugging at them until the button snapped open and the zipper pulled down. Lex wiggled out of the tight clothing that was growing even tighter as his cock grew. Shep smiled as he realized he wore no underwear.

“Have I ever mentioned how much I love these pants?” Shep asked. “They show this off so well,” Shep whispered, as he wrapped his hand around Lex’s cock. Lex whimpered and thrusted his hips forward into Shep’s fist as he jacked him off slowly. Lex growled sexily, and flipped them over so he straddled Shep. He tore his coat off and pulled the shirt Shep wore off over his head. He reached down and began undoing the buckle to Shep’s belt, pulling it off and tossing it to the ground. Shep reached behind him and squeezed Lex’s bare ass making him arch his back and moan. Lex forced Shep’s jeans and boxers off and threw them onto the floor, and smiled. His mouth watered as he looked at Shep’s dripping cock. A small pool of precum had collected on his stomach and Lex dragged his finger through it, before sucking on it sexily. Shep pulled him down so he was lying on his chest, their dicks rubbing together making them both moan as they kissed passionately.

“I love you,” Shep said, letting his hands grope Lex’s tight ass.

“Show me,” Lex whispered. Shep turned them over again. He reached over the edge of the bed and picked up his jeans, pulling a small bottle of lube from the pocket. Lex smiled and gave him a wolfish grin in return. He sat back on his heels and opened the bottle, before he could do anything more Lex dove forward and took his hard cock in his mouth. He sucked hungrily, one hand holding Shep’s balls and toying with them gently, the other running up and down his thigh. Shep moaned and pushed Lexs head onto his cock harder, making him gag before he swallowed and his cock slid down Lex’s warm throat.

“If you keep that up I won't be able to last much longer. On your back,” Shep pushed him back gently. He pushed his legs up so his knees were on his shoulders,and his ass was spread for Shep to drink in. He smiled and opened the lube, dripping it onto Lex’s ass and letting it run down to his small pucker. Lex shivered and moaned.

“Cold..” he murmered.

“I’ll warm it up.” Shep closed the bottle and threw it aside, before using his fingers to spread and push the lube around and in Lex’s tight ass. Lex squirmed below him as Shep thrust his fingers in and out.

“Please... I need it,” Lex moaned and spread his legs wider. Shep leaned forward and kissed him, before grabbing his cock and lining it up with Lex’s tight pucker.

In one slow smooth thrust he filled his demon lover with his cock. Lex grunted in a mixture of pleasure and pain, but soon all he felt was a wonderful fullness. He grunted again as Shep pulled out and began a steady fucking rhythm. Soon, Shep reached down and began to stroke Lex’s leaking cock, making him pant and squirm. Their tempo increased as Shep pounded into Lex harder and faster, nailing his prostate with each thrust.

Their breath picking up as Shep brought his lover to the brink of release and then pushed him over with one final thrust into his ass. Lex screamed and arched his back as he came, covering their stomachs and chests with his release. His ass clamped down and the thick cock inside of this, and Shep cried out as he filled Lex with his cum.

Shep collapsed onto his chest and kissed him lovingly on the neck. Their breathing slowed and steadied as they came down from their sexual high. He licked a clean path from Lex’s collar all the way up to his jaw, Making him shiver and blink slowly in bliss. Shep’s face split into a big smile, and Lex did the same.

“How was that?” he asked, as his cock slipped out of Lex’s ass and cum leaked from his stretched hole.  “Do you believe me now?”

“You sure showed me,” he sighed. He picked up Shep’s shirt and wiped his stomach clean of cum, and did the same for Shep. He hesitated, before wiping the cum from his ass, too.

“Did you just wipe your ass with my shirt?” Shep scowled, but couldn’t help but laugh. Lex smiled sleepily and nodded. He pushed Shep down so he was lying on his back and rested his head on his chest, stroking the muscled, sweat covered skin slowly.

“Even a Demon gets tired after a good fucking,” he whispered.

“That wasn’t just fucking,” Shep whispered and stroked his hair. “I’ll never leave you, Lex. I don’t know how it will work but we’ll make it work, okay?” Lex nodded.

“Okay... I love you,” Lex said.

“I love you, too.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lex sighed as the warm water washed over him.

"Mind if I join you?" Shep opened the shower door and stepped in. Lex smiled and leaned back into his chest.

"I'll never mind," he giggled. Ever since they had arrived in Dublin it had been nothing but sucking and fucking in their hotel room, and Lex was very much happy with that.

"Tonights the night, you know.." Shep said. "I found where Michael’s at... it’s not easy reading that map, but I figured it out,” he continued, as he scrubbed Lexs back.

“I know...” he whispered, He shut his eyes and felt the warm water running over his back as Shep rinsed away the soap suds, and moved on to washing his hair for him. “This is nice,” he sighed, letting the water rinse away the shampoo in his hair.

“Yeah it is,” Shep held him close as the warm water ran over them.

“The waters getting cold,” Lex added, after several minutes under the spray.

“I know another way to warm you up.” Shep smiled and stepped out of the shower, pulling him into the bedroom.

~~~~~~~~

The cathedral stood tall before the duo as they looked up at the ancient walls. It was empty, they had made sure they would come on a day when St. Patrick’s Cathedral would be empty, and quiet.

“I hate churches,” Lex grumbled.

“I know, I called and asked if he could meet us at IHOP instead, but his schedule was booked, he just barely squeezed us in,” Shep said seriously. Lex rolled his eyes.

“Smart ass,” Lex stepped towards the front door and opened them. He looked around at the large stain glass windows and row after row of carved wooden pews. The building echoed every little noise, and made Lex’s skin itch.

“So you’re the ones who have been picking off my brothers...” the voice was soft, but menacing all the same. The figure stood from where he was kneeling down the aisle of the church and turned. Golden wings radiated in the mellow light that came in from the stain glass windows.

“I wouldn’t say ‘picking off’... it sound so... mean.” Shep stepped forward, standing even with Lex. Michael gave a small smile and flexed his wings. His black hair was a stunning contrast to his bright blue eyes. When his lips spread in a smile Lex shivered at the pointed fangs that were a match for his own. “By the way...” Shep whispered for Lex’s ears only. The angel turned his back to them and began running his fingers along the pews, walking lengthwise with the wooden seats. “I got a new toy,” Shep finished.

“Is this really the place to talk about this?” Lex asked, looking at Shep like he was crazy. “I mean, I know I think about sex as much as a thirteen year old boy but come on Shep... in front of the angel?” he nodded at Michael who was obviously listening to their conversation.

“It’s not for you,” Shep said, and reached into his coat. He pulled out a short barreled shotgun, and fired. The pews not more than a foot from Michael shattered, sending splinters in every direction.

“Where did you even keep that!?” Lex shouted, confused. Shep cocked the gun and fired again, as Michael hissed and showed his true form. His glowing tan skin turned gray and his blue eyes went black. A fleshy tail sprouted from the bottom of his spine, feathers covering the tip. He climbed the walls of the cathedral, disappearing into the shadows of the corners for a moment.

“Wal-mart?” Shep shrugged. Lex rolled his eyes and pulled the chains from his chest.

“Well... I can have nice things too.” He tightened his fist around the cold metal until it began to warm up, the temperature rose until it suddenly caught fire, spreading to the rest of the metal links. “Huh, huh!” He swung the chain and smiled, sticking his tongue out at Shep.

“I didn’t know you could do that,” Shep frowned.

“Yeah well I didn’t know you bought a shotgun, so we’re even,” Lex said. A loud screech echoed in the building and Lex was picked up by his shoulders. His head spun as he was lifted to the rafters of the tall church. “You know I really don’t like heights, I wish you guys would respect that,” he groaned, as his stomach heaved. He gripped the wall with one clawed hand, and swung his chain with the other, wrapping the end around the angels tail. He pulled hard and listened to the pleasurable sound of flesh hitting the concrete floor of the church. He smiled even wider when he heard a pained groan and the sound of rustling feathers as the angel tried to stand. He watched as Shep cocked the shotgun and aimed for Michael’s gray-skinned head. He fired, but missed by inches as the angel scurried away.

“Don’t worry about me... I’ll... figure out how to get down from here... goddamn it,” he grumbled to himself as he tried to figure out how to scale down the wall.

“What’s the matter, Demon? Those little wings don’t do much do they?” Michael laughed hard, his voice bouncing from wall to wall.

“Hey...” Lex frowned and looked down at the ground below, trying to decide if his wings could carry him down or not, he decided not to risk it and continued scaling the stone wall.

“Take your time Lex,” Shep said, getting annoyed. Michael pulled his sword from his sheath, and Shep was surprised to see that it was almost identical to his own, Solais. Before he could even react, Michael swung his sword. He moved, but was too slow and cried out when the blade hit his arm, cutting a deep gash just below his shoulder. “I didn’t actually mean take your time, Lex!” Shep growled.

“I’m trying, bitch!” Lex snapped, his foot slipping from a ledge. He caught himself and pulled his thin body back up onto the thinner ledge.

“Show some respect, this is a church,” Michael hissed.

“Then you should probably get your ugly ass out of it, you’re offending the big man upstairs,” Lex retorted. Michael hissed and turned to face him, but was hit with a shotgun blast to the face. Lex smiled and cheered, letting go of the ledge for a moment and nearly falling again, he gripped it and held on tight. “Go Shep, ra-ra-ra!” he cheered, while clutching the stone walls.

“Yes... ‘go Shep’,” Michael smiled, his grin being cut off by the bloodied flesh where the shotgun had struck him. The angel grinned and pulled back his sword.

“Shep!” Lex cried out. Shep pulled his own blade from its sheath, dropping the shotgun to the ground and lunged. Lex shut his eyes tight, as the sound of blade cutting through flesh filled his ears. After a long moment he opened them slowly and felt hot tears fill his eyes.

Michael stood there, nose to nose with Shep. Both men wore an angry scowl on their faces. Michael shuttered as his gray skin began to blister and crack. The burning red blade of Solais was jammed through his torso, sticking out of his back between his wings. He coughed black blood before shuttering one last time, and bursting into flames. Now all that stood in the spot where the final battle had taken place was Shep. The twin to Solais that Michael had carried was dug into his stomach, protruding from his back. He dropped his own blade, and it fell to the ground with a loud clang, the sound making Lex shiver. Shep stood for a second more before falling to his knees, and then collapsing onto his chest, shoving the sword even deeper into his body.

“Shep...” Lex whispered. He let go of the wall and jumped down. He landed hard on his feet and felt a sharp pain shoot up both of his legs. Ignoring it, he ran to his fallen lover and only stared at the giant pool of blood beneath him. “No...” he whispered. He fell back, onto one of the wooden pews. His legs throbbed, and his back was radiating pain from his fall, but it was nothing compared to the pain in his heart.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Lexington?” the comforting voice entered his head. For a moment he thought it was the voice of his love, the voice of Shep. Then the pain returned and he shut his eyes as tears fell for the thousandth time. “My dear boy, it’s been a very long time,” the Devil said soothingly. “It’s time to move on. Come back to the party.” He held a drink in front of Lex's face, the alcohol burned his nose. He shut his eyes and turned his head. He knew the Devil was right. He had lived in the run down hotel since the day Shep died, he wasn’t sure, but if the smell of the room was any indication it had been several months. He knew he should get on with his afterlife, but how could he? Shep had yet to show up in hell, which meant that there was some other place besides the two well known options. Somewhere different. It had been all he could think about for months, alone, in the dark.

“I can’t... I knew it would hurt if we...” his voice was raw and rough from disuse, only using it for sobbing or screaming. It seemed like that was all he had felt for months. Anguish, or sorrow. He clutched the worn piece of leather in his hands and looked down at Shep’s coat. The leather had long since been made dull and rough by Lex’s hands. He didn’t think he’d put it down even once. It still smelled like his lover and he clung to the scent like it was fresh air, which he also hadn’t breathed since Shep died. Not that he even really needed to breathe.

“I know it hurts, so does death, doesn’t it? But a good party even made that go away, so I’m sure you can manage this too.” He shoved the glass to Lex’s mouth and tilted it back. Lex coughed and spit out the burning liquid, slapping the Devil’s hand way.

“Stop!” he stood, and shouted. He knew he was insane, this man was more powerful than any other living creature he knew of. He could crush him like a bug or send him to some never ending place to rot. He blinked and stood up straight, the anger vanishing from his face.

“A never ending place...” he whispered. “Lucifer...” He used the Devils real name, making him raise an eyebrow, his interest was piqued. “Can you... can you send me where Shep is?” he asked, eyes watering at just the mention of his name.

“Hm?” Lucifer turned his head slightly to the side.

“Y-you have power... a lot of it.” This made the Devil smile.

“That’s true,” he chuckled and looked at his well manicured nails.

“You can take me anywhere, do anything to me.” Lex grabbed the perfectly pressed suit the man wore. “You can send me to where Shep is... if I... if I renounce my loyalty to you, but deny the angels that don’t exist anymore... you would have no choice but to send me to where he is, right?”  Lex said, frantically shaking the Devil’s shoulders. Lucifer swallowed and narrowed his eyes.

“Yes,” he said, simply. Lex beamed, he laughed and spun, kicking the chains and swords that lie on the floor of the hotel room. He only now realized how much dust covered everything, even him. Then he looked at the Devil’s eyes, and was met with only sadness.

“What? What’s wrong?” he asked, worried there was a flaw in his plan.

“Why would I release you, Lexington? I’ve told you more than once that you’re my favorite.” He brushed a lock of black hair from the side of Lex’s face. He stopped his hand and caressed the soft skin of Lex’s cheek. “I have nothing to gain from sending you back to Shepherd,” he whispered.

“But...” Lex opened his mouth to try and convince him, but realized he was right. He was the Devil’s eye candy and he had a sweet tooth. “But I love him.” It was all he could force himself to say, as silent tears ran down his cheeks.

“I know,” the Devil sighed. “As I said, you’re my favorite... and I would do anything you wanted if it meant I wouldn’t have to see you cry.”

“You-” Lex blinked and spun around. The hotel room was gone, and he was in a field. The grass reached just below his knees, and waved in the breeze. The Devil was gone, and his tears were dry. The sun beat down on his pale skin and it made him smile. It had been so long since he had seen the sun he didn’t realize how much he missed it.

“Lex?” The deep voice sent chills up his spine. He whipped around to see Shep standing in front of him. “Oh my god it’s you,” his face wrinkled as he began to cry and he reached for Lex, who dove into his arms and hugged him. The warmth of Shep’s skin warmed his own and only made him cry harder.

“Where are we?” he asked, after they had taken a solid ten minutes to do nothing but hug and kiss.

“I don’t know... somewhere... different. We’re the only ones here. I’ve been alone for a long time... I was starting to think I’d never see you again,” he said, sadly.

“I was alone too, I...” Lex sobbed. “I don’t want to think about,” he said, feeling the bile rise in his throat when he thought about the pain, the pain of being away from Shep.

“It was hard for me, too. But I knew you would figure it out. I knew you could get to me,” he said, and kissed Lex again.

“What is this place, do you think?” Lex asked, looking around at the area. It was all bright and lively, not a single person in sight.

“Honestly? I think... I think it’s heaven, Lex. There’s more than this, there’s... there’s everything but... but we’re all that’s here,” Shep shrugged. “I think it’s because we’re the first, Lex. We’re the first to break this chain of picking between two evils. You can have your soul eaten alive by angels, or you can just get filled with empty booze and party with sex crazed demons until there’s nothing left inside you but tequila.” He smiled and poked Lex in the chest.

“There’s more in me than that,” Lex smiled. He hugged Shep tightly and looked around at the land that was all their own. “Lucifer he... he let me go,” he whispered.

“What?” Shep frowned.

“He loves me, I know he does but... but he let me go.” He took Shep’s hand. “To be with you.”

“I’ll have to thank him sometime,” Shep pressed his lips to Lex’s.

“Yeah...” Lex replied, still thinking about the sacrifices made for him. “How long do you think until others get here?” Lex asked. “Do you think anyone else will figure it out?”

“I don’t know... right now I think we should just make the best of being alone... together.” Shep smiled and gently pushed Lex onto a pile of especially soft grass.

“That sounds like heaven to me.”