Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 5

amusement off of the angel's tongue, and it stopped Renat in his tracks. "There is no sacrifice. I knew you would come to me."
    "You knew nothing of the kind," Renat said harshly, keeping his eyes averted.
    "I know everything about you," the angel said gently, trustingly. "I know your heart. I see its goodness. I knew you would not leave me to suffer anyone else's claim."
    "There is no goodness in me," Renat insisted, backing away as the angel moved forward. "Stay away from me."
    "That would defeat the entire purpose of my being here," the angel replied, his footsteps as soft as velvet against the shining black floor. "I came here for you, Renat. Why would I stay away now?" He followed Renat's retreat to the wall, standing so close to him that Renat could feel the cool, comforting light still emanating from the angel's soul. He closed his eyes, desperately trying to maintain his composure. He hadn't been afraid like this for thousands of years, and he wanted to strike out at the object of his fear, make it hurt and bleed before it could flay away his defenses, but it was impossible.
    A hand touched Renat's cheek, turning his face forward again. He kept his eyes resolutely shut, even as acidic tears welled up behind them. The last threads of his calm frayed and snapped when those cool lips, whose touch he had only experienced once before, pressed a kiss to each of his eyelids. The breath in his body froze for a moment, then left him in a harsh cry as he flung his arms around the angel. "Emiel," he choked out, and a moment later arms enfolded him in an embrace just as strong as his own, and just as desperate.
    "Renat," Emiel whispered, and his voice was as soothing as a prayer. "I'm here. I'm with you." They stood in silent communion for a long time, Emiel's embrace slowly leaching the anxious tension out of Renat's frame. Renat would have stayed like that forever, but Emiel had to break the delicate silence. "I dreamt of this moment for so long. I prayed to our Father and at last He answered me. God rewards the faithful, my love."
    Renat pulled back, his ire already on the rise. "Do not say that."
    "What?" Emiel searched his face, his expression curious but compassionate. "Do not say that I love you, or rather that we are faithful? For we are faithful, both of us, and I do love you. I have always loved you."
    Renat turned away and began to pace again, needing the distance. This was some sort of cruel trick, some new torment designed by God or His greatest sons to punish the Fallen. "Why didn't you come with me, then?" he demanded. "Why wait until now?"
    "I had to wait for our Father's blessing," Emiel said softly, extending one hand to Renat. The demon forced himself to ignore it. "I could not go against His word. He has finally spoken anew, though. He gave me leave for this. This is a gift, Renat, not a curse, not a trick. I promise you."
    "How could God's reward for you be abandoning you to Hell?" Renat couldn't keep the desperation he felt from leaking into his voice. "I cannot protect you here, Emiel. I can save you from lesser demons, but the King of Hell will soon learn of your presence, if he hasn't already. I cannot prevent Satan from tearing you away from me."
    "He won't tear me away," Emiel said confidently. "We will seek an audience with him, and if he doesn't kill both of us out of hand, then we will be saved."
    Renat swallowed heavily, and finally looked back at the angel. Emiel's wounds were already healed, and his hand was still outstretched. He wanted to take it, so badly, but there was no way this could end except in tragedy. "Our Father will never receive me in Heaven."
    "Renat." Angelic light washed over him, diminishing his fears and leaving something close to peace behind. "Trust me." Renat didn't say anything, but after a moment he took Emiel's hand. The angel smiled at him, and it was too perfect to look at. Renat dropped his eyes and took in the ash and blood coating Emiel's skin, transferred from Renat when they had embraced. His wounds were still burning, but it was a distant pain.
    "I have stained you."
    "We should both be cleansed," Emiel agreed. "Do you have a bathing chamber here?"
    "I do." It was an incredible luxury, a hole carved out of the volcanic rock of Renat's castle that he arranged to fill with water that trickled down from Earth. Water could be found in Hell, but no matter how you attempted to purify it the stench of sulfur was always there, permeating every drop. This water