Of Ash and Cinder

Nineteen

Michael feinted past Elliot and down the hallway where Father Bryan had his office. Down that hall was a fire escape door - the door Michael was trying to get to. Whenever it seemed Elliot was about to lose interest in Michael, all it took was a well-aimed insult to get the psychotic man to chase after him.

The heat of the fire lessened the further down the hall they went. Michael traded blows with Elliot, but his were half-hearted at best. He needed to conserve his strength for El and Elliot’s vicious attacks were wearing him out.

“C’mon.” Michael taunted, moving closer to the door, “is that the best you can do? Your fairy godmother gives you all these special powers and that’s all you can do?”

Elliot howled something intelligible. Not that he could speak much in the first place, since Michael had punched him in the mouth hard enough to knock out teeth. Elliot charged with enough speed that, had Michael not been prepared for it, the charge would have broken several ribs. As it was, Michael leaned his weight into the release bar across the emergency door, and at the last second pushed.

The door swung open, sending Michael sprawling onto the grass outside the church with Elliot on top of him. Michael brought his hands up and slapped his open palms over Elliot’s ears as hard as he could. Elliot fell to the side, yelling, and Michael rolled to his knees, scrabbling to find purchase on his enemy’s shirt to haul him up. Michael locked his arms around Elliot’s neck in a sleeper hold and was dimly aware of sirens and calls of his name.

He managed a glance up in the direction of the parking lot and saw Father Bryan racing toward him, accompanied by Jacques. Elliot’s struggles finally began to lessen. Michael counted to ten before he finally released Elliot, and the man crumbled to the grass, unconscious.

“Michael! Dear God!” Father Bryan slowed to a walk, puffing for air. “Are you okay?”

Michael shook his head. “I got the crap nearly kicked out of me.” He looked at Jacques. “You have handcuffs?”

“Oui.” Jacques replied, kneeling down as he took out the silver bracelets. “Where’s El?”

“Still inside, holding the barrier.” Michael got to his feet, hissing at the pain that was making itself happily apparent.

Jacques gave him a sharp look. “Where are you going?”

“Back in. Look after Elliot. Make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid if he wakes up.”

Father Bryan caught Michael’s wrist. “You can’t go back in there! You could die!”

Michael looked at the old priest with a smirk. “Don’t have much of a choice. You need to stay here, keep the firemen from coming in or putting out the flames.”

Jacques moved to block him, taking hold of Michael’s shoulder to keep him from moving. “I can’t let you kill yourself for El. He’d never be able to live with the guilt.”

“Neither would I.” Michael replied. He stared at Jacques for the longest time. Finally, Jacques released him.

“Get him out.” Jacques said, stepping aside. “Or Amelia will kill you.”

“Just make sure the fire doesn’t go out.” Michael snapped. He started back toward the burning church and disappeared inside.

Jacques returned to the unconscious Elliot and Father Bryan. He hauled Elliot’s body up and over his shoulder and started walking back toward the parking lot. Father Bryan was quick to follow.

“You’re seriously letting him do this?” Father Bryan asked, standing aside while Jacques loaded Elliot into the backseat of his SUV.

“He’s the only one who can finish it.” Jacques replied.

“It’s a death sentence!”

“Then pray, Father. They’re going to need all the help they can get.” Jacques turned away from the priest and headed toward the first of the arriving emergency vehicles.

Father Bryan turned back to the engulfed church, clasped his hands together, and prayed.

El was finding it a challenge to simply remain on his feet. Breathing wasn’t difficult; both Andrew and Carrier were using what energy they had left to keep the smoke away from him and give him clean air to breathe. El could feel his strength waning. If Michael didn’t get back soon, there’d be nothing left of El to save, and no way to stop Jonathan.

“Give up, El.” Jonathan crooned. “I’ll take good care of you, just like I wanted to all those years ago. I’ll treat you like a princess.”

El drew his lips into a thin line and didn’t reply. He closed his eyes, digging deep to find any resource of energy he could.

A strong arm wrapped around his shoulders and Michael’s scent mixed with sweat, blood and smoke, washed over him. He kept his eyes closed; it was easier that way.

Michael’s lips brushed his ear. “Ready?”

“No.” El whispered. His heart began to race.

Michael pressed a kiss against his temple. “It’ll be fine. I’ll be right here the whole time. I won’t let you go.”

El gripped Michael’s forearm as it wrapped around his neck. He could feel Jonathan’s curiosity and fought with panic so the revenant wouldn’t find out what was about to happen. El silently asked Carrie and Andrew to stop holding back the smoke. El knew the exact moment the smoke obscured them from view - Michael’s arm tightened, cutting off El’s air. Preservation instinct kicked in and El fought to get Michael’s arm off his neck. He could feel his body starting to shut down, could feel the cold claws of death hooking into his soul, eager to have him in its clutches again.

It took El less than ten minutes to die in Michael’s arms.

The moment El’s body went slack, Michael slowly crumpled to his knees, working quickly to lay his body out straight and tilt his head back. Michael sat on his knees and waited.