LOST IN TIME

Right Here In Your Arms

The crescent moon and the Venus star finally aligned the next night and with that, the demon mark became active once more, back to its hundred percent capacity. Khronus was waiting for that to happen all this time. He has been patiently waiting for it for a thousand years in Hell. Due to the divine electricity, his life force and energy was all sucked up, needing the same amount of years to recuperate. Now that everything was in order, he was just waiting in his throne in the Amaranthx Castle for Aurora to arrive; the Aurora that was being possessed by the demon mark.

Itchy was his hands to be reunited with his demon powers once again and itchy was his hands too to possess the woman who has the essence of Selene.

There were three things he aimed to do the moment his powers will return. First was to travel back in the past to see the real Selene again and give her the loving that she greatly deserved. His heart had been yearning for her for all this time and it was sorely tormenting him. Second was clearly to kill the old exorcist priest who was a threat to his existence, and the third was to find out who the traitor demon was. It didn't sit him well that there was actually a bold demon that had been planning his demise all along.

Khronus could sense a sudden strong demon presence entering the demon realm. He could feel the fear of the lower class demons quickly scampering into the safety of the caves. He immediately knew who it was when it crossed his castle barrier rather easily. However, he had never expected that the Prince of Death has the demon key. What happened to Aurora then? Suddenly, worry enveloped him. It seems that his plans have gone awry.

A battle quickly ensued on these two high-class demons. They sparred, clashed, and summoned demonic spells that were destructive in their realm. However, with the large differences of their power, clearly, Cirrus had the upperhand. Khronus still attempted to turn the tides to his side though, using all the energy he had left in the defensive and offensive mode.

"I refuse to be wiped out, Samael! I haven't waited this long just for you to take everything away from me!" Khronus shouted angrily.

True. He certainly refuses to be killed now. He had to win... to win for Selene. She was his light and his life. He wanted to see her badly and he wanted to feel her warmth again. Cirrus was the only hindrance to this, so he needed to kill this damn demon in order to get the key from him.

He was able to wound Cirrus using his great sword, even broke a tibia bone in his right leg, and gave him numerous death blows to the head and everywhere in his body. He also was able to inflict claw lacerations in his skin but damn, Death still looked undaunted. He was just one hard demon to kill. Now, after long hours of battle, it was clear who the eventual winner would be, but luckily Khronus had one last remaining trump card under his sleeve to use. With this, there are two possibilities that are bound to happen. One would be that he will walk out of the battle with the demon key returned to him leaving a lifeless body of Cirrus, and two would be that Cirrus will finish him off with the divine electricity. He of course opted for the former.

"Consummatum est," he heard Cirrus say.

He was lying limp in the ground in the middle of a mile-wide crater they had created during the heat of their battle. Cirrus' booted good foot was conveniently placed in his stomach to detain him and by the looks of things, Death was aiming to give the finishing blow. Yes. It was imminent, but Khronus wasn't about to let that happen without a damn counterattack.

"Had enough I see," Cirrus callously stated.

"Damn...you... Samael!" Khronus shouted amidst being unable to breathe properly due to the blood and bile seeping out of his mouth.

The Archangel of Death pressed the scythe blade deeper into his organ with the divine current running at the same time. This is it. This is Cirrus' final blow. But this is also the right time for Khronus to throw his trump card in the table.

He quickly summoned a pulsating energy orb inside his body, the blast of which could kill all nearby demons to pieces, including Death himself, and with the jailing divine electricity running inside him too, its effect would be much more potent.

When the energy orb exploded, it was comparable to ten atomic bombs altogether and it did leave the Amaranthx Mountain and all nearby mountains in the area flattened. No low-class demons were spared with its death wave.

Khronus was pleased to see the effect of the blast, but unfortunately, he didn't expect that the wave would affect him greatly too. He was lying limp on the ground, half of his body was charred. His right eye was clouded with darkness. His left leg was severed. What was much more alarming was that the Archangel of Death wasn't badly affected. But of course, he had the demon key with him, so he was able to immediately teleport from one place to another using it to save himself from the energy blast. This was a fact that Khronus wasn't able to weigh down unfortunately.

So it seems the second possibility is the clear-cut answer.

Khronus saw Death walking towards his way, his torn black cassock leaving trails of smoke in the air. He had a golden murderous look in his demon eyes and it was clear what his intention is: to cease his existence for good.

He closed his eyes and felt the heat of his surroundings. Before Cirrus arrives, at least he has a short peaceful time of his own.

Hell --- such a boring place. He can never accept that this would be the place where he will finally submit to his death. He can never accept that he will never be able to see the woman he loves ever again. He knows that demons don't have the right to bargain. He knows that demons don't have the right to request, but if ever there was a chance — a single chance at all — he would like to request to die in Selene's arms.

"Tell me... is that wishful thinking Khronus?" Selene's sweet voice suddenly emerged out of nowhere, then a soft light appeared overhead him. Khronus could feel his head being lifted higher, then securely placed in a woman's lap. He also could feel two warm hands cupping his cheeks together. Right above his line of view then, Selene's face slowly appeared, smiling on his way softly. Her hazel eyes showing great concern.

"Selene... you're here..." Khronus remarked, unable to believe that she is actually in Hell, holding him close.

"Hmm... I happen to notice a single tear in your eyes, so I couldn't help but show myself to you. It is your request in the first place right?"

Selene's voice began to break and Khronus could see tears falling from her eyes too. The tears wetted his cheeks and the part where it was charred surprisingly returned to its normal skin color. The healing power of love so it seems.

"Ohh... Selene..." Khronus' lips turned up into a weak smile. He was content now; so content that he was ready for his death. This was right. This was exactly right. To die in her arms was the best way of death possible for him. What little strength remained in him, he used it to move his right hand to touch her soft cheeks. Beautiful. She looked still so beautiful even though she was now a spirit; a lovely angel to comfort him. "I love you," whispered Khronus tenderly and this made Selene broke into continuous sobs. This is exactly what she had been waiting for... what her heart yearned for to hear.

She raised her head and went to speak to Cirrus who was now standing in their midst.

"Please... let me take care of him! Let me be the one to bring him to judgement. Enough of this. Pleeeaaase," she stressed the word, hoping that it would lance through Cirrus' heart.

"And if I do that, will you give me an assurance that he will not go after Aurora?" A calculating cold glare emerged in his golden eyes.

"No..." A raspy voice quickly stated. Khronus was the one who answered his question surprising the woman overhead him. "Selene... shh--she's with me now... why would I?" It was a weak attempt of convincing though, but at least he was the one who tried. He wouldn't want for her to go on begging in front of the Prince of Death.

"Gods, Khronus...please...don't say anything..." she stated in a shaky voice.

"Selene... I am content... content that I am in your arms... I wouldn't mind... dying... now." Khronus could feel his energy draining away from him, but at least he had some residue to say those words to her.

"Then let's both get lost in time..." whispered she while wiping his wet cheeks from her pool of tears.

Cirrus released a long sigh. It was his decision to make, and his hands are certainly itching to kill the damn ancient demon. But still... it was only right for him to send them both to the Seat of Justice and be judged. Who is he to deny her request when she is Aurora's ancestor? Come to think of it, if not for their forbidden union, Aurora would have never even existed. He could sense that Khronus truly loved Selene too, so who is he to deny their reunion?

"Leave woman..." Selene heard Cirrus say and then great relief washed all over her when he added, "And bring that demon with you."

"Tha—nk you... Cirrus," she mouthed, feeling the nails hammered in her heart slowly lifting.

"Stay with... me..." Khronus whispered.

"I will... of course, I will..." was Selene's honest reply. She pulled his frail body closer to her and cuddled his face into her chest. With this, her solid body then gradually changed to white sparkles of light. This is a spirit's way of transporting from one place to the other. Khronus, who had the front seat of witnessing it, realized how lucky he was, being loved by such a pure soul. The last thing he caught sight of was Selene's smiling face directed to him and then his eyes slowly closed, feeling the warmth of his body as the sparkles of light enveloped him too.

Being together in each other's arms... this is the best eternity they can ever hope for and no power... not even the power to wield time and space... not even the divine electricity can hold that against them...

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The End