XII

The Sacrifice

Theodore

"Teddy! What a surprise!" Laura gushed, her golden eyes high and her cheeks a faint colour of pink. She had on her, her best dress which was of a deep green and had her thick auburn hair pinned back neatly beneath her hat. A primly dressed doorman opened the passengers door and helped Laura out whilst Theodore watched on, his illustrious smile fading quickly as he sat out of view. He had ensured that he would give to Laura a day of which she would never forget and yet it was fruitless, his cowardice only deepened with each breathe he took. As he leapt out of the car before the grand Savoy hotel, he looked down at his wrist and felt a slight ache. "Teddy?" Laura whispered as she took his hand within her own and looked up into his troubled face. "What is the matter?"

"Nothing darling, I have just realised that I forgot to turn off the lamp in my study that is all," Theodore lied outright as he lead his fake wife into the hotel. Outside great piles of sand bags were neatly stacked against the glass panes and the rolling doors. When they entered the hotel Theodore wasn't surprised to see it quiet thin upon the ground, with only staff members in attendance.

"I'm sure the house will stand the test of time despite your lamp being on," Laura said with a hearty smile as she tightened her grip on Theodores arm, her young face bedazzled and innocent. She had taken his conversation with Gabriel badly and had barely talked to him since his return from the graveyard, but when he told her of his surprise she had combusted into life as though all of their troubles had simply wafted away into nothing. A waitress led the couple into the Thames Foyer for their afternoon tea, allowing them to choose where to sit. Having chosen a table which looked out over the Covent gardens, the female waitress handed both Laura and Theodore a menu and took for their beverages before leaving them alone.

"Your dress is very fetching," Theodore said truthfully as he looked over at his young doppelganger wife, forgetting the errors of his ways for a moment as he truly digested how beautiful Laura looked as she took off her velvet hat and lay it upon the table thus proceeding to take off her gloves. Laura raised her eyes to Theodore.

"It is my Sunday best," she smiled merrily, her eyes dashing about the elegant foyer. "How empty it is."

"We are in the midst of a war darling," Theodore returned as he scanned the menu in his hand.

"I know," Laura said with a sigh as she studied a fine silk handkerchief. "It feels almost sinful to being sitting here having afternoon tea whilst so many men are in this very moment sacrificing their lives so that great institutions and hotels like this may survive."

Theodore felt the pinch as she spoke and could feel beads of sweat forming upon his brow.

"It would be sinful if we were to dine like this every day, but since we do not, I think they may be understanding," Theodore returned as he laid his free hand over her own. "Now have you decided upon anything to eat?"

"I think I will have the smoked salmon," Laura said as she furrowed her arched brows with concentration, her round eyes upon the menu, her gaze lifting to his own, her subtle lines which bordered her eyes lifting. "What about you?"

"I shall have the same," Theodore said as he waved the waitress over with a flick of his hand. When they had ordered, Theodore relaxed back into his chair and simply observed the young lady, whose curious eyes darted about the regal room. He hated himself and he knew that his decision to hand the young Laura over to Lagmar would haunt him for the rest of his days and he knew that once the other guardians found out about his evil intent that he would soon be the hunted. Yet even if he could take back his offer, he knew now that such a hope was already dashed with the mark of the devil himself upon his skin.

"You have been so quiet lately, is something bothering you?" Laura asked as she leaned forward and searched Theodore's troubled eyes.

"I have had a troubled mind as of late, but nothing out of the ordinary," Theodore said as he ran his fingers through his hair anxiously.

"No one will tell me why it is we are being pursued by these knights..."

"You are the granddaughter of our God Heiden, you will always be pursued and hunted like prey," Theodore said calmly. "They will never stop looking for you."

"But how am I to protect myself?" Laura said with a trembling bottom lip.

"I am here to protect you," Theodore said with a scowl as he took her hand and kissed her fingers roughly, his eyes on her. "Remember that."

"I know but..." Laura turned her head away from her husband.

"But what?" Theodore asked intensely.

"It's nothing," Laura said with a frustrated look.

"It's not nothing, something bothers you," Theodore said plainly as he caught her hands within his own. "Tell me what it is?"

"You seem so very Jekyll and Hyde at the minute," Laura said shyly, her auburn curls bouncing upon her shoulders. "One day you're beside me as my protector and husband, then there are days when you cannot even look me in the eye or bare to be around me. Why do I feel that there is something greater to your troubles than what you have spoken of?"

"Animals of prey are nervous creatures, forever looking over their shoulders, wondering what is behind," Theodore said with a serious gaze. "It is not unusual that you feel anxious about me and about yourself. But we are here and so push your worries aside and enjoy the afternoon."

"You are right, I worry too much," Laura said with a small laugh as the waitress returned to their table with their food. "I shall set asides my worries for today and concentrate on you and I."

"Good," Theodore smiled.

The afternoon passed happily between Theodore and Laura and when they had finished their tea, they both spent time within Covent Gardens, talking and basking in the summer air, the smell of the newly blossomed flowers filling their senses. Yet the events of the night held heavy over him and when their conversation dimmed, he thought only of his real wife and the anger she had left behind, the betrayal of their marriage and Galean's against him. With each step taken about the gardens, he realised that it should have been a step taken with Eveline. As the inner turmoil of his soul raged within he found himself captivated by the beauty of his lookalike wife. She found beauty in almost everything, and he had realised since their first meeting, had a vision of the world that not many shared, she was filled with optimism and faith and he found himself darkened and tainted further in her presence. When at last they made their way home, he began to feel the anxiety of the nights events sharpen and took to his study for the evening whilst Laura went to her room for a half hours sleep. As he rolled the golden band of his wedding ring over his fingers, his eyes upon the small fire, he wondered to himself how it he would manage to lure Laura to the cemetery.

"Being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart," Theodore whispered to the flames, his eyes wide and unblinking.

"Although you wash yourself with lye and use much soap. The stain of your iniquity is before Me," a hideous and crisp voice whispered from behind. Theodore's body froze as the light within the study drained away into shadow. He sat still within his chair and caught sight of the shadow upon the wall. Upon the floor he could feel the slither of the snake Nagtium as he hissed darkly. "Has your conscience suddenly awoken angel now that you have fallen?"

"Go away shadow!" Theodore cried out pitifully, his hands grappling to the arms of his chair.

"How can I flee from you, when you and I are one," replied Lagar, the hint of a laugh upon his words. "I tasted your blood and now you belong to me."

"I belong to no one," Theodore said with disgust.

"Let go of your virtuous robes and wings of light, you are my child now, your God has forsaken you, the universe has forsaken you," Lagar said darkly, his form moving upon the wall. About his feet, Nagtium came and slowly he made his way up the chair, covering Theodore's shaking arm until he curled himself about his throat. "Oh, I have been waiting for you patiently within the shadows of your soul. Such great things we will achieve, such greatness we will have!" Theodore held himself still as the icy cold breathe of Lagar clung to his skin like a sickness. "If you hand her over to me, I will gladly give you the blade in which to kill your enemy...you can watch him cry out for mercy as I take away the light of Celestine!"

"He is mine!" Theodore said darkly, his anger and bitterness surprising him as Nagtium hissed into his ear. "I belong to no God, I sicken of the light and I sicken of life."

"Then join me and stand by my side and help me to overthrow your God and claim what is rightfully ours!" Lagar said sweetly, his hands upon the back of Theodore's chair. "And so we shall cast the angels down from their seats of light and banish them to the fires of Hell!"

Theodore let out a small breathe, yes the world and all those who fought for the light had forsaken him, they had forsaken to the point of wishing him dead and God...he had betrayed him to the shadows, betrayed him to the darkness and he would pay.

"The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast. People worshipped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshipped the beast and asked, "Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?"......" Lagar whispered into Theodore's ear. "The creatures of the darkness shall come forth into the light and be not afraid, for I will give unto them great power and great dominion over the light and you my child..., you will lead them to victory and thus the great prophecy of our time will be concluded."

Theodore closed his eyes and remembered why it was that he had handed over Laura, he was not yet without hope, not yet without redemption. He would out smart them all, including his new master.

"When the horns of eternity herald out across the universe, you shall arise and bask at the foot of my throne," Lagar went on before he lifted his hands way from Theodore's chair. "I shall be waiting," he whispered into the darkness as Nagtium slipped away from Theodore's body into the shadows. His words echoed about the room as the light began to fill the darkness once more. Theodore sat forward and turned about to find Lagar and Nagtium gone. His hands trembling and the scar upon his wrist burning, he stood up and made for the window and looked out onto the street, the knights stood upon the path looking up at the house as though in waiting for the hours to come. His heart racing, Theodore returned to his chair and sat down once more, his eyes upon the clock.

*

The clock struck eleven and Theodore arose from his study chair and made for Laura's room quietly, his hands cold and his heart quietly beating. He felt every fibre of time as he made his way from his study up the staircase, down the corridor and to his wives room. For a moment, he stood in the darkness before her door and let out a breath before turning the handle about and entering. He was dressed and ready for the journey ahead and as he came to Laura's bed he sat down to her side and gently lolled her out of her sleep.

"Teddy? What is it?" Laura said with stressed eyes.

"We must evacuate the street darling," Theodore lied as he caught her hand within his own.

"But there are no sirens?" Laura said sleepily as she pushed herself up and lay back against the board of the bed.

"I was sent a message, we are to evacuate immediately and make for a shelter," Theodore pressed as Laura rubbed her eyes lazily.

"Are you quite sure?"

"Quite, now hurry and get dressed and meet me down by the front door in ten minutes," Theodore ordered Laura as he brought himself to his feet and gazed down into her golden eyes and gulped deeply.

"Theodore, is everything alright?" Laura asked as she slipped out of her bed and placed her bare feet into her slippers.

"I am a little worried as to our safety, that is all," Theodore returned as he kissed Laura upon the forehead. "Now hurry." Without a second glance, Theodore turned on his feet and left the room, making his way downstairs, each creak causing him to feel nauseous. Coming to stand before the large Georgian door, Theodore turned to the circular mirror and looked into his reflection. What he saw before him was a man who had been damned a long time ago, with his vision blinded by an illusion. Now stood the true essence of Cael, his eyes filled with intent and determination. He would find Eveline and he would kill the man who tore them apart, and he would stand beside her when she was crowned Queen and rule alongside her. He would not fall for Lagar's deceitful words of promise, true power lay not within his realm but the realm of Heiden, who had greatly underestimated his intelligence and strength.

"Theodore?" came a soft call from behind. Theodore watched as Laura came to stand behind him, her beautiful face still draped with slumber and her large eyes confused. "I am ready now." Theodore turned to her and took her face within the palms of his hands.

"Good, let us go now," he said gently, planting a soft kiss upon her cheek. Quietly he helped Laura into her coat, and watched as she put on her hat, gloves and scarf. With ease he opened the large door and stepped outside, his eyes upon the knights who stood too close.

"Should we not use the back door?" Laura whispered, her hand tightening within Theodore's. "They scare me."

"They cannot touch you, not when you are with me," Theodore said boldly as he led her down the steps and towards their car. Without further conversation, he opened her door and helped her in to the passenger's seat and closed it gently, before rounding the back of the car and coming to his own door. He stood before the knights.

"Quocumque perrexeris, sequemur (Where you go, we shall follow)," spoke the knight who stood to the right. Theodore simply nodded his head before turning away from the knights and entering his side of the car.

"Something doesn't feel right Teddy," Laura whispered as she muddled with her clutch bag, her eyes upon Theodore and her brows tense.

"Do not worry, you will be fine," Theodore lied as he roared the car into life and hastily sped off in the direction of St Barnes Cemetery. It took but a half hour for Theodore to make his way through London, every aware of Laura's increasing curiosity as to their destination.

"Surely there is a shelter closer to home?" she had asked on several occasions.

"I know of a shelter that will protect us," Theodore answered in response, his hands upon the steering wheel burning. The last leg of the journey went by silently with Laura's eyes cast out of her window, her grasp upon her clutch bag tightening. Soon Theodore passed St Mary's church and turned upon Rocks Lane, with just a mile or so to go until finally he came to the front of St Barnes Cemetery. Slowly he turned the black ford off the road and onto the pavement. Taking the keys out of the ignition he bent his head forward until it hit the steering wheel and let out a long sigh. Tilting his head to the side he peered at his watch, it was now nearing a quarter to midnight.

"Where are we?" Laura whispered into the cool air as she shuffled about in her seat.

"St Barnes Cemetery," Theodore said plainly as he lifted his head away from the steering wheel and turned to the pale Laura, who was looking at him now with enlarged and anxious filled golden eyes.

"A cemetery? This is where the shelter is?" she quizzed Theodore, her lip painted lips shivering.

"It is a secret hiding place for guardians," Theodore lied as he placed the keys of his car into one of his pockets within his long black coat.

"It's a little eerie, don't you think?" Laura asked as she peered across the street. The great gate of the cemetery was illuminated by the street lamp, as for the rest of the cemetery, it was hidden beneath the night sky and there was no sign of life. His toes curling and his chest rising and falling, Theodore turned to Laura.

"Do you remember when we first met?"

"Eh..." Laura stuttered as her brows furrowed together, her eyes upon her hands. Theodore smiled lightly.

"You were so timid and shy, refusing to unpack your belongings or to take off your wine red coat, which was too big for your small frame," Theodore went on, oblivious to Laura's confusion. "Estelle didn't pay any heed to it, understanding the fear of rejection that clung so tightly to yourself. A full week you sat in the corner of the living room, refusing to part with your suitcase, your little face determined and yet unsure. We did not speak to one another, I being as curious about you as you were about me. It wasn't until one day when I had been on my way home from school did we first speak. I remember it quite clearly," Theodore said with a wave of his finger. "I was being chased home by the class bully, William you remember?"

"Well I...er I," Laura stammered once more.

"He and his gang of bullies caught up with me just outside of the garden gate and began their daily hobby of beating me to a pulp. Unfortunately Estelle was away visiting a friend for the afternoon, and I had thought that you had gone with her," Theodore said as he took Laura's hands within his own and looked deep into her eyes. "As the boys beat me to a pulp against the garden wall, the front door swung open and out you came, your eyes filled with such a strength I have never thus seen before. With a wave of your hand, you forced the boys off me and threw them to the hard ground beneath."

"I did?" Laura said with amazement.

"You didn't stop there," Theodore laughed merrily as the image of the boys crying out filled his senses.

"I didn't?"

"Oh no! No you picked up a handful of small stones and you flung them at the boys, who in return cried out with such pain that the world about us echoed with glee," Theodore said, his smile deepening. "They ran away like squealing pigs! And that was the day in which you and I became best friends. Of course Estelle punished us both for using magic, and the rumour of your strange abilities spread and you were labelled a witch. But never again was I bullied, and the boys of the school revered you instead. You saved my life...and the day you agreed to be my wife was...well the second greatest day of my life, because since that day, I have loved you shamelessly. I would go to any lengths in order to be with you and protect you...you believe me yes?"

"Yes of course!" Laura said with flashing eyes.

"I...I never thought that I would find love again," Theodore whispered into the dark as his smile faded and his clasp upon Laura's hands loosened. "That is why I must do this," he said under his breathe.

"Do what?" Laura asked kindly. Theodore turned away from his doppelganger wife and drew in a deep breathe.

"Protect you of course!" he lied as he opened the car door. "Come we must find the shelter." Quickly he dashed about the front of the car and opened the passenger's door. Laura, her face perplexed, quietly got out and fixed her coat as Theodore closed the door behind her. Roughly Theodore took Laura's arm and locked it about his own and guided her towards the closed gate. A simple wave of his hand opened the gate, and so he stood quietly with his arms outstretched, allowing Laura to enter first.

"Are you really sure that this is where the guardians seek shelter?" she asked quietly as she scanned the area, her eyes now acclimatising to the lack of light. Theodore closed the gate behind him and stared out across the street. Assured that no guardians had followed, he turned about and took Laura's hand and guided her onwards.

"I'm sure," he said as they weaved their way up the narrow path, of which a great many slabs were contorted and cracked. "Watch your step, the path is a little displaced."

"You have been here before?"

"Yes," Theodore said as he turned from the path and guided Laura into the dark mass of graves.

"These tombstones, they are so old, and look! Look at that great archangel over their!" Laura gushed, her eyes curious and her hand settling within Theodores a clear sign that she trusted him.

"This is a Victorian graveyard which has been overlooked for many years," Theodore returned. "But if you were to study the tombstones you would see that a great many influential and wealthy families are buried here."

"I have never been one for graveyards, but I do suppose they offer a historian a lot of much needed information."

"Indeed," Theodore said, his mind pre occupied. Swiftly he stopped, the centre of the graveyard coming into view through the heavy mass of trees. For a brief moment he turned to Laura and looked down into her eyes, distant and strange. Dropping her arm, he brought his hands to her face and leaned his forehead against her own. He was a brute, a murdered and a traitor. Yet in spite of his self-loathing, he kissed her quietly and brought her to his body and wrapped his arms about her. When they parted, Laura's lips swollen and her eyelashes fluttering, Theodore turned about and scanned the nearby area.

"I think I can see some people ahead, look see?" Laura said with a smile as she pointed her index finger through a branch, directing it towards the great crowd of shadows, who were positioned before another great statue of an angel, its arched wings curved downwards over the tomb of its victim. Theodore again gulped and closed his eyes briefly. With renewed courage he moved onwards through the thicket of trees, grasping Laura's hand until they came to the clearing and stood before the great crowd of chanting shadows. Lagmar, cloaked in a robe of black and silver stood upon the tomb which lay beneath the angel, his black eyes upon him. "Teddy are you sure these men and women are guardians? They are looking at us as though in hatred..."

"Come along," Theodore said stiffly as he softly forced Laura onwards through the opening crowd, who all at once became quiet and unmoving. When they were now positioned within the large circle, Theodore let go of Laura's hand and turned to her. "I'm sorry..."

"Sorry? What are you sorry for?" Laura whispered, her eyes now filling with terror as she looked about the mass of shadows, all of whom were dressed in dark robes, their faces hidden from view.

"There was no other way," Theodore pleaded as Lagmar let out a laugh.

"Cael, Cael, Cael," he said with a high pitched cry. A great quake shook the earth beneath and alerted Theodore to Lagmar, who had jumped down from his position and slowly made his way over to him, licking his lips with his black tongue. "Oh how the angels weep this night! For look what you have brought me...the most precious of jewels, the most precious of treasures...the heir to Heaven itself!" A great cheer rang out from the crowd as Lagmar encircled Theodore and the trembling Laura.

"What does he mean Theodore?" Laura whispered desperately as she sought Theodore's hand and grabbed it tightly.

"There was no other way...I had no other choice," Theodore said with strained eyes. "I have to return!"

"Return? Return were?" Laura said bitterly, her eyes growing hot and angry. "What have you done?"

"Why he has betrayed you child!" Lagmar said with a laugh as he turned about and waved his hands, his followers ardently excited. "He has handed you over to me...so that he can leave this place..." Lagmar stopped talking, his features instantly changing. Swiftly he turned about. "Why do you wish to use the gate?"

"You know why!" Theodore pleaded, his skin now drenched with a cold sweat. "I wish to find Galean and kill him!"

"Do you indeed?" Lagmar said as he stood before Theodore and leaned down close to his face, their noses an inch apart. "Well just to ensure you do find and kill Galean, I have some aid for you..."

"Aid?"

"Yes, you may have already met them..." Lagmar said as the figures of the two knights came into sight, the crowd of shadows instantly falling to the ground in reverence of their presence.

"The knights of Hellnuthe..." Theodore whispered.

"Exactly!" Lagmar said with flashing eyes. "I would like you to meet Belzamon and Nacramos, I believe you have already met?"

Theodore took a step backwards, this wasn't a part of his plan. They could not follow him through the gate, for if they did he would lead them straight to Eveline. His hands shaking and the faint breathes eluding from Laura, Theodore raked his brains for a way out. He had truly messed this already hatched up plan, and there was nothing he could do. The knights, their silver swords on display came to him and slowly pulled their thick hoods away from their heads, revealing a truly terrifying sight.

"Theodore it's the knights!" Laura cried out as she scrambled behind Theodore and held onto him for dear life. Theodore felt small and insignificant in the presence of Belzamon, whose eyes were of a terrible red and his lips a truly heinous black and Nacramos, whose face was angelic as any angel, yet his eyes were of an amber so distorted, Theodore felt an agonising pain within his soul.

"We'll let us not beat about the bush any longer!" Lagmar announced as his feet stopped behind Laura. With swiftness, he took her wrists and wrenched her apart from Theodore. "My master awaits!"

"Theodore! Theodore help!" Laura cried out in pain as she was dragged away from Theodore.

"Please! Please don't harm her!" Theodore cried out pitifully as he was guided towards the great statue of the angel by the knights.

"Please! Please don't harm her!" Lagmar said sarcastically as he slapped Laura across the face, forcing her to the cold ground below. "Who are you to order me? You handed her over to me willingly...she is mine now!"

"Theodore please," Laura whispered as she tried to crawl away from the vile demon, who lowered himself to the ground beside Laura and smiled at both him and her.

"Let your eyes take in the form of your husband one last time!" He said with a hiss. "For it was not the dark that betrayed you...it was the light!"

"No! No my husband would never do that to me!" Laura cried out painfully as she was dragged to her feet once more by Lagmar who laughed aloud, the rest of the demons following suite. Theodore, dragged by the knights now stood within the great wings of the cracked angel, his eyes filled with tears as he watched Laura being beat and teased by the laughing and dancing demons, all of which look to be high.

"Oh but he did," Lagmar said as he brought Laura's face up to his own, smothering her. "He came here but a night ago and offered you in return for his request to use our gateway." Laura, tears falling from her pale face, lifted her eyes to the still and quiet Theodore.

"He's lying," she said as a thin river of red blood fell from her temple. Theodore, his heart beating wildly and his hands tightened into fists looked down at Laura and brought a hand to his face.

"I'm sorry...my quench for vengeance has eaten what is left of my conscience..." he said aloud, hating himself with every syllable that fell from his lips. Laura's eyes stopped moving and her body stopped swaying, her hands strapped behind her back.

"You betrayed your wife for vengeance?" she said with disgust and fear. Theodore felt his tongue still as he saw the pain and hatred in Laura's golden eyes.

"It seems your husband has gone mute," Lagmar said with a glorious smile, which only illuminated his black piercing eyes further. Pulling at Laura's hands, Lagmar once more leaned into her ear. "And so the downfall of man begins..."

"I'm sorry!" Theodore said pathetically as the wings of the angel began to move, the knights hands about his arms strengthened.

"No! No please don't leave me here! Please!" Laura began to cry out hysterically as Theodore felt the gateway open around. "Murderer! You're a murderer!" were the last words that reverberated about his mind as his body began to fall away into a million stars, the knights tightly wielded to his side. He knew that when the gateway opened to Ravinston that he would be in trouble, not only had he lied to Lagmar but he had lied to Lagar of Laura's identity and when they finally knew of his deceit, both guardians and shadows would be on the hunt for him. Yet worse still was the knowledge that he was about to lead two knights of Hellnuthe straight into the arms of Eveline. His mission to protect his wife has failed epically and his mission to save himself has all but vanished before his very eyes but moments ago. There was no way out now, there was no redemption at the end of the road. He would die soon and die as a traitor, his legacy turned to ashes.