"Love of the Darkness"

I'm kicking around a few scenes for my second novel, still deciding whether or not I actually want to write it. But this is one of the chapters from it.

I shook my head, growling quietly to myself, as I couldn't shut out the noises. The sounds of exuberant laughter, jovial conversations, drinking, puking and everything else, was really beginning to annoy me. I sat on the rough ground of the forest, leaning against a fallen tree, just trying and failing to block out the celebration around me.

Opening my eyes, I looked around at the large group of people gathered and partying by the massive bonfire. What surprised me was how many of them there were. Watching them, they looked like they were all living together happily, without a care in the world. It's almost as if the apocalypse wasn't tearing the very world apart around them. Yet, here they were just laughing and having fun here in the forest.

This was the so-called Human Resistance. Dozens of men and women, banded together when all hope was lost to try and fight for their future. By not just theirs. The future of their planet. The future of mankind itself. If I wasn't a heartless b*****d then I would have called it inspiring.

But they disgusted me. I suppose the feeling was mutual, considering how they hated me. Despite my presence amongst them, I didn't belong here. They came together to protect what was left of their dying race and to destroy the creatures that were threatening their existence. And both of their purposes, are why I didn't belong…

I cared nothing for mankind and it's feeble struggle for survival. For all cared, they could die off and have their ashes spread across the planet. But the even bigger reason for our hatred of each other was that I am a Cambion. The unholy creation of two races that should never have mixed. My father was some big bad demon from down under and my mother just some strung out cultist or something.

To them, I was just another demon. One of Lucifer’s lackeys who rose from the pits to fight Michael and the legions of Heaven. Undoubtedly, they wanted to kill me and would've given it a shot if it wasn't for her intervening.

I suppose you're wondering who is she? Her name is Mira. She was 5’4”, a sharp contrast to my 6’3”. A little on the pale side, blazing red hair and just wow. She's so gorgeous, smart, funny, and captivating but if you get on her bad side...she is fierce, powerful and unforgiving. Everyone is drawn to her. She just has that quality that attracts people to her. Even I couldn't resist it.

At first I thought it was the fact that she was like me. A half breed. Except she wasn't one of the damned like me. Mira was one of the divine. Her father was one of the Archangels, we just didn't know which. But as I spent the last few months with her, I became drawn to her.

As I sat there on the ground, my thoughts drifting to our adventures together, I didn't realize I had been staring directly at her. Mira was sitting right by the fire, talking with some of the others in the group. She must have felt me looking at her because she turned and looked across the fire, making eye contact with me and smiled. Not even a knowing smiled at me being caught, but a genuine smile.

I frowned and dropped my gaze from her down to the dirt under me. I wanted to kick myself for not only staring at her but getting caught doing it. Yet even as I sat there self-admonishing, all I wanted to do was go back to looking at her. Her smile almost made me see what was so special about humanity but I always chopped it up to her being part divine.

As I was fighting myself internally, I felt someone approach and sit down next to me. I didn't have to wonder who it was either. Only one person would actually willingly sit next to me. Even though I actually enjoyed her company, right now I just wanted her to go away.

“I'm not going anywhere Azazel. Ignoring me won't work…” she said nudging me a little. I looked up at Mira shaking my head, trying to get her out of it. “I wasn't ignoring you and I told you not to read my mind.”

She ignored my comment, keeping her intense gaze on me, studying me like she always did. “So why are you all the way over here? The fire is warm and the people aren't bad. You don't have to be alone over here.” I raised my eyebrow, sure she was joking. But she wasn't.

Her naïveté made me roll my eyes. Even with everything we've been through together, she still managed to surprise me sometimes. But I didn't blame her for that. In fact, I didn't blame her anything, ever.

“Don't be silly Mira. I'm over here because I hate them and they hate me. It's simple…” I said breaking our eye contact with a glance at the fire. “They don't hate you. They just don't know you is all” she said.

“And they won't get to know me either. I'm just a creature in their eyes and it's better that way. I don't need or want to know them. Humans are good for nothing more than being a distraction” I growled out quietly.

Mira shook her head in disbelief. “And what about me? I'm one of those humans” she responded. “No you aren't. You're the Nephilim. You're better than them, no matter how much you want to be just like them” I stated matter-of-factly.

“Just come over and try to get along with them Azazel. They're good people, I promise.” The pleading in her voice almost made me give in but I steeled my resolve. “No Mira. Besides why should I play nice to people who just want to destroy me. They'd have given it a shot if you hadn't spoken up earlier…”

My thoughts roamed to how entertaining it would have been if they'd tried to kill me. Supposedly, the Resistance had already taken on some high-class angels and powerful demons but I didn't believe them. These guys didn't look like they could handle much more than a Cherub.

I was waiting on the response from her, knowing I was going to get an earful, but she was silent. Looking over at her, she was glaring at me. With the shadow being cast on her face from the fire and her dark red hair looking as if it would burst into flames any second, she looked scarily fierce. Well, scary for other people. After seeing the darkest parts of the pits, not much scares you.

“Nobody is going to try anything Azazel. We talked about this already, Luke said he'd keep his guys under control…” she said in a firm voice that left little room for debate.

Debating wasn't what was on my mind though. Hearing his name made he roll my eyes and scoff out loud unintentionally. Luke Sevell, was the leader of the Resistance. He also just happened to be the long lost boyfriend Mira had been reunited with. The guy was a major a*****e and I had been hoping for the last few days that he'd give me a reason to kick his arrogant a*s.

My thoughts once more drifted off, this time to all the possibilities of me and him squaring off. Mira put her hand on my arm, obviously seeing my thoughts. Her touch made them fade and I shook her hand off, hating when she used her powers on me…

“What is it with you two? You've only know each other a few days but you guys act like you've hated each other for eternity” she asked concerned. For whom I didn't know but I doubted it was for my sake. She glanced over at him and my gaze followed suite.

Luke was the tall, muscled, blonde haired piece of trash closest to the fire. He was sitting awfully close to this girl, talking about something funny or telling a joke because she was laughing a lot. I looked back at Mira and the look on her face was conflicting.

“Why don't you just go over there and say something? It obviously bothers you and it's not the first time either…” I said turning to glare at him and considering setting his pants on fire from here.

Mira just shook her head and sighed turning her attention back to me. “These are his people. He's been taking care of them all this time and we've just found each other again. I don't want to make a fuss over nothing.” Hearing that made me scoff.

“His people or not, you're supposed to be his girlfriend. He should be giving you that attention, not some whoever the hell she is. You shouldn't have to just put up with his constant bullshit. You care too much about other people and what they think instead of taking care of yourself Mira. Learn to stand up for yourself or he's just gonna keep walking over you” I grumbled.

Bringing my eyes up to meet her gaze, I could see the hurt. Maybe it came out a little harsher than I meant it to but she needed to hear the truth. I coddled her too much as it was. But I was considering saying sorry when anger flashed into her eyes, replacing the hurt.

“And what would you have me do? March over there and make a scene over nothing?” Mira had this way of talking when she was whispering that let you know she was also yelling at you. And I was on the receiving end of it far too often.

“If it was up to me, I'd have to march over there and throw that asshat into the fire. God, the way he treats you is ridiculous Mira and you just accept it like it's normal. He acts like you're just some groupie he picked up on the road instead of the best thing that's in his pathetic life” I hissed quietly back at her. I wasn't upset with her. It's just thinking about the two of them together really angered me. As if he deserved her in any way.

“He treats me like I'm special! Like I'm somebody that matters. A princess. What's wrong with that?” she jumped up demanding. I followed suite my voice rising a little. “He should treat you like you're a damn goddess. Like you're the only one that matters. He should get down on his knees every morning and worship you like you're the light of the moon in the dead of the night!! He obviously doesn't care about you because that's how I would treat you Mira because I f*****g love you. You're wasting your time with that a*****e” I said ranting before realizing what I had said.

I turned away from her and looked out into the forest cursing myself for being so stupid. I didn't want to face her right now after what I'd just said. “What did you just say?” she asked from behind me.

“You heard what I said Mira. Now just forget about it and go back by the fire” I said quietly. I felt her hand on my back and when she realized I wasn't going to turn and face her, she was suddenly in front of me. “I'm not going anywhere...Why didn't you tell me before Azazel?” She asked putting her hand on my cheek to make me look at her again.

I looked into her eyes and shook her hand off gently. “Does it matter?” Mira was about to say something when someone else walked up on us. Of course it's the man himself, Luke…”You guys alright over here?” he asked with an inquisitive look on his face.

Anger quickly wormed its way into me as I turned to look at Luke. “Yes. Now go back to whoever you were doing Sevell” I snapped. Mira quickly got between us and put a hand on his chest as he stepped towards me. He couldn't tell what she was doing but I watched as he visibly relaxed as her abilities washed over him.

“You aren't worth the trouble half breed. Let's go Mira..” he said grabbing her by the arm. I stepped forward and my hand flashed out grabbing his wrist. “Let her go or I'll rip your arms off and beat you to death with them” I threatened, putting pressure on it to let him know I wasn't making empty threats.

Mira spoke up before he could respond however, “I'm fine Azazel. We’ll finish talking in the morning…” She gave me a look that let me know she wasn't going to forget. I nodded and let go of Luke who chose to walk away with her.

I shook my head as I watched the two of them walking away towards the tents. She was wrong. We wouldn't talk about it in the morning because I would be gone by daybreak. Mira had a place amongst them and she'd be safe here. But me? I didn't plan on sticking around where I wasn't wanted. Most of all, I definitely didn't want to stay here and watch those two.

Sorry Mira but next time we came face to face, I doubt you'll even remember who I am. And Luke? Watch your back because I will end you if you hurt her...

Author's Note

I'm still thinking about whether or not I want to actually write it fully but I've got a few chapters down. Let me know what you think...

Reviews

[Andy Leavy]

I enjoyed this, the writing is great. Quick paragraphs and sentences nothing dragged out more than it needs to be and above all else an interesting story.

Apocalyptic stories are done so much but I've not seen any that use heavens angels and hell's demons. It's an interesting concept and something I would be interested in seeing more of. You should definitely keep working on this.

I also have some constructive criticism if you don't mind it. First off there is 2 grammatical mistakes in the story(that I can remember): "by not just theirs" I believe should be "but not just theirs" and "follow suite" should be "follow suit".

Now onto actual constructive criticism, only minor things but things I think could help. Keep the originality going. The Angels/Demons thing is great so keep that up and don't fall into the trap of using apocalyptic tropes, give the human resistance an actual name not just the resistance. Also the protagonist Azazel, he seems to have that typical edgy loner with unrequited love going on. The unrequited love thing works and while he does need to be edgy try not to make him too stereotypically edgy - the "I'll rip your arms off and beat you with them" comment and the whole I'm the nice guy I'd be a much better boyfriend situation. He's a cool character but hopefully you can make him as original as the story is.


Overall I really enjoyed this chapter and I hope you write more. I hate giving scores for reviews as I find them too ambiguous and mundane because opinions change and evolve. The site requires me to give one though so have a good one.

[The Fallen]

I was just rereading it and saw those errors too. Thanks man. Not just for that but for taking the time to read it and review it. It means a lot to have feedback.

I'll take it all to heart when I'm continuing with it but for Azazel. I know he seems a little stereotypically edgy in this but the rest of the story (atleast the parts I've got so far) show him to be more complex than that. He has drastic growth from being alone and hunted in the beginning, till where he actually lets himself feel more after spending a months traveling with Mira.
I won't get too much into it here but hopefully you'll see it when I post more of the story. Thanks again. It means a lot

[Andy Leavy]

No problem at all man. I think this site is great but I feel getting feedback can be tough, so I try to give out as much as I can.

That sounds interesting and definitely has me intrigued I look forward to reading more.