Hidden: Salvation for the Damned

Part the First.
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He lay crumpled in a heap against the rough brick wall at the end of an alley. His black skin cracked and oozing poisoned blood, shuddering as he drew breath. His authority and power now so much ashes and all the more painful from their absence. His pursuers, from both sides of the war, will soon draw upon him to reduce him to dust and cast his memory to the ages.

"How ironic, a fall... after the Fall..."

As he gathered what remained of his strength for the final confrontation, an unexpected intrusion occurred.

"Will you get better, mister?"

The fallen one stiffened as he stared at what was suppose to be an impossibility. His powers must be almost thoroughly gone for a mere child to notice him. And for him to not run screaming in terror, the child must either be exceptionally strong of will, naive to the extreme or undeniably witless. Perhaps a combination of the three.

Nonetheless, this child impressed him. Though in what way, he could not decide. He was so seldom impressed. "Go! They will be here soon. This is no place for you!"

The child, a boy of no more than five looked on unafraid but concerned. "What about you mister?"

"It is too late! Go Now!" Anger filled him, had he fallen so low that even children would defy him?

"Do you need to hide? Can I help?"

Such an earnest question, innocent and without guile. Almost impossible for him believe. It had been so long since he'd last heard such honesty that he almost forgot the feeling of lightness that went with it. So unlike the weight of lies he and his followers had surrounded themselves with for an eternity.

Yes, this child could help him. He could now see a path of salvation. A path requiring at least a decade before his return to full strength. At least a decade before vengeance against the betrayers. Yes, this child could hide him. He would have to make sacrifices of course. Limit his influence upon the child to nothing at all. Shut down all his links to his former powerbase. Erase all traces of his presence from existence. Yes. This child could save him.

"Yes..." The child would have to made aware of the weight of his offer... but time was pressing. In any case, he would not bring even influence to bear upon this child. Mostly out of necessity and partly out of... gratitude.

Such an unfamiliar concept one long abandoned and forgotten to the ages. Odd that it should return now. Or maybe not so odd, since his life was in peril.

"If you would help me, you will have to have no reservations."

The child nodded, and showed no concerned over the word if he were unfamiliar with it.

"What is your name, child?"

"Herod."

Raising from the floor to his full height, he towered mightily over the boy. He marveled how one so small could be his salvation.

He hesitated. What if this was a trap? This boy a lure? His enemies in the shadows?

No, he could feel them now. At the edge of his awareness but drawing closer. This was no trick, the boy was genuine. He had to hurry. He looked deep into the boy's eyes. "Are you afraid?"

The guileless child gently shook his head.

""You will be..."

Webbed wings, cracked and torn, rose up and casted a black shadow over the two but the boy did not flinch.

With a sudden gentleness the wings fell and both were sheathed in black.

For a long moment all was still.

Then the chrysalis pulsed.

Twice.

Once more and evaporated, leaving just the boy.

As red faded from the boys eyes, so to did all the traces of the demon.

No longer seeing anyone else in the alley, Herod turned and left.


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Kinda inspired by NXE, partly popped into my head one day while idly daydreaming. There'll be more to this.