A Heaven & Earth tale 

By LonelyRider

Dark warlock lesser angel Abaddon LightningSword looked up from his magic potions, irked at being disturbed by his fiery elemental servant. He waved a huge muscled robed hand at him. 

"Dante, leave me." 

"Pardon the intrusion, master. Your son James is at the doors to your tower. Shall I send him away?" Dante asked in a fiery voice like steam. Abaddon perked, which wasn't like him, putting his potions in their holders over the little flames they boiled on. 

"No. I will see him. You are dismissed." Abaddon replied coldly, Dante bowed and left the chamber, used to his master's attitude. Abaddon cracked open the huge double doors at the base of his obsidian tower, trying to hide a pleased small grin; he was happy to see James, but he didn't want to broadcast that. James lit up and stood up fast, his huge warhorse Thunder nickered a greeting at his father, who ignored him; Abaddon didn't like riding mounts, he preferred his fiery teleportation spell, always to be in utter control at all times. 

"Yes....ahem, well. Ten minutes, boy." Abaddon said, looking away and at his huge hand, adorned with lavish jeweled gold rings, again trying to hide the fact he was glad to see the boy. The hulking, nearly 7 foot 400 pound muscled boy. 

"Dad...Abaddon, so sorry," James cleared his throat and blushed, stammering shyly, toeing the ground in his gladiator sandals, he withdrew an enormous and intricate black tome with red metal etching, Abaddon eyed it greedily, sensing the power within it and becoming highly intrigued; if there was one thing Abaddon Lightningsword adored, it was power. "I uh...was so touched by the bodyguard you sent to protect Lonely, she just loves him, dad! He's a fine choice, I feel so at ease when she's out without me now, knowing Magnus is protecting her. I tipped him very well. Oh uh...here you go, just a little somehting for you, late Christmas gift." James said shyly, handing Abaddon the tome; it read 

Spells to Conquer & Crush

Abaddon took it the way James had hoped; he wasn't offended, in fact, his eyes flew wide and his lips twitched into a twisted grin. 

"You like it, huh?" James asked shyly, scratching his thick black hair and grinning with a blush. Abaddon hid the tome in his velvet robe and pretended to be unaffected, James shot him a fond look but didn't stare, he knew his father hated that. 

"Sit." Abaddon commanded, indicating an ornate bench of iron carved with gargoyles and roses, they sat together, James still toeing the ground shyly. His horse nudged him and he patted him and fed him a carrot. 

"That's a good boy, who's a good boy?" James cooed to his stallion, who nickered at him fondly. Abaddon brushed the beast away as he tried to nuzzle him too, James chuckled fondly. "Sorry dad, he's just a big friendly ol' boy. Come here, Thunder. That's a boy, there you go." Thunder obeyed James, resting his muzzle on James' thick muscled thighs instead as James petted him. 

"I don't share your fondness for beasts. You are welcome, I know your wench nearly got herself eaten once and all...well, now you won't have to worry about that again, will you?" Abaddon said, trying to hide the fact he was enjoying James' company in his usual sarcasm. James listened to him intently with a kind smile; Abaddon shifted, uncomfortable with his big son's kind heart. 

"If I can be so bold, you're awesome, dad. I only hope some day, I can master my lightning magic the way you have fire." James said with open admiration and longing, he looked like a little boy despite his huge size, Abaddon felt and saw James put a friendly wing around his back, but just barely; for a second, Abaddon actually softened, his lip twitched up and his eyes shone at his son; yes, there it was, James' eyes flew wide and he inhaled without meaning to, there was just a fleeting glimpse in his father's eyes of pride his way. James went to gush and Abaddon snapped himself out of it hard, his usual demeanor taking over. He stood up fast, literally brushing James' beautiful white and blue wing off with his own ebony one.

"Oh...I'm so sorry, listen to me!" James gasped, with a horrendous blush. 

"Well then, ahem. I have potions to get back to, and you have Christian wenches, little girls and the gladiator ring to return to. Farewell, for now. James." Abaddon twitched a small smile at the end and as he shut the door he saw his big son looking like a happy puppy, both at his father's smile and his mentioning of his cherished Natalie, who James missed dearly. Abaddon watched from the balcony of his tower as James mounted Thunder and gallopped away with a hearty wave, literally looking up to his father as he rode off, James turned to watch the road with a big grin as Abaddon watched the dirt flying from James' enormous steed's mighty hooves as they rode away swiftly. 

When James arrived home to Lonely's cottage, he knocked politely and came in, he'd brought a hot dinner on his way from a roadside merchant.

"Lonely, babe! I brought ham and all the fixings, hot rolls and fresh butter, red wine, sweet, your favorite! I saw my dad, it went really well. Baby?" James asked, he stopped and gasped, dropping his knapsack; Lonely was in bed, very still, his best friend Raziel and the witch she'd gone to see and told him about, the crone Olga, were both working on her, sending her white and green healing magic. James was emotional and longed to know what was going on, but more than that he longed to help. His skill area was swords, horsemanship and magic, but as a lesser angel he possessed innate healing magic, he just hadn't honed it like his friend Raziel, who was a full time healer. James gently stroked Lonely's hand, gasping and feeling tears come to his eyes; her viens were red and pulsing; she moaned and her eyes fluttered. James gave a shaky breath and closed his eyes, tears spilling from them, he bit his lip as a sob started, and he joined Raziel and Olga with his own healing magic, now there were 3 healers working on her. They healed her until their daily limits were reached, James ran out first and quietly wept, stroking her face gently and whispering to her as she slept. 

"My sweet girl....what has happened? There has to be something I can do, oh surely? Lonely....can you hear me, darling? It's Jamesy, I love you so much, oh please be okay sweetheart." He sniffled through a trembling voice, he winced and plucked the biggest feather he could find from his wings, gently tucking it in her hand. "I'm right here my darling, may this feather make you all better. Oh...if only..." His lip quivered and he bit it so hard blood leaked down his chin, he was so upset, he shuddered, he covered his mouth and silently wept and shuddered, as Olga and Raziel kept healing her, in a trance as they worked. James had fallen asleep crying some time later when he felt a hand on his broad shoulder, and stirred. 

"Raz? Is she awake?" James said sleepily, blinking away tears, his gentle gay friend wiped James' eyes and they hugged, wings around each other, James sobbed and tried to hold back, wiping his eyes; Raziel didn't judge, only made a kind face. 

"James...please, come outside. We must let her rest." Olga said, she smeared some herbal salve on Lonely's chest and neck and the crone and skinny angel escorted hulking James outside, where they steered him to Lonely's tea table in their garden. Raziel took James' much bigger hand and held it tight. 

"Would you like to pray? I know you aren't religious like Lonely." Raziel comforted. 

"Yes, please." James didn't hesitate; Raziel knew James had been becoming curious about religion and God lately, from his girlfriend's example. They bowed their hads, Raziel kept a tight hold on James' huge hands and started reciting Bible verses, James was crying. Olga watched the whole scene, serious and in deep thought. She seemed to be weighing somehting grave. Raziel handed James his pocket Bible and James started reading out loud with a fervor Raziel had never seen, he was begging on his knees, tears streaming down his face, Raziel rubbed his shoulders and gave James a kiss on his cheek; James finished the verse and cried into Raziel's chest, grasping his tunic hard in his anguish, but Raziel just let him, shooting him a look of pity as he sobbed. 

"James." Olga spoke in a voice clear as day, they both looked up, Raziel still holding his bigger friend's arms. James blinked away tears, shuddering. 

"I apologize for my unmanly state." He breathed, bowing his head in shame. Raziel lifted his chin and James gasped. 

"Don't you dare." Raziel replied. 

"I know of....someone." Olga began delicately, but she hesitated. Raziel shifted uncomfortably; he could tell something was very wrong. "But...I honestly don't want to tell you. The solution is worse than the ill." She finished. 

"Olga....wise witch, do you know of someone who can help my Lonely? Please, oh please tell me, I'll go anywhere, see anyone, do anything. Please, if you know of a way, oh tell me, I beg you." James pleaded, kneeling before her, head bowed and wings folded. Raziel inhaled and looked at her. 

"I do. Her name is Greselda BlackClawe. She..." Olga hesitated, she brought forth a beautiful green crystal ball and as she spoke, her story was shown to them on it, Raziel and James gasped in wonder, their faces lit by the ball as it portrayed the tragic tale. "Years ago, there lived a corrupt king, in a faraway land. His soldiers captured young Griselda, sold the women and killed the men. Griselda the king took a liking to, and he made her his personal bedroom servant. Horrid things, he forced upon her each night. By day she was chained. His kingdom fell from within on her 20th year, but by then, her heart had been turned to stone. Griselda was my very own apprentice, I taught her the sacred ways of the witch, and to harm no creature, for the rule of 3 shall always be. I thought I could heal her hardened heart. When she became powerful enough, she broke from our coven, and forged a dark path," Olga shivered and the men gasped; the ball showed a man screaming as all his magic powers were drained from him into Griselda's magic orb as she watched with a twisted grin of amusement, "Her motto now is this, for she is known and feared across the land; Miracles for Her, in Exchange for Tradgedies for Him. She has sworn, much like the legend of Medusa, to never harm a female. She only deals with men. She hates them, with a burning passion. You see, sweet James," The orb went black, and James and Raziel looked up, inhaling hard, eyes wide, "Griselda BlackClawe can cure Lonely, but she will ask something," Olga shivered again, "Dreadful of you. The men leave her granted miracles for the women in their lives they love; mothers, sisters, girlfriends and wives and daughters. But I have seen them. They leave her broken men." 

Raziel looked at James, horrified. 

"James....no, you can't possibly..." He started. James gulped, looking like he felt very ill. 

"Olga...where can I find her?" He whispered. 

"James, no! There has to be another way!" Raziel shouted, grasping James' burly arm. 

"Buddy...I love ya, I'm so sorry pal!" James apologized. Olga told him. 

"The black mountains, a high cave by a twisted forest. Look for the bird skull dreamcatcher." 

James hugged Raziel, thanked Olga, and hurriedly mounted Thunder and urged him on like he never had, his horse panting hard as he flew fast as he could to the East, where Olga had told him; James knew his friends would watch over his beloved girl while he was on his quest. 

"Olga," Raziel gasped, tears streaming down his face and looking neasous, "What will she do to him?" Raziel's voice faded out at the end. Olga hugged him as he started to sob. 

"He wanted to save her." Olga whispered. 

"What will she do to him!"Raziel screamed in anguish, not at the witch, but at no one, breaking down. Olga looked guilty, having faced a terrible choice; to save a woman, and sacrifice a man, or let her die, and know he'd fade away without her. 

"I'm so sorry, Raziel." Olga said, and she meant it. She felt sick knowing she'd sent James to Griselda, the much-feared breaker of men.