A Case of Falling From Grace Ch. 15 [RusPru AU]

Arthur stood up, shaking his head slightly. He said, looking at Alfred pityingly, "Al, I know you want this all to mean something. But look at yourself; you're sitting here looking for Nazi demons. But what you have to understand is that your brother was in an accident and nothing more than that." He turned to walk away, but Alfred spoke to stop him, "Where are you going?" Arthur glanced back over his shoulder and said, "I'm going to go visit your brother. You can come with me, or you can stay here with your paranoia." Alfred looked down at the papers and the book. It slowly dawned on him that all of this was slightly deranged to think that any of this was true. After Vatican II, very few Catholics even believed in all of this.

He pushed the big red book away and said, "Yeah, just a second, I'm coming." He left the sketches on the table as he walked away, deciding to leave the idea behind. When they returned to the room, the doctor appeared to be checking one of the monitors. He turned to face Alfred as the man entered the room. He glanced at Arthur, but his gaze returned to Alfred immediately. Arthur walked over to the other side of the bed and sat down in a chair next to Mathew's bed. The doctor walked over to Alfred and said, "Mr. Jones, can we talk privately?" The words immediately made Alfred worry about his brother's wellbeing. He responded, "Of course."

He followed the doctor out into the hall. The hallway was completely empty, save a few unoccupied beds that had been wheeled out of rooms. The doctor started by fixing his brown eyes on Alfred's blue ones. Then he spoke, "I heard that you were distressed about your brother. I know how you feel. I had a twin brother once and his death was very hard for me. But, I need to know what exactly happened to him." Alfred looked down sheepishly, but kept his eyes on the doctor's. There seemed to be no reason not to tell the doctor exactly what happened. The man also had a warm kind smile that encouraged him to tell everything. Somehow he thought this man would understand. However, his mind was telling him that certain parts of his story were unbelievable.

So, he said, "I didn't see exactly what happened. I found him like this. But there was something amiss in that asylum, I just can't put my finger on." The statement made the doctor go pale all the way up to the roots of his white hair. He spoke in a halting fashion, "You don't mean the old Autumn asylum? The one up the hill?" Alfred was puzzled by the response. A superstitious teenager was one thing, but an old doctor was quite another. He responded, "Yes, we were cleaning out the place. Things just got weird."

The doctor immediately looked worried. He reached around his neck and pulled a string of red beads out of his shirt. As it emerged, it because clear that the necklace was a rosary. The doctor took it off and handed it to Alfred. The blonde took it wordlessly. He turned it in his hand to look at the intricate cross. It had a medallion showing an angel holding a flaming sword in the back. The doctor spoke, "I have been wearing this for years to keep myself safe, but it sounds like you need it now. The devil is real and I've seen him." He looked away frantically and then turned to walk away. Alfred quickly said, "Thank you for this Doctor-" He stopped short because he realized he didn't actually know the doctor's name. The other completed the sentence with his last name, "Vargas."
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Gilbert followed Feliciano to Antonio's office. When they were just outside the door when the brunette stopped. Gilbert smiled and spoke to the other, "Stick around, Feli. I have something I would like to talk to you about after this." It was only a ploy, Gilbert could see straight through the boy. He could see the sins behind the appearance of innocence. There was debauchery of a sexual nature that meant that his soul belonged to Hell. But, it wouldn't do to take the soul of the boy now when his real target was just the other side of the door. Antonio had sealed his fate by attempting to control Gilbert when the demon had been human. Being cowed into approving a lobotomy was still far too fresh in the memory. He could deal with the boy later, after he had dealt with Antonio. Now that he had all of his power back, he couldn't comprehend how Ivan had shown so much restraint.

The albino pushed open the door and walked into the office. Antonio had his back to the door, but it was clear that he was shaking from some emotion. As he touched the chair across the desk, Gilbert had a flash of clarity. He knew exactly who had been here only a few minutes before. He saw a man, not old in years but aged by hardship and cruelty. The man had pulled back his sleeve to show a series of numbers tattooed on his forearm to Antonio as proof of his time in a concentration camp. Then he had talked about how he had made it his life's mission to hunt down Nazis that had escaped justice. The whole thing was rather boring to Gilbert, but he knew that one important thing had come out of the conversation. When the Jewish man had explained that SS officers had a blood type tattoo, Antonio had pulled in a breath as he realized that he had seen one before.

Gilbert smiled to himself as he sat down. Only a couple hours ago, this turn of events would have been a problem, but now it didn't matter. Antonio finally spoke when he heard the albino sit, "You lied to me when we met. Where were you stationed during the war?" The albino decided that he could play with Antonio a little before striking. He replied in a mock-innocent tone, "A little town in Poland. You may have heard of it. Auschwitz?" The Spaniard turned around slowly with an understandable look of shock on his face. He said, his voice completely emotionless, "You have got to be kidding me."

Gilbert looked Antonio directly in the face and said, "Are you feeling like a fool now?" The Spaniard shook his head slightly and replied, sounding like he was trying to regain some sort of authority, "You lie well. I thought if I ever came face to face with a Nazi, let alone an SS doctor, I would recognize it immediately. Who would have guessed that pure evil would look so handsome?" He meant it to be a biting comment, but Gilbert wasn't fazed. He laughed slightly at the ignorance. It was amusing to hear Antonio talk to him like he was still human. He responded with a slight laugh, "I thank you for the compliment."

Antonio leaned forward and slammed his hands into the desk, "It wasn't meant as a compliment. I want you out of my asylum by dark or I will turn you over to the authorities. I do not tolerate evil in my midst." This sentence alone was enough to make Gilbert laugh again. He knew that the other had no real authority over him and the pitiful attempt was entertaining. He finally said, "You are a hypocrite, aren't you? You lied to me as well. You were ordained as a priest. Tell me, did you think of evil when you sat in the confession booth listening to Lovino's confessions about his mafia family, thinking about how you would like to sin with him? Did you think of it when he offered himself and his brother to you in exchange for absolution?"

All the blood drained from Antonio's face. He stuttered and attempted to get words between his pale lips. His hands curled into fists on the table, one moved back to open a drawer of the desk. He finally regained his ability to speak, "The sins of my past are between Lovino, myself, and Heaven." Gilbert was quick to correct him, "You mean Hell."

Antonio suddenly pulled a wooden cross from the desk and held it in front of himself like a shield. He hissed, "I command you to leave, demon, in the name of God." At this point, Gilbert leaned back in the chair and let out a full-throated laugh. He leaned forward and waved his hand. The wooden cross immediately burst into flames. Antonio released it in his shock and the flaming cross fell on the desk, which started burning too.

The Spaniard looked up wide-eyed at Gilbert. The albino smirked as he said, "I'm a fallen angel, your little symbols don't work against me. Don't reach for the book either, it won't help you." Antonio recoiled, looking around for a weapon. Gilbert stood up and slowly spread his wings. They filled up the limited space in the room. Antonio again went pale as he looked at the wings. The realization that he was actually facing a fallen angel dawned across his face. He spoke again, "God will protect me."

Gilbert laughed again at the hilarity of it. The man was truly grasping at straws at this point. He took a step forward, closer to the desk separating them. He fixed his piercing red eyes on Antonio as he said; "You mocked your Lord when you lost your virtue to Lovino in the church during the dead of night, right in front of the altar. You severed your connection with Heaven when you took both twins in the back of the cloakroom right after mass. No one will save you from me." Again, Antonio's green eyes went wide again. He looked like a trapped animal.

He suddenly ran around the desk. Gilbert rolled his eyes at the futile attempt to get away. He made a single gesture and used his power to throw the mortal against the door without a single touch. Antonio slammed face first against the wood like a rag doll. He attempted in vain to push himself off of the door, but it was easy for Gilbert to keep him there. The albino leisurely walked over to the Spaniard. He leaned forward and said in the other's ear, "Don't fight it. I promise I'll make it painless if you go easily." Being able to exert this kind of control over a mortal again was intoxicating to Gilbert. This was the power he had always loved, the power he craved.

Antonio struggled to say, "I will never submit myself to Hell." With a seemingly superhuman effort, the Spaniard extended his hand and grabbed the door handle. The door swung open and Antonio stumbled forward onto the landing. He turned, his green eyes full of fear and immediately started running towards the stairs. It seemed that he still thought there was a chance of escape. Gilbert stepped out onto the landing and looked at the Spaniard's back. He was waiting for the perfect moment, and it soon presented itself.

When Antonio reached the top of the stairs, Gilbert used his power to pull his feet out from under him. The Spaniard toppled forward, hitting his face on the steps. His nose broke and started gushing bright red blood. As he rolled down the stairs, blood stained the steps. Gilbert took a couple steps forward so that he was at the top of the stairs looking down at the man currently being thrashed against the wooden stairs. Antonio came to rest with a hard hit on the last stair that broke his neck with a loud crack.

The albino walked down to where the Spaniard lay and kneeled down when he got there. He put his hand under the man's chin and forced their eyes to meet. Antonio's face was caked in his own blood. He was breathing shallowly through his mouth. His green eyes flicked back and forth, desperately searching for some sort of mercy in Gilbert's face. The albino presented none. He spoke in a soft voice, running his hand over the cheek of the other, "You should have taken my offer. I can make it end now."

He pulled a knife from his belt. It was a smaller version of a sword, which was far too cumbersome for this particular use. Dark viscous yellow venom coated the knife. A small drop formed at the end of it, the perfect amount to kill a mortal man. A look of recognition flashed across the back of the green eyes. His mouth moved to form a single word, "Samael." The albino nodded shortly to confirm the identification. The mortal drew in a difficult breath and said, "Send me to see Lovi, please." Again, Gilbert nodded. He tightened his grip on Antonio's chin, forcing the man's mouth open. He raised the knife and tipped it so that the droplet detached itself from the end of the knife and landed on the tongue of the Spaniard. As it rolled down the back of his throat, the light in the green eyes went out for good. Gilbert could see the blackened soul vanish to Hell.

Gilbert stood up, turning his head to face his next target. Feliciano had come back to see if the conversation was over and his eyes had found the battered body of his employer and lover. His gasped loudly and Gilbert turned to him. The albino reached out with his power and wrapped an invisible hand around the boy's throat. Feliciano choked and attempted to pull in a breath. Gilbert spoke, "Now, sweet little Feli, should I reveal your sins?" He pulled the boy up in the air. Feliciano kicked out, denting and bending the bars outwards. In a single motion, Gilbert pulled him forward over the bars so that he was floating above the ground with a massive fall beneath him. The albino lowered his hand, allowing the boy to drop through the air. The fall would do enough damage for Gilbert to have no trouble finishing him off. Feliciano's body plummeted towards the floor.

Then, a flash of blinding light filled the room. Gilbert had to shield his eyes from the brightness. When he opened them again, he saw a familiar blonde angel kneeling in the middle of the floor. He had Feliciano in his arms, completely safe. The boy was looking at the angel with huge eyes, his mouth hanging slightly open. Michael stroked the brunette's hair and said, "You're safe now, Feli. I'm your guardian angel and I'm not going to let anything happen to you."

Gilbert smiled widely. He had thought he would have to wait much longer to take his revenge on his brother. Now his brother was close enough for him to do exactly what he wanted to. He spoke, "It's been a while, brother." Michael turned his icy blue eyes to the albino and slowly stood up. He responded, "Not nearly as long as I had hoped. How did you escape your prison?"

A voice spoke from the other side of the room, "I released him." Ivan strolled across the room, his aura slowly encroaching on Michael's light. The blonde angel took a step back, conceding a very important sign of surrender. It was clear that he feared the devil. He hissed, "Lucifer." Ivan walked over to Gilbert and put his arm possessively around the albino's shoulders. He spoke directly at Michael, "You should have known that I would rescue my prince." The darkness spread more aggressively over the floor; the light of Michael was losing ground. Gilbert felt rage rise in his chest when he thought about the years he had been locked beneath a human soul. He spoke with venom in his voice, "I will not forgive you for trapping me. I should take your little pet just for that."

Feliciano whimpered and put both of his arms around Michael's neck. The angel's white wings folded in slightly. He would have reached for his sword, but both hands were occupied with Feliciano. Ivan and Gilbert traded a knowing look and the taller angel spoke, "That seems a fair price for now." He raised his hand and darkness flew at Michael, who immediately tried to expand his halo of light. The darkness battered against the light. Ivan spoke, his voice ringing off the walls, "Even the brightest candle can be snuffed out by the overwhelming dark."

He leaned close to Gilbert and whispered, "Give me your power, my love. I can bind him in darkness with our power together." The albino smirked and put both of his hands against his lover's chest. He then leaned in and joined their lips. He poured himself into Ivan through the kiss. The darkness began to overwhelm Michael, who took another unsteady step backwards. Even so, it was clear that his power was failing. When his light finally faltered, he pulled his white wings up to protect himself and Feliciano. The wings would not serve as enough protection and he knew it. Michael took one more look up and fixed his eyes on Gilbert. He grimaced, which only showed his struggle. Finally, the angel vanished in a small implosion of light, taking Feliciano with him.

Gilbert broke away from Ivan and said, "Coward, he should have stayed to fight." Ivan smiled and said, "Look at the positive, my love. We just proved that together we are able to challenge the power of heaven." The albino leaned forward and kissed the other, his tongue entwining in the other's soft velvety tongue. He pulled away only long enough to say, "Our work here is done." Ivan smiled softly and said, "For now, I think this place may be of use to us again."