***Welcome to my new RusAme fic, everyone! I've missed writing this pairing, so I'm glad to be doing so again. Here is a better summary. Also, this prologue may seem a little strange, but it will all make sense by Chapter 1! Please R&R!

***Warning: Violence, language

***Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia. I am making no money off of this fic.

Summary: While stationed in Russia to help test explosives, Alfred likes to spend most of his time lounging around outside the base. One day he comes upon an ancient, strangely placed cemetery where there stands a mysterious statue of a man. Socially alone in an empty wasteland, Alfred finds comfort in befriending the statue as an actual human. Yet this statue is more than just stone and Alfred will discover a whole other part of himself that was lost in time.

Loosely based of the Greek myth 'Pygmalion and Galatea'.

Fallen Embers: Prologue

Nomadic Russia

Warmth was foreign to him. He had never known real, physical warmth.

He lived in a snowy wasteland with nothing more than a gray sky and white blanket covering the earth. The nights were endless and the snow deep. Snow upon snow would fall from the sky while the sun remained, it would seem, forever encased in darkness. Vegetation was scarce, and hunting even harder. The only animals that roamed these frozen wastes were buffalo, bison, and elk. All traveled in herds, but were near impossible to hunt with just one man alone. He was a man alone. One single, lonely, cold man in a white world full of frost and despair.

It hadn't always been like this. He had been born the middle child, the only son, of a tribal family. An older and younger sister grew up with him, along with their mother and father. The tribe had been small, consisting of five families. His family was the biggest, and they were often frowned upon for it. This used to make his father very angry, and the man would often beat his children. But the son would always take all the heavy beatings himself so that his sisters would not have to suffer. Soon, the beatings became a normal, everyday thing for him. There were no gentle touches from his parents, only from his sisters. His father said the beatings made him strong. He, being the male child, would always have the biggest share of food caught by the men. However, he would never let his sisters go hungry, and would often split the meat with them in secret.

Life among the small tribe was healthy, until one day, something happened that would change his life forever.

Coming back from gathering some berries, he came upon his older sister being ravished by an older man in their tribe. He was a young boy, but knew what was happening and grew angry at the man. Without thinking, he took out his stone axe and rushed to the man, bringing it down onto the spine. The man screamed in pain and rolled off of his sister, struggling to stand. He brought the axe down again, this time upon the man's head. He grinned when the blade smashed through the skull, splattering out bits of brain and blood. He continued to brutalize the man, leaving a large, gaping hole within the skull. He turned to his sister, who was trying desperately to cover her naked body. His younger sister came out from under the blankets and rushed to her, crying loudly. He went over to them, standing protectively in front knowing that soon the other men would come in. He had made such a ruckus that the others would have surely heard.

As he thought, in swarmed the other tribal men. All except his father. That's when it occurred to him that his mother was also absent. If she had been here, then the rape would have never happened. So where were they? Why were his sisters left all alone when he wasn't home?

'You! Shameful boy! What have you done?' Hollered one of the elder hunters.

'He was raping my sister! He deserved death!'

'He was a great hunter! How dare you take life into your own hands! To kill your own is to kill your self.'

The boy glared. 'We have enough men.'

'We need MORE men, not women!' Shouted another. 'You shall be punished for killing your own kind!'

The boy knew what was to come, and ignored his sisters' cries for mercy for him. He let the men drag him out into the snow and away from the village. One man stripped him of all his furs, leaving only his woolen top, breeches, and boots. A swift whack from a small club met his cheek, sending his body spiraling into the snow. His bones had been so cold that the blow was barely felt at all. Yet when the numerous blows, kicks, and punches came, his body had begun to lose its frozen barrier. He would not cry out or beg for them to stop their punishment. He was too proud for that. In his heart, he knew he had done nothing wrong.

When the assaults had finally ceased, the boy's body was trembling with cold, pain, and blood. Around his body lay dark red snow, decorated with his blood. The wind chill bit at his skin and froze the blood on his face. The men only stood around him, shouting shameful remarks. By the time the men were done, the leader had made a cruel decision. He and his sisters were banished from the village, forced to live a life without a tribe. Without a tribe, they would slowly freeze to death or even starve before that. He clenched his eyes closed as the men left him in the snow. Soon he would be out in the frozen world alone with his sisters whom will need protection and food. He would have to be the sole provider for them, and he was only fifteen winters.

Finally he was able to stand and wobble his way back to the village where everyone was awaiting him. Out of all the people he had grown up with, not one had a friendly face towards him. They scorned and jeered at him, whispering insults and spitting out curses. He ignored them, focusing only on his sisters and the new hardships that lay ahead. His furs and belongings were given to him, but only because of the sisters in his care. They packed as much as they could from the hut, taking the most useful objects. He dare not ask where his parents were, for even they would be unable to help. Tradition and tribal pride was more important than family. As the three siblings proceeded to leave, one of the women shouted at him and threw a rock that struck him in the head. Weak and broken from earlier, he crashed into the snow with his sisters screaming. More rocks came their way and the three were forced to flee quickly.

The walk through the heavy snow was taking its toll on them as they made for the woods. He wanted to bring them there so his sisters were out of sight from open predators. The snow would also be less frozen and dense on the forest floor with more spots to conceal the three of them. Their bellies were empty and their bodies were numb. He felt little hope that they would survive more than three days alone without the protection of the tribe. His little sister was already crying and whining for food and shelter. He had to be strong for his sisters now that they were the only people he had in his life. They were family and had to stick together. It would be easier for him to kill his sisters right here and spare them the terrible fate of freezing or starving to death. But that was something he just could not bring himself to do. Never would he forgive himself. When the woods came into view, he gave them a true smile.

'We're here, sisters! Now we can find a place to rest our bodies and I will hunt for us.'

'But it's dark,' said his younger sister.

'It's okay, big brother is with you. Now let's go find a place to rest.'

As he had promised, the snow was less heavy to walk through. He hoped to find something small he could kill just so they could have something to quickly munch on. It would have to be raw; but they had eaten raw meat before. He became concerned when he noticed how quiet the woods were, without a bird or squirrel making noise. Basic survival training told him that there was something around the area, perhaps a predator, which had scared everything away. Gripping his axe, he kept it up and ready to defend his sisters as they traveled on. But it was not long before the three stumbled upon the predators. A pack of hungry wolves had found them, their mouths and fangs fresh with blood from a kill. His sisters held each other and hid behind him. He grit his teeth as the wolves started to surround and approach them, licking their jaws. A pack this large with only himself to fight would prove fatal. It would take every ounce of strength he had just to combat the wild animals.

Then they came at him; snarling, growling, and snapping. He axe swung through the air, knocking away one and then another. His sisters had only sticks to defend themselves with. He struck down another wolf and spun to attack another, but this one tackled him to the snow. He used his arms to block his face from the snapping jaws, finding the right moment to swing his axe. It had caught the wolf in the face and with a mighty yelp it fell off of him. He gasped when he saw his sisters running away and he hollered for them to come back. The wolves ran after them, so he followed.

Weak with exhaustion and cold, the boy was trailing behind the wolves. He watched as his elder sister placed the youngest up high on a branch, keeping her away from the snapping wolves. But in turn, the remaining wolves jumped on her. He tried to get to her in time, but the wolves had already starting tearing at her. He brought his axe down on as many as he could, knocking away the bulk of them. There were only three wolves remaining and the beasts turn to run, having been defeated. He rushed to his bleeding sister's side, propping her up in his lap. She was crying and moaning in pain from the numerous bites and claw marks. He knew he couldn't save her without killing all of them in the process, and she was suffering. Glancing behind to make sure his youngest sister couldn't see the boy removed the dagger from his belt. Softly he stroked her short whitish hair to bring her a tiny bit of comfort before the bone blade was brought along her neck. She choked from the deep gash but he held her close, feeling her body slowly still as life left it. He closed his eyes to acknowledge her death before laying her down in the snow. The ground was too cold to bury her and he did not have the strength or the time to do so. He still had his little sister who needed food and shelter. So with a heavy heart, the two remaining siblings took the furs from their dead sister and continued on their way.

Some time later, with his little sister on his back, the boy found an old abandoned shelter. Immediately he ran to it, slowly inspecting it for any impurities. There were quite a few little issues but nothing he couldn't fix. Using their sister's fur coat still caked with blood, he made sure his little sister was wrapped tight to be warm while he scoped out the area. He did not wander too far from the hut in case she needed him, but he did gather up the necessary items to fix the hut. Before he could fully work on it, food was a necessity. Making sure she was safe again, the boy sharpened a spear from a narrow branch and went on to hunt. There was no time to mourn for his fallen sister even though he wanted too. Both himself and his little sister needed food in their bellies. But the only creature he managed to snag was a rabbit, and not a very large one at that. He frowned at the small kill, knowing that there would never be enough for them here to live. For the time being, such a life will have to do.

A few days go by with the two of them remaining in the hut. He went out to hunt and gather. Yet his sister was growing ill with fever, and it was not lowering. He tried to keep a constant fire going, but the wood was so cold and wet that keeping a steady flame was near impossible. They were always cold. There was only the cold and there was only them. Until one morning, when he awoke with his sister in his lap, she did not stir. He tried to wake her, but quickly realized that the fever had taken her. Holding her small body close to his chest, the boy hummed a lonely tune as he carried her outside. Like his first sister, the ground was too hard and burning was out of the question. Instead, all he could do was lay her in the snow and pile rocks around her body. The mound was small and took little time to do. He wished he could have done so for his elder sister, but now was not the time to dwell on the past. He was still alive, and though it shamed him to say, living would be easier with just himself.

So the years rolled on in frozen loneliness with only himself for company. Everyday he would hunt and return to the hut, then repeat the same process. His life was a mess with no sign of hope or joy. There was only the cold, and there will always be the cold. He would sit in his hut, wrapped in all the furs yet still shivering as his tiny fire burned uselessly. Often he would stare out through the small slit in the door curtain, glaring at the white death that surrounded him. Death and darkness with only the cold to numb his fears. His heart and soul was shrouded with cold and ice, his bones rocks, and his eyes solid. There was no happiness in his heart, only anger and a deep hatred for the world he lived in. Never would he know true warmth. From now until the end of his days, there would only be him and the cold.

Eventually, he felt the madness taking over him. Often he found himself grinning when he had nothing to grin about. He started talking to himself and wandering around aimlessly through the woods. Nothing seemed to make sense anymore, and his mind grew forgetful. The dried old blood on his furs meant nothing to him, and the mound outside his house was just a pile of rocks. He took his axe and let out a bellowing cry, which then turned into manic laughter. He didn't know how long he laughed, but he did start to swing his axe helplessly at the trees around him. No matter how fast and hard he moved that axe, his body was still numb with the cold. At his wits end, the young man dropped to his knees and took out his dagger, aiming the tip at his belly. He did not want a quick death, so a clean stab to the gut will allow him to die slowly. It was what he deserved.

With a deep breath and a dead stare to the gray sky, he plunged the blade into his belly up to the hilt. The pain rippled through him while blood gurgled in his throat. Yet even as his body fell to the snow, he could still smile. A madman's smile. He could feel the life slowly draining out of him, and the cold only grew fiercer as his body began to shut down. 'Always the cold.' He whispered to himself. 'The days are cold. The nights are cold. My life is cold, and dark. Here I will lie…alone in the dark, and cold.' He slowly let his eyes close. 'So very cold…'

'Are you cold?' Came a voice from above him.

He opened his eyes to the sound of the voice. But there was something more than just a voice.

Warmth.

There was warmth coming from in front of him. A heat that was like the sun yet did not burn the eyes to look at it. He stared at the glowing massive orbs coming towards him. Was he dead? He could only lift his head to see the form of a young man like himself; only this man was glowing with golden warmth. The young man was beautiful, the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. He looked upon him with open-mouthed awe, gazing into perfect blue eyes and a smile of pure warmth. The man was like the sun itself. With shaky, blood soaked hands, the man reached out to touch the shining warmth. 'So warm…what are you?'

The being smiled at him. 'I'm a Sun Angel. You can call me 'Light'. You are a human, yes?'

'I…I am.' The man watched as the glowing god knelt before him.

'What is your name?'

'My name?' He tried to remember, but nothing came to him. 'I…I don't have a name…or I don't remember it.' He could not stop staring at the glowing being. 'You are so warm…please, don't leave me.'

The being laughed happily. 'I won't leave you here in the snow! Your soul cried out to me. I heard your sorrow and your pain, so I followed the voice to you.' Light looked at the man's self-inflicted wound. 'Killing yourself will solve nothing.' The being rolled him over and placed warm, glowing hands upon the wound. In an instant, the wound closed and healed. 'Feel better?'

He touched his stomach, no longer feeling the deep gash. He looked up at the being in awe.

'You're beautiful.'

Light blushed. 'I'm only a minor Sun Angel. I am nothing special.' Light held out his hands to the man, helping him to stand. 'Little lost lamb…why do you weep?'

The man did not know it, but he was crying. He brought one hand up to his cheeks to wipe away a tear. 'I weep because…because of your beauty and warmth. Never have I known such warmth! It is something I've always dreamed of! To be surrounded by green trees and grass…to feel the sun upon my skin…to go swimming in lakes and rivers! Yet I am a prisoner in this frozen wasteland.'

Light searched the other's purple eyes and gave a smile accompanied by a playful giggle. Spreading his large golden wings, Light flew a few feet away from the man and up into the air. 'I have the power to grant you this wish of warmth. BEHOLD MY POWER!' Light held his arms up to the sky and a beam of glowing energy struck the snowy earth. The gray sky opened up to bright blue with fluffy clouds floating through. The trees grew back their leaves and the grass regained its color. Iced lakes and rivers cracked, sprouting forth new, crystal clear waters. Last but not least came the shining orb of the sun high in the sky.

The man stared in shock and astonishment at the rapid change in the earth's climate. There was not one bite of cold air to be found. The warm sun beat down upon his face, filling him with a newfound hope of joy and happiness. He couldn't stop himself from dashing through the grass and flowers, shouting at the top of his lungs to voice his pleasure. He splashed around in warm running waters, rolled in fields of wildflowers, shook the green leaves from trees, and laid down in the sun. He was panting from exhaustion and overexcitement, going so far as to even strip himself of all furs. He kept only his scarf on, something he had almost forgotten about since it had been buried under so many furs. Next, he tossed off his fur boots to stand on the soft ground, grinning at the dirt now nestled between his toes. There were chirping birds above him, jumping fish in the stream, and even animals that he had never seen before. This was a paradise!

'Do you like it?' Light asked him as the being flew down from the sky and landed before the man.

'This is more than I have ever dreamed of! Light, you have given me something I thought I could

never have! How can I ever thank you?'

Light smiled cheerfully. 'It was nothing at all. I wanted to see you happy, that's all. When you were crying out to me, I knew that somehow I had to help you. This was your wish, so I granted it. This green area belongs only to you. Keep it as your territory.' He chuckled. 'I love seeing others happy, it gives me great joy.' Light floated over to him. 'And I've always wanted a friend.'

'I will be your friend…always and forever! M-May I…embrace you?'

Light smiled softly and held his arms open to the other. 'Yes, you may. I will let you know true warmth. And…may I call you 'Snow'?'

'Call me whatever you want.' Snow walked into Light's embrace, holding the warm body close to his own. Warm wings surrounded him, encasing him in a cocoon of light. Snow couldn't control the hot, not cold, tears that streamed down his face. This being, Light, had heard his cry, a cry he did not know he was releasing. 'Is this real? Is this a dream?'

'No, Snow; it's not a dream. I know that I am real…and so are you.' Light pulled away from him to smile. 'These are your lands now. No one should have to live in such a cold place! Your life will be different from now on. You will be content and happy. Never will you know the cold again. Your belly will always be full and your flagon always filled. The winter air shall trouble you no longer.' Light started to fly away, but Snow called out to him.

'Wait! Light!'

'What is it?' Light turned back to him, still hovering in the air.

Purple eyes gazed up at him. 'When can I see you again?'

Light laughed happily. 'You want to see me again? Then let this spot in the glen be our meeting place. I shall come to you again tomorrow, just as the sun is rising.'

'I will await your arrival then, Light. Please, don't leave me?' Snow couldn't bare the thought of not having Light's warmth with him.

'We are friends now and I will never leave you. See you tomorrow!' Light flew up into the sun and disappeared from sight.

Snow remained in this spot for some time before turning away to explore the new lands generously given to him.

The next day, Snow arrived at the promised spot and waited for Light to appear. He hoped the being was true to word. It seemed a long while before a ray of warm sunlight beat against his back. Snow turned and looked up to see the descending figure of Light. The corners of his mouth rose up into a smile and he stood to greet the glowing being. The Sun Angel was the same as yesterday, but even more beautiful. Snow felt his heart skip a beat at the sight of the man. 'Light, you came back to me.'

'Of course I did. How could I leave you behind?' Light held out his arms, allowing Snow to embrace him. 'My human.'

'My Sun Angel…my god. The only god I believe in.'

'You overestimate me. I am just a young angel…young like so many others. I am a nobody.'

Snow held him close. 'To me, you are everything! You are my life, my warmth, and my salvation! Shouldn't that tell you enough?'

'Yet there are other angels better than me-'

'To the wolves with those other angels! You are MY angel! My sun! My precious being! To me, you are the sun, the moon, and the stars.' Snow pulled him close so their lips were inches apart. 'You are my ray of light in this dark, cruel world.'

Light gasped softly. 'Me? I am your 'ray of light'?'

'More than that. You are my everything. You gave me warmth and hope…the strength to carry on.'

'You think that highly of me?' Light asked.

Snow smiled. 'I do. We are friends, yes?'

Light smiled, closing his eyes. 'Yes. We are friends.'

From then on, the two beings met every day in the same area. Together, they would write songs, sing ballads, hunt for game, fish, play, dance, and watch the clouds go by. That was Snow's favorite thing to do with Light, watching the clouds pass by. Together the men would lie among the field of sunflowers and point out the shapes in the sky. Day after day, both men grew closer together. Their relationship became so close, that one day, Snow slipped his hand between Light's thighs while cloud watching. Light gave out a gentle gasp and turned to his human friend, whose purple eyes were alive with lust. Light felt and sensed Snow's arousal, spreading his legs to welcome the human between them. In the sight of the sun and sky, the two coupled passionately beneath the cosmos for the first time. Limbs tangled together, moans were exchanged, and the penetration of human into a god was preformed.

After that day, an intimate relation was a daily occurrence in secret, hidden among the sunflower fields. Light would descend upon the earth and greet his human lover with open arms and warmth. Snow, on the other end, would demonstrate his strength and dominance by passionately mating with Light. He would always let his human lover win, and Snow didn't seem to mind. When the human male was deeply seated in him, all of Light's cognitive functions would shut down. He welcomed the feel of the human male inside of him.

Some time later, Snow awaited at their normal place to find that Light was nowhere to be found. Concerned, Snow began to scope the land in search of his light. 'My love, my warmth, where are you?' He longed to have the other in his arms to receive that treasured warmth. He wanted to kiss the warm, soft skin and make love to him. He wanted the warmth of their bodies joined together once again. However, the hours rolled by and Light never appeared. 'Light…my angel…my savior…where are you?'

'I am here.' Light floated down to the open arms of his lover.

'Light!' Snow gently caught his special lover, holding him in his arms. 'I thought you weren't coming!'

Light kissed his cheek. 'I'm sorry. I was delayed. Don't be mad?'

'How could I be mad at you?' Snow kissed him. 'I love you, my Sun Angel.'

'And I love you, my mortal.' Light kissed him deeply, allowing the other to take him right there in the glen. 'More, Snow.' Light begged. 'Fill me with your essence…my love.' Snow pounded into him, groaning at the pleasurable feel of both their bodies tangled together in a pile of limbs.

'My Light…my warmth…my everything.' Snow arched and came deep within the heavenly being. My love, my sun and stars and clouds! How I adore and cherish you!' And it was true. Snow held his warm angel close to his naked body, drinking in the comforting heat. Within Light's arms, Snow felt safe, happy, and most of all, warm.

Word of their relationship soon reached the ears of the main Sun God and all of his subordinates. The Sun God grew angry at Light's traitorous behavior. The Sun God would not stand for it and sent out a few of his minions to stop the relationship between human and deity. The minions surrounded the earth and searched its grounds for the impure lovers. One minion spotted the two near a river. The deity gazed upon them, watching with a disgusted frown as the human caressed one of their own. Horrified and disgusted, the deity reported back to the head minion and Sun God. Hearing of this news, the Sun God grew angry at Light's loose ways and open heart. Full of hatred and rage for the human, the Sun God approached the two while they were cloud gazing. With his arrival, Light jumped up with his wings outspread. He bowed deeply to the Sun God standing before him.

'My lord.' Light whispered. 'To what do I owe this pleasure?' Snow looked at him, and then turned to the Sun God.

'You have been a foolish deity!' Shouted the Sun God. "You willingly spread your legs for some lowly human being! What were you thinking? This is a crime among deity and human kind! You should be ashamed of yourself!'

Light was shocked at first, but then glared at the Sun God. 'This was my choice and no other! I chose to give my life, love, and energy to my human lover! Snow and I are one of a kind! Together we are strong! He is the winter, and I am the summer! You will never take it away from us! I won't have it!'

'Foolish angel!' Growled the Sun God. 'You would choose a lowly human over the likes of your brethren! For shame, Light! An angel never mingles with the likes of disgusting humans! Their race is a parasite upon this good earth!'

'How dare you speak of my lover in such a cruel manner!' Hissed Light.

Snow stepped in then. 'This was our decision! I pushed for it! Light had no dealing in this relationship! It was all me!'

'I doubt that!' Shouted the Sun God. 'I am the Sun and the Bringer of All Life! Light is a child of mine born of pure blood and love! His light, laughter, kindness, and pride outshine that of all other sun angels. This being of which you desire is of my flesh and blood! He belongs with his own kind.'

'NO!' Shouted Snow. 'I WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO DISHONOUR OR DISTROY MY LIGHT!'

The Sun God started to glow brightly with. 'You shall never see Light again! He belongs among his own kind, free of the earthly desires of your race!'

'No! I won't leave Snow!' Light clung to Snow's arm.

'Then you shall be punished.'

'Punish me!' Snow said and pushed Light behind him. 'Punish me instead, and leave him be!'

'SILENCE!' The Sun God held out his hands and a beam of hot light struck Snow, sending the man flying across the ground. Light turned to his father and chose to attack, surprising the god. However, the Sun God was stronger than his angels, and even though Light put up a heavy fight, the young being failed. Dishonored and shamed by his favorite angel's choice of life, the Sun God bound him in a rope of rays.

Snow forced himself onto his feet, gritting his teeth at the god standing with his lover. He saw Light struggling in the binds of light and he let out a battle roar, charging with his axe raised. The Sun God only smiled as he easily dodged all of his blows, still holding Light captive. 'LET HIM GO!' Snow shouted in rage, his eyes flaring with a strange shade of silver.

This stopped the Sun God for a moment, but he lifted himself in the air with Light to avoid any more blows. The Sun God looked into purple eyes that were now shining silver. He could feel all the rage, fury, and vengeance within those eyes. Something was not right about this human.

'SNOW!' Light shouted down with tears in his eyes. 'CALM YOUR RAGE! STOP!'

'GIVE HIM BACK TO ME!' Shouted Snow, his voice heavy and dark. 'GIVE HIM BACK!'

'Light is mine!' The Sun God bellowed. A moment later, he had called upon his minions to attack Snow.

Snow lifted his axe and struck down the first one, making the angel burst into flames. Each angel met his axe and shared the same fate. He would kill all the angels in the heavens to get his lover back, and he wouldn't rest until he did. Once all the minions were gone, Snow turned sharply and looked up at the Sun God. 'I am more than human! Give me back my Light!'

'SNOW! STOP!' Light cried out and in his own rage broke through the rays binding him. He flew from the Sun God and spiraled down towards Snow. Just as his lover opened up his arms, the Sun God had beaten him. He was pulled away from Snow by other angels. 'SNOW!'

'NO!' Snow raced after them but they were high in the sky, unable to feel his blade. The Sun God floated before him, forcing Snow to stop.

'You don't deserve Light or his warmth. Nor any warmth!' From behind the Sun God formed another god surrounded in gray clouds and blowing winds.

Snow felt the familiar chill of winter air and looked in horror upon the god.

'The God of Winter shall see to it that you never feel warmth or happiness again! You shall be punished for attacking heavenly beings.'

The green grass beneath him started to fade away and white snow began to build up in its place. Heavy winds of snowflakes filled the air around them, freezing the water and killing the trees. He was frightened. Frightened that he would lose not only his warmth but Light as well. But Snow was caught off guard by the other angels that suddenly captured him. Their touches, unlike Light's, burned his flesh. Snow tried to break away, but the angels held strong. Snow growled as the Sun God approached him. The Sun God reached his hand out towards Snow's chest, stopping above his heart. Snow hollered in pain as the searing hand burnt through his flesh and gripped his beating heart. Light could be heard screaming his name as the organ was pulled from his body. Snow looked at the bloodied beating muscle now in the palm of the Sun God. Despite its removal, Snow was still living and breathing.

'Punish him.' Ordered the Sun God, dropping the still beating heart into the snow.

'NO!' Light screamed in despair and fear. 'NO, STOP! STOP HURTING HIM!' The Sun Angel could only look on his saddened horror as the other angels brutally began beating his lover. Their hands would burn his skin, their feet kicking and stepping, their wings slicing through delicate human skin. 'Please stop!' He begged the Sun God. 'Why are you doing this? We did nothing wrong! NOTHING!' The Sun God would not answer him, but did call off the other angels. Light let out a choked sob at the twitching and writhing body of his lover. He wanted to run over there and heal all Snow's wounds with his warmth and power. He wanted to hold the man in his arms and wrap him protectively in his wings, shielding him from harm. But to his frightened horror, blue eyes widened when the other angels began to surround him.

Snow forced himself to stand on his hands and knees, gasping for air. He felt the large hole in his chest where his heart once was. His skin was burned and bleeding, bubbling with sores. But he still needed to get to his lover. But up ahead in the snow sat his Light, bound in rays, and surrounded by the same angels who beat him. Snow cried out in rage and wanted to run to Light, but the God of Winter held him back. The strong, cold arm chilled his body save for his eyes. Snow found he could not move from the godly being. 'LIGHT!'

Snow saw his lover look at him sadly with those beautiful blue eyes he cherished. Then, he looked upon in horror as the other angels tore apart Light's golden wings, splattering the snow with blood. Light held in his cries and fell to the ground, bloody stumps now in place of once warm wings. Wings that would embrace him so sweetly now were gone. Snow's heart was aching and the angry tears poured from his eyes. The Sun God had then taken Light's broken body up into the sky, remaining there for Snow to watch. In his ear, Ivan heard the God of Winter speak.

'He is a traitor to our kind. He chose a human lover over a celestial one. Such a crime against heaven and earth cannot be tolerated. Now he shall be reincarnated as a human to suffer that perishable life, over and over again. He is refusing to yield, so now he must die.' The God of Winter let him go.

'Die?' Snow gasped. 'No! No he can't die! HE CAN'T! LIGHT!' Snow called up to him and Light looked down. 'My Light…I love you.' That was the last smile Snow would ever see from his Sun Angel.

A fiery blade ripped through Light's chest, his face a mask of pain and sorrow. Snow watched in wide-eyed horror as the body of his beloved slowly started to burn. Blue eyes closed forever. The warmth and love that Snow cherished above all things suddenly burst into a firework of light, littering the dark sky with embers resembling stars. Snow fell to his knees while the pieces of his lover began to slowly fall all around him. 'No!' Snow tried to grab at each fallen ember, trying to hold on to its warmth. Each one he touched quickly burned out and turned to ash between his fingers. 'No, no, no, no, no, no!' His voice was frantic as he tried and tried again. His Light, the most cherished being in this world to him was now a frozen pile of ash. There would be no more warmth. No gentle hugs or warm caresses…no love making or kissing ever again.

Snow's warmth was gone. Light had been killed because of him, because they chose to love one another. Light had showed him hope and happiness with laughter and welcoming arms. His angel had given the world to him with an open heart. Now, all that was left to him was nothing but snow, ice, cold, and darkness. Always the cold. Always the darkness. Snow threw out his arms and screamed into the gray sky, voicing all his rage and sorrow. He collapsed to the ground, surrounded by the ashes of Light's body. Quietly then, he started to cry. They were tears of endless despair, ones that would never stop.

Why was his life so dark and cold? Why were the gods and heavens so cruel to him? His life had been nothing but a painful, lonely struggle. He had known true love and happiness for only a short moment, but now there was nothing. Everything was back to the way it was before Light. Even though his heart was missing from his chest, his body still felt the heartache of loving his beloved. Oh why wasn't he dying? Why was he still alive?

'Human. You remain.'

Snow glanced up at the old god. 'God of Winter…Bringer of Death…I wish to be with my angel. Why am I not dead?'

'You will be shortly.' Stated the God of Winter. 'But you will never be with your angel, for there is nothing beyond death, only rebirth. But humans do not experience the wonder of reincarnation, only deities do. Humans are born, the live, they breed, and then they die. Useless things.'

Snow still felt the tears falling. 'Please…I beg of you…don't take me away from my Light. I will do anything. Anything, if only I can be with him. I will wait forever if need be. I will wait for my Light to be reborn. Please…please help me.'

The God of Winter looked at him. 'Very well. I will grant your wish. Your spirit will live on with me, bound forever in unbreakable chains. They will be heavy and painful, but it is the price you must bear for becoming one of mine. Your body will be turned to cold stone, and here it will remain forever strong. Nothing can break it, no weather can harm it, and no one can destroy it. Be warned, human, that your spirit will forever suffer the pain and deep sorrow of losing your angel. Never will you know a day of peace without your feelings. It will be a lonely life.' He picked up Snow's beating heart. 'This heart is mine until your angel can obtain it from me. Once he does, the spell will be completely broken and you are free to go with your love. Do you accept?'

'I do.' Snow didn't have to think about it, he would just do it. He would give anything to see his Light again.

'Then stand.'

Snow did as he was told, feeling the ground beneath him start to shake. A piece of earth lifted him from the ground, but it quickly turned to solid gray stone. Soon, Snow started to feel his feet and legs turn to cold stone as well. He looked down and watched as the gray crawled up his body, turning it solid. Snow looked down at the ashes of his lover scattered on the ground and cried a single tear before looking up at the sky. The stone had reached his neck and was now creeping up his jaw and ears. Snow kept his gaze upon the sky, wanting forever to look on in hopes that his angel would soon appear and bring him warmth.

And then there was nothing.

End Prologue