Chapter 10
"True Love"
-1-
Stained silk sheets
Blood, feathers.
Skin.
Rin de Tuilleres wasn’t the dainty aristocratic type, but the sight made her weak. Once glance at the repulsive remains of her wings made her sick. She was paralyzed as she stood over the remains. The possible consequences made her even more ill.
Was she still an Angel ? Having wings was a big part of being an Angel after all. A sheared back, no matter who could see it was a mark of shame. A mark she would have to carry with her forever.
The domineering Demon Prince, Melchoir Dark violently grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the open door of his cottage. On the other side of the door Quinn waits impatiently. Rin resisted against Dark's pull, she didn’t want to go outside like this, even in this place which she began to think of as a hell. A sanctuary of the dammed and cruel.
Dark had carefully dressed the stunned Angel in a silk and lace nightgown—the expensive silk didn’t stick to the wounds on her back. She had stayed still as a statue staring just out the window her face in a painful twist as he dressed her. Dark wasn’t going to kneel in front of her to put her shoes on so she remained barefoot.
Dark looked over to see Quinn make quick eye contact with him. He wasn't going to let Quinn see him bested by a girl.
Dark entwined his fingers around Rin’s and with one more powerful jerk he pulled her outside and began to drag her across the lawn until she finally began to walk. A wet drop fell on to Dark’s hand and he feared she might be crying. He looked up to see the thick slice on the side of her cheek was hemorrhaging blood on to their entwined hands.
He reached into the fold of his somehow still immaculate black vest and handed her a black handkerchief, gesturing to his cheek. Rin grasped the handkerchief and wiped at her cheek, a large blossom of blood formed on the handkerchief.
He hadn’t meant to cut her face. It was the last thing he wanted—to defile any part of her. She was too beautiful for that. He hoped there was some Demon who had the ability to fix it.
“You you know turned right into the knife.” Dark accused her. “It didn’t have to happen.”
None of it had to happen Rin thought to herself. While Dark was familiar with the process of shearing wings, he had never seen it done. He hadn’t expected it to be such a bloody affair.
As they walked across the expansive field, toward the main castle Rin dabbed at her wound. The wind blew through the flimsy gown exposing her knees and pale, cracking skin.
Still of all the damage Dark had done to her, he was not the one she feared the most at the moment. She feared the potbellied man in green who walked ahead of them. Dark could sense her apprehension of Quinn.
“Don’t fear him,” Dark ordered.
“He is the man who chased me to hell," Was all she said.
Dark smiled at her use of the word hell. She did have a good eye to recognize Quinn outside of that ridiculous mask. What she didn’t know was how much a bottom feeding pathetic fool Quinn was.
Dark bent down slightly towards her.
“Now listen. My mother is affected quite a lot by The Melancholy nowadays.” He warned. “She will not smile or extend courtesies, she may be . . . shedding. Be kind. I think it's in your best interest not to say anything.”
“Was she chased as well ?,” Rin asked.
Dark merely sneered and continued to walk, using his wings to keep Rin from straying to far from him. He didn’t trust her.
-2-
As they came closer to the palace, Rin could see the shape of the Queen and another Demon woman with sculpted silvery wings. The two women were standing outside the castle entrance not making eye contact with either Dark or Rin.
With only a several feet between herself and the Queen, Rin stopped dead in her tracks and closed her eyes.
She heard the tempered and static melody of violin string coming from where the Queen stood.
She tried to clear her hopes with each step and not think to much into it as they approached the Queen. But, this was the first music she had heard in Elysia and it was so . . . beautiful.
Suddenly, Cassandra twitched her wings and moved aside and she saw him.
Them.
Rin blinked twice to make sure she was seeing right, but as she got closer the image became more and more clear. A discarded red gift box and pure white ribbon crumpled on the floor, a familiar stoic figure playing a polished, shiny new black and white violin.
Soul !
Seraphim!
She wanted to scream their names, but it seemed improper to interrupt Soul’s beautiful, yet mournful song. Watching Soul’s bow expertly cross the strings and hearing the song swell sent a new feeling through her—happiness. A happiness so powerful it poked holes into the melancholy.
The happiness was momentary.
With mere feet between them, he let out the last long note, a sharp F and his eyes slowly wandered away from the instrument to look up and see her. His milky blue eyes weren’t full of joy, but confusion and fear as he stared at what was left of his once bride.
“Darling . . .what have they done to you ?,” he breathed.
Rin had no words, she felt as if she were covered in a veil of shame when she really had no reason to be. She suddenly realized how he was seeing her. She was smattered in blood, thin, pale and holding hands with a Demon in a partially unbuttoned shirt and while herself was barely dressed.
The short time in Elysia had changed her into a shell of who she was physically. Not to mention the new scars and bruised at Dark’s treatment. She could still feel blood pumping out of the cut on her cheek.
The silence was quickly interrupted by Dark.
“Mother, what is this bitch doing here ?,” he jeered at his sister-in-law.
“Cassandra has given me some information--,” The Queen began
“I’m about to screw you over , dear brother,” Cassandra interrupted and then her voice sounded almost concerned. “ Are you mad ? Have you finally lost it, Dark ?”
“I am fine. I had every right--,”
“To take her ? No you did not,” Soul interrupted a new anger in his voice.
Dark smiled at him and Soul felt shivers down his back
“What right I had is not negotiable anymore. The Laws of Elysia and The Nature of Things state that once her shade is here, it cannot go back. No matter what. Isn’t that correct Mother ?”
The Queen nodded, but folded her arms
“I know, Dark. But--,”
“And we must respect the laws, correct Mother ?,” he taunted her ” We must respect the King ? We must honor him, isn’t that what you are so fond of saying ?,”
She was quiet. Regretting her words at their previous lunch
“He loves her.” She said quietly
“He does not !,” Dark shouted, his voice booming across the lawn. “If he loved her he would have killed himself and become a shade to be with her.”
“I considered it.” Soul said turning to the Queen.”But, it would have been selfish. I have a family. I can’t just die and leave them I have a . . . mother.”
The Queen rested a hand on her cheek.
“You don’t have to explain anything to me," she reassured Soul.
She walked over to her son and looked him square in the eye.
“I wanted to turn my head away from this disaster and what you have done, like always. But I can't because I believe he truly loves her. Soul Lyre wrote that beautiful song for her. Just for her.” The Queen turned to Rin,”I just have one question of you, Lady De Tuilleres. Do you love him ?”
“With all my heart.” The words left her mouth easily and she saw the Queen smile. It lit up the older Demon's face beautifully.
“It doesn’t matter,” Dark snapped. “Shades can’t be taken to Eden, they can’t survive there. If he wants to be with her so badly he must kill himself and become a shade. I have a noose, would you like to try it on ? “
“ . . .I can’t do that.“ Soul repeated.
“True love. Somehow I doubt it,” Dark scoffed.
Soul hadn’t known Shades couldn’t survive in Eden. He felt tears welling into his eyes at the defeat, but kept his expression determined.
“Go.” Rin whispered. ”My love, go back. I’m not who I was. Don’t subject yourself to this place, to this existence don’t consider it for even a moment. You can never imagine how cruel . . . Just go and remember me as I was.”
Soul paced over to her and kissed her neck, she kept his hands from enveloping her and as he pulled away from the kiss, blood smeared his chin.
“Never. I’m not leaving without you.” He whispered.
“Enough.” The Queen interrupted and turned to Cassandra. " Stand watch, my dear."
"Watch ?," Cassandra questioned.
Before she could get an answer, the Queen hurried over to the castle doors and gestured to Soul. “Follow me.”
Soul followed eagerly, Seraphim after him and then Rin, who against her own will was still holding hands with Dark. The Queen led them into the castle and down a spiral staircase into the crypts of the castle.
Rin caught up to Seraphim briefly and touched her on her cheek. She’s only been in Eden 3 years or so and yet Seraphim was so brave and strong to come all the way down here to get her.
As the descended the 3rd staircase, Dark was suddenly able to piece together where the Queen was leading them.
“Mother, what are you doing ?,” he shouted at her.” You can’t be so stupid ! Stop this!”
She easily ignored her son’s protest as they reached the basement floor and using a key around her neck opened a set of massive bronzed double doors.
"Mother," he chastised her.
The room inside was lit within by a dozen large gold chandeliers. From floor to ceiling the space was lined with gold shelves and sitting on every shelf was a tinted glass bubble, filled with a small amount smoke. Thousands of glass bubbles sat on the shelves in a never ending array of color and light. The glossy surfaces reflected against the chandelier and bounced off the walls.
The Queen passed easily through the shelves.
“What is this place ?,” Soul asked in a whisper.
She gave him a half smile. The smile surprised Dark—he never saw his mother smile like that. Like she was a girl and she was being coy.
"Mother, don't--,"
“These are all the life souls of Angels, Demons and even humans.,” she explained. “The very precious essence of life.”
She stopped short at a shelf in the very back.
“What do you do with these ?,” Soul asked.
“The King guards them and keeps watch over them. Keeps them in order,” she explained. “Other than that, absolutely nothing.”
“Yes,” Dark added. “They are the Kings very precious property and if he discovers you’ve been in here, he will have your head. Mother, you know the King just needs a reason from us.”
She ignored his comment and grasped a glass sphere etched with Rin’s name in gold.
“You cannot keep Rin’s shade to Eden," The Queen said "But you can take her soul and reunite it with her body and she can live again. You see in essences . . . all these souls represent a second life.”
Soul was quiet as he took in what she was telling them.
“Mother,” Dark hissed.” Stop this. How can you share that with them ? What will happen when all the Angels and Demons discover they can get a second chance at life. They will revolt and it will be all your fault--,”
“I won’t tell.” Soul answered
“Neither will I,” Rin followed. "I just want to go home.”
“People will ask questions.” Dark warned.
Despite his hatred for his father, Dark never wanted to upset the King enough that he would kill. Dark didn't want to die before he had his opportunity to kill his father.
As usual, Seraphim was forgotten about in the ensuing argument. For once she was thankful for this as she looked over the shelf to see a sphere marked with Rin’s brother’s name. She very carefully let her hand rest against the gold shelf and crawled her fingers across the top.
***
-3-
With Rin’s soul still in her hand, The Queen opened a backdoor in the basement that led to the outside. Just a few steps beyond the door was a mighty river rushing towards a great waterfall.
“Now listen.” She said to Soul,” I will give her your soul and you all three will walk single file into that river and into the falling water—it is a short cut to Eden. Her shade will only last maybe one day--if that-- in Eden so you must get to her body."
Soul nodded in understanding, still perplexed by the turn of events.
"But, you must listen to this; the most important rule," The Queen said looking him in the eye "Once you begin walking you cannot look back. Do not look back. No matter what.”
“Why ?,” he asked.
“You can’t have any regrets when you take someone's soul," she answered an intensity in her voice. "It is just The Way of Things. Do you understand ?,”
He nodded and reached for the soul, taking a quick glance at Rin.
The last one until they both reached Eden.
She wanted to give a smile, but she couldn't remember how.
“I hope you understand," Dark interrupted."That once my mother hands over that soul you have sent The Queen to her death. The King will know a soul is missing and he will kill her. Is your love worth it ?”
Soul hesitated and his hand dropped.
“I don’t care.” The Queen said, stepping closer to Soul.” If I die, I will die happy thanks to what you have given me.”
“No--I didn't give you anything," Soul said.
“Your music," she smiled "In all my years trapped in this castle I have never heard anything so beautiful And watching you play, brought me more joy than I have ever been allowed to know. And If I must die, please know I die happy knowing I have helped two people in there cause for true love. I am outliving my usefulness here, my day is coming soon anyway.”
A tear slid down the Queen's cheek, but she didn't try and brush it away. She was feeling the kind of sadness that also made her feel mind numbingly hopeful.
"Thank you," Soul whispered as he reached out and took Rin's soul.
It was light, he could barely feel it in his hands. There was a source of warmth in the center and he was sure it smelled like her.
"Go," The Queen urged,"I will ensure the girls are right behind you."
Soul turned his back to Rin and began walking towards the river. It was only 15 steps to the waterfall. 15 steps and he would spend the rest of his life beside Rin de Tuileres--making all this a horrible nightmare.
When he had gone five steps Rin turned to the Queen, gave the woman a small half hug and followed after Soul. Seraphim followed behind.
Dark watched powerless, but not without a plan. He had his own ability,one he had yet to share with anyone in that room. His ability to distort perception.
Soul felt reassured as he heard Rin's footsteps behind his. He splashed into the river and with careful sloshing steps headed for the waterfall. As he approached the deep end of the river, he stopped short. He realized he hadn't heard Rin get into the water. It was as if she had stopped at the river bank and decided not to get it in.
This was their trick, he thought. They were going to force him to walk to the other side of the river and they would hold her back so, he went back alone. He could leave without her shade and they would rip it up and she would never come back. After all he had no proof this little glass ball container her soul. This could all be a trick.
"What trick is this ?," He asked turning to come face to face with Rin. She had been standing mere inches behind him, and yet somehow her footsteps has been silenced.
“No,” the Queen whispered, her face dropping..
“If you loved her you wouln't have looked back,” Dark teased,"Not so sure she is faithful are you ?,"
The Demon Prince begins to flap his wings, sending a vibration through the ground. It is just enough energy to throw Soul off balance and Rin's soul bounced out of Soul's hands and rolled to Dark’s feet. The vibrations of his wings reach back the room beyond the door and glass bubbles begin to break and tumble to the ground.
Not all of them are damaged, but just enough are to make a difference.
Dark doesn't notice this as laughs at how easily the half-human was fooled.
Releasing Cronus from his sheath, Dark smashes the bubble containing Rin's soul--eliciting an agonizing scream from Rin. He watched as the shade of the girl began to distort until it exploded into a ring of fire and her ashes floated as if on an invisible wind into the bubble, which had now resealed itself.
The invisible winds roll the ball into the river and Soul grabbed quickly for it, but it evades him and flows right through the waterfall.
"What just happened ?," Soul shouted to the Queen,"What did he do to her ? Where is she ?,"
"I don't know--I've never seen I---," The Queen stammers.
They all stand in silence, in the distance the Queen can hear the King's knights questioning Cassandra on the Queen's whereabouts. Dark begins to think he acted to brash, but won't give himself the luxury of regret. In his mind whatever has happened and will happen is a chain his mother started when she brought them to the soul room.
Seraphim cracks the stillness and runs into the river, takes Soul's arm and launches them both through the waterfall and away from the place of nightmares.
She does not look back.
-4-
Once on the other side, Soul drops to his knees in the river.
"It must be in here. Her soul--or shade or whatever it is now. It came through the water, it must be here," he repeats, his voice cracking as his hands search the river.
His holds his face to the river searching for just the glint of glass.
Seraphim stared into the waterfall they have just passed through to see nothing on the other side but, a smooth sheet of rock. She wonders if Elysia is really on the other side.
"We will find her, Soul." Seraphim reassured him, touching his arm. She empties her pockets to reveal Gabriel's stolen Soul. "We will reunite them."
Soul's eyes glaze over the name, but it doesn't seem to cheer him up.
"No we won't reunite them." Soul replied darkly, giving up his search momentarily."Seraphim, Gabriel's body was burned. There is nothing of him left.You know that."
Only she hadn't known that. No one had bothered to tell her. She had risked all of this on a false dream.
Now, here they were less than what they had started with.
Without thinking Seraphim let the ball drop out of her hands and float out into the river.
"There," she said, her voice unsteady. "They are both wandering souls. Never to be found and bound to their rightful bodies. Perhaps they will find each other and find some way to break this . . . curse."
Soul stands up next to her
“You're wrong.," he remind her. "Rin still has a body.I will find her soul, even if it takes my lifetime I will find her. I have to."
"I know, I--."
She stops mid-sentence with a sorrowful expression crawls over her face.
"What is it ?," Soul starts,"Seraphim !"
Seraphim's eyes are dim as she points over the bank. Soul follows with his eyes to the cavalry of knights and guards from the De Tuilleres house coming toward them.
Their weapons drawn.
***
Cassandra is quick in bringing her husband their afternoon tea. It is an white tea blended with a tart reddish berry he acquired from Eden after being exonerated on suspicion he killed the bride. He kept his promise and hadn't told anyone he was the first to find the girl's body.
However he never promised not to tell when he witnessed the groom and the little angel burying the bride. He would have never thought Soul Lyre capable of such a cruel act, but why else would he have disappeared for days.
Cassius would have found a trial a bit more exciting, but De Tuileres family was angry.
Shoot on command worked just as well.
Cassandra nudges him playfully with her elbow, pulling him out of his thoughts and holds out the tea. He grasped the delicate cup and holds it to his lips. He savored the taste of the blend--Demons would likely never be allowed into Eden after all this and he may never get a hold of the delicately tart berry again.
He motioned for Cassandra to sit in his lap. They usually spent the afternoons discussing current events and family drama. This week they were one in the same.
“The Queen is dead,” he says.
She knows this, but nods her head.
“And that troublesome 8th Prince too.”
At this Cassius lip quivers a smile.
“I love you.” He says to her
“I love you, too.”
----