Chapter 2

"Avenge"

-1-

The lunch hour was becoming increasingly unbearable. I had somehow placed myself at a table with my two cousins who had just gotten married and only wanted to talk abo

ut their spouses. I loved them dearly but, I was beyond polite conversation.

The menu was a healthy stew with assorted quiche. I had personally picked the menu but, I sent my plate back with most of the food still on it. My stomach and mind were busy going in loops.

What exactly killed Gabriel ? What would my father say to me ? And worst of all what if he wasn’t really dead ? If his death was some kind of fake, I would feel so betrayed.

As people started to move about I made a quick escape for the door without any good byes. I was in the hallway when out the corner of my eye I saw Seraphim had followed after me. I regrettably turned towards her and took her hand.

“Seraphim, I need to be alone for a little while.”

I had to ignore the hurt expression on her face. Usually, we were quite the inseparable pair.

“Where should I go ?,” she asked.

“Well . . . you should take the tour. Mother tells the sweetest stories and you’d be surprised the places in the palace you have never seen. You really should cozy up to her more anyway," I said with fake enthusiasm.

She nodded her head and left while I continued down the hall.

                                                                                                              -2-

The council room was a distance walk, it was all the way in the public wing of the palace. Usually, I would  take a carriage to that side of the palace but, I didn’t need anyone knowing where I was going.

 As soon as I was out of earshot of the party I sprinted the distance. I was wearing boots instead of dress shoes so, I  had some tractoon but it made

 a horrible clip clopping sound. In about 10 minutes I made it to the beginning of palace’s public wing.

I swung opened the doors leading to the infamous  Hall of Mirrors and I was halfway through the Hall  when someone jumped in front of me, flying out of nowhere.

An expletive slipped my lips as I tripped over myself in shock and the demon’s dark leather shoes touched  the ground and he landed.  He folded his wings back, turned his back to me and continued to wonder

 slowly down  the hall like he hadn’t just jumped in front of me.

I wanted to just walk past him so I could get to my destination but, I knew I couldn’t be rude to a guest—especially his kind.  I would never hear the end of it.

“Enjoying your visit ?,” I asked

He kept wandering the hall.

“I like this room,” he commented.

“Good,” I said

I should have told him this wing was closed and he should be with the other guests, but I just  continued on my way.

“What do you call it ?,” he asked

I halted, sighed to myself and pointed to the gold plaque in the middle of the hall.

“It is the Hall of Mirrors. It is called that because  there was so much glass put into every chandelier and every decoration. It is very beautiful, I think.”

The Hall was quite impressive and a popular spot during open hours. Each piece of architecture had been decorated like a crown jewel and it reflected the light from the open roof wonderfully.

The demon walked closer to me.

“You are very beautiful, I think.” he observed taking my hand and letting his lips graze it.

His touch  sent uncomfortable shivers down my body. I snatched my hand away

“Th-thank you. I have to go.” I said.

“Melchoir Dark,” he said.

“Excuse me?,”

“That is my name. Melchoir Dark. You may call me Dark.”

“Alright.” I said

“What can I call you ?,”

“You know my name.” I said, “But you know all the other guest are in the main hall so maybe you should--,”

“I’d like to wander this . . . Hall of Mirrors for a while.” He said, ”If that is alright ?”

“Fine.” I said

He placed his gloved hand on my back, sending tingles down my body.

“What kind of Angels don’t have wings ?,”

I pushed his vile hands away from my body. How dare he.

“Sorry to keep you.” He said

He pulled one of his feet slightly off the ground and let his wings carry him backwards as he ascended towards  the ceiling and went in slow circles above the hall.

I turned my attention to where I was going and continued on, shaking off the encounter.

***

I finally made it to the council room. The room was large and ornate, like most places in the palace. Against the wall was a large painting of my father and then paintings of my family.

The room has rows of seats for the public to sit and then a round of chairs for the council members. The room is busy usually   but, today it was empty.  Only  my father and  2 other chief advisors sat in their designated seats. I sat in a chair opposite them.

Father wasted no time getting down to business.

“Rin, the information I am going tell you is very important and extremely sensitive. We don’t need this getting out. Do you understand ?,”

I nodded my head.

So Gabriel is really dead.

“I understand. Tell me,” I said.

They exchanged looks and my father stood.

“We had a conflict with some demons,” he finally said.

“Demons ?,” I questioned, thinking about the Demon I had just met outside. If I had known they were behind Gabriel’s death I would have never been so cordial to them.

Since the beginning of time we Angels and the Demons have lived a separate yet very equal  existences. Respecting the others opinions, views and practices, no matter how much they differ. And  none visiting the other without a direct invitation. There has never been any real strife or cause for uprise. They were no better or worse than we were.

“Some very specific Demons,”, he continued,”Ones that have been playing in the human world. You see there was a Demon woman who had a child with a human--,”

“How is that even possible ?,” I questioned. There was no getting to the human world as far as I knew.

“That is what we wanted to know. The demon woman who had the child keeps herself well protected with a small cult of demons. Somehow us asking questions got them upset---we sent Gabriel and things must have gotten violent. One of the cult defected after they killed your brother and came to tell me the truth . . . I have seen the body, regrettably.”

“All this over a child ?,” I questioned angrily.

“Not a child.” Father said, “ The child she had is nearly an adult. He is believed to have intimate knowledge of the human world. We’ve never had anyone like him here before, we didn't know if he is a threat. If our informant is correct, this person is a threat."

“What are the Demons doing about this ? It is one of their own who caused this ?,” I asked

“We are not sure we can share this information with them. We are not sure if we will have their full trust. The only ones who know about this are in this room.”

“What happens now ?,” I asked.

There was a silence and the older woman on the council raised her hand.

“We start over, we gather more intel--,” she began.

“No.” I said,” That is absurd. I refuse to let someone who took my brother from me live any longer. Send me and I will finish the job. Blood for blood, right ?”

“We cannot risk you,” my father said.

“What risk ?” I said clinching my fist,” I’m more of a fighter than anyone in this room and I do not know failure. If not me . . . who else will do it ?”

“You have your duties here,” a councilman said, “If you--,”

“If I die ?,” I questioned, “Excuse my arrogance but, that won’t happen.  If you don’t allow me to go I will just go on my own.”

My father breathed a sigh and exchanged looks with his councilmembers.

Revenge killings weren’t a common occurrence between Eden and Elysia, but blood for blood was always an understood rule.

“You leave a midnight.” he half-smiled.

I slowly unclenched my fist. The decision had made before I even stepped into that room. My father knew what I would do if he gave me the identity of my brother’s killer.

He just wanted me to fight for it.

***

-3-

I turned the dial until the oil in my lantern was lit at its brightest. Holding the lamp far in front of me I  carefully stepped down a few of the steps that took me underneath the palace and into the  dungeon.  I leaned over the railing and kept my foot in the door to keep some light in.

“Casper ?,” I called,” Casper ?,”

Not hearing an answer back I moved my foot and went completely into the pitch black dungeons. As I touched the wet floor my lantern lit up the face of the smiling middle aged craftsman.

His matted brown hair lay unevenly on his head, his pupils were extremely dilated and he had a very odd crooked smile.

“A raccoon has come to visit me !,” he grinned.

 I smiled politely as he made fun of my smudged eye make up.

“I’ve been expecting you today,” he said

“I know. As you know I am going somewhere and I need some protection--,”

“Yes, yes, yes.” He said leading me down the hall.

Casper’s steps were uneven and dragged on  because of his crooked leg. He relied heavily on his handmade walking stick as we walked down the dark hall.

“ Tell me where you will be going,” he said, “Or what you will be doing and I can pick a weapon fit for your protection.”

“I can’t tell you any of that,” I admitted

He paused and turned, pushing his cane deep into the ground for balance.

“It seems I was having  a similar conversation with Gabriel just a few weeks ago . . .,” he trailed off and then he made some wheezing noises,” I’m sorry I missed the memorial service upstairs . I’m a bit sick and I forgot. I tend to tune out what goes on up there--,”

“You know  Casper, there are very nice apartments upstairs you can live in--,”

“I prefer it here.” He said.

“That seems a little crazy to me,” I said.

“You say crazy as if it is an insult ,” he laughed

I made an indiscreet sound as we continued down the hall. It seemed to go on forever until he reached a locked door and went into the weapons depository. This room was well lit and lined with rows and rows of shiny weapons.

“I suppose I will let you take your pick,” he mumbled, stepping back.

He talked to himself in the corner as I looked along the rows and rows of equipment.  A shining silver and gold pistol caught my eye. I picked it up and looked at it.

“Just did that one. Gilded in gold, iron bullets, loads again within 1 minute, good for long distance,” Casper listed.

I kept the pistol in my hand but, I kept browsing the rows of bows and arrows, firearms, swords. The pistol would be good for a spot attack but, I needed something for defense. Still, none of it interested me.  I stared for a while before making eye contact with the slightly mad and lame smith.

“Your staff, Casper.” I said

He looked at the staff in his hand and spun it around in the ground.

“Casper,  if I give you money for a new one, will you give me that one.”

“But Rin, it’s not really a weapon-,”

“Yes it is.” I said, “It’s made of iron and bronze,  right ? The end has a retractable blade, I saw you use to get up hill once. Plus, the staff  will make walking easier.”

“I’m not sure,” he said, gripping the staff.

“Death by it will be a very long and drawn out process. The intended victim would suffer,” I explained, “ I mean if, I were to kill someone.”

He chortled and leaning against the wall he threw me his staff.

“Come on,” I said,” I will help you to a carriage.”

I walked over to him and Casper leaned against me as I helped him up the stairs. He was a bit shaken by the afternoon light but, I helped him through the palace and to the carriages outside. I gave him well over 1,000 dollars for a new cane and waved off the carriage.

Knowing Casper ,he would spend a good half of it on betting and alcohol but, that was fine with me.

***

I headed back to my suite with the two weapons in hand. As I closed the door to my room and headed towards by chest,  I noticed something sitting on my bed.

I walked over to see an abnormally large yellow daffodil on the silk duvet. The petals were huge, each the size of my hand. A napkin with writing was sitting beside it.

Much prettier than lilies, no ?

I turned to see if I had any company. The room was empty.The only thing out of place was my balcony window.

 It was open.

 I went over to shut the expansive window and I caught a glimpse of the East Gardens.

I recognized Seraphim  sitting on the bench underneath the new statue of Gabriel. I walked out to the balcony and called down to her. When she was looking up at me I motioned  for her to come up to my room.

  I put the pistol in my drawer and within minutes she was at my door

“How was the tour ? ” I asked

“Wonderful,” she said “ I had never seen the grand ballroom before. I missed you though. Oh, and  after the tour, your mother said we shouldn’t wear black to the concert tonight. I picked out a dress you might like--,”

“Did you open the balcony window ?,” I asked