Chapter 4

"Revenge"

-1-

The night was  black and silent as my carriage made it’s way across Eden. I was re-reading my notes by the glowing yellow-ish electric  lamplight and it was proving hard. The carriage sauntered past the tributary where the rivers met and then it slowed down. It would only go so far and I knew where I would go from there. When the carriage finally stopped I quickly got out.

“Alright,” I said to myself.

The driver wasted no time  turning around and abandoning me. When he was out of sight  I blindly secured the metal  knee high covers over my boots. I protected my wrist with the metal cuffs. A choker went around my neck and a breastplate beneath my dress. I had all of the bleed out points covered—it was the only body protection I was offering myself.

  I held the walking stick into my hands and stepped into the woods.

I walked until daybreak—nearly 5 hours  until I reached the Olympus Mountains. One of the many things separating us from the Elysia were the large mountains. I had walked as far up the mountain range as I could but,  the landscape was becoming too jagged.

Breathing to myself I unlaced the back of my dress, I then went to the strings on my corset and finally undid the back brace. My bare back was met with the cool mountain air.

Taking a deep breath I arched back, braced myself and the large white wings expanded and stretched. It was a feeling of absolute bliss as the wings continued to shake themselves out.

After I gained my composure back, I moved the wings through my body and adjusted to the feeling.  I steadied myself and  carried my body upwards. I moved eastward and headed across the mountains. I soared higher and higher above the mountains and let my body guide me into the morning.

I had never flown much before. Nothing beyond the usual private lessons. To an Angel, their wings are  sacred,  much unlike the Demons.

We do not like to separate ourselves from the human angels.  They never have wings and never will so  we see no reason to show off. And of course  there is no reason to use wings. It is only right keep them braced behind undergarments.

To an angel baring your wings is like baring your soul. A very private activity or moment one rarely engages in. I have never even told Seraphim we Angels have wings. It is just not something one discusses in public.

I cascaded into an even pace and mentally went over what I had read in the ride over. As liberating as flying was, I didn’t feel free. I felt fearful for my life, this was all business.

An informant had given the location of the cult in landmarks. They were located in a valley between Elysia and Eden. The notes said if I wasn’t careful I could end up in Elysia which was very close by. If that happened I can only imagine the uproar it might cause—an uninvited Angel in Elysia

I slowed down and looked around until I saw a large ‘C’ shaped rock hanging near a cliff. I flew down to it and saw the opening of a valley.  The valley was a considerable distance down, I was beginning to think it was a crevasse when I finally saw grass.

I was going to touch down to the ground when I saw a house in the distance. It was a rather large house, made of black stone with a  stone fence around it.   I stayed in the air and looked down at it from  a distance.

A gold coin was welded into the fence.

A pile of chopped wood in the backyard.

One unbridled white horse in the backyard.

All of the markers were there. This was the home of the Demon-Human, the last place my brother probably saw.

I had no idea if anyone was home or not. Before, I left Father advised me  the informant had  told them the best way to look inside the dwelling was through the high window facing the sun.  I quietly descended until I was on top of the roof on the sun facing side. Crouching down I peered into the window to see what looked like some kind of weapon making or torture room.

In the middle of the room were the carcasses of 2 sheep. I nearly vomited at the sight of the innocent animals laid to their deaths so cruelly. They had been completely gutted with the look of shock still on their faces as they stared at me. The rest of the room was piled with wood and large sheets of brass. 

The animal blood looked fresh. Which meant someone had killed the animals not long ago so, someone must be insi—

A searing tingle went through one of my wings and I screamed in pain and shock as an arrow went through the sensitive appendage.

I looked to see a group of 5 or 6 Demons with bows and arrows positioned up at me. While their wings were not out, I could tell what they were by their opaque eye color. I immediately swooped down.  These must be the ones who  were guarding the Demon-Human. They were acting awfully violent, but I wasn’t here for a fight, I was here for only one.

I took the white tissue out of my pocket as I came closer.

 “I intend no harm. I just want to see him.” I said,  hovering above the ground.

They paused for a second and turned to each other but, continued  shooting  the arrows at me.  I lifted myself up as high as I could go with one damaged wing. I surveyed the entire scene and I saw two figures run out the back of the house and get on to a horse.

One of the people was wearing a face cover and had no wings.

That must be him.

I went at full speed in his direction and descended quickly, using the force of gravity and my body to push the two figures from the charging horse. They both fell but, the horse was spooked and kept running.  I saw one figure had rolled over and was a woman.

“You-,” she started put went into a coughing feet. She was an older Demon woman, she must be the mother.

She wasn’t who I wanted to see.

I walked over to the other person. The one wearing a protective shield over his face. I knocked away his sword

“ARE YOU HIM ?,” I shouted,” Are you the half human half demon? Are you the one who had my brother killed ? Be honest and I may spare you.”

It was a lie of course.

I would not spare him. I couldn’t.

He shook his head but, his arms moved wildly.

I took the staff from it’s place at my side and delivered one blow to the side of his helmet.

“On your knees,demon.” I ordered.

He complied, I could hear his men getting closer. I had to make this quick.

I speedily bound his hands behind his back putting him in a position of execution.

I hit his side and he fell over.  I pinned him to the ground with my foot and retracted the blade in staff. I undid the top of his shirt and I saw blood from his face pooling onto his chest.

“You killed my brother. He was the heart of my family and I find it fitting to take yours,” I said,”Blood for blood.”

I held the blade over his beating heart  as I reached down to remove his mask. He would not hide from me. He could not. He was pathetic if I could take him down so easily.I pierced a hole in his chest when suddenly my own chest began to tighten and I felt on the verge of losing consciousness.  

His face.

It was covered completely in blood everywhere except the few spots where tears had washed it away.

Still, I could see. He was young.  Perhaps my age and there was true terror in his face.

“m-mm. . . me-em,” he whispered.

“What ?,” I said

“Mercy,” he pleaded, “Mercy.”

I suddenly had the urge to cry but fought it. What was wrong with me ?

I took the staff away from his chest and stuck it into the ground

He laid on the ground clutching his side and looking off to the arrow bearers who were finally closing in on me.I could not tear my eyes of him, off this man. There was something fiercly Demonic yet, delicately human about him. In that second of  weakness, my arms were grabbed from behind and I was dragged back by a group arrow bearers.

***

-2-

No,No,No,No.

I had failed. Something had stopped me from my duty and now they had me. Just as they must have had Gabriel. 

They had bound me in a chair, blindfolded me with my wings bared and my arms tied with a strong chord that cut into my wrists each time I tried to work it. I had been left alone for hours in the parlor or the small house. I felt vulnerable and exposed, fearing for my life and dignity.

l I heard the door open and the creaking floorboards indicated someone had walked in. It was followed by the soft pitter pat of someone else walking in--someone barefoot most likely.

“Untie that.” a male voice said. I vaguely recognized it as the man who had asked for mercy.

My blindfold was taken off and I saw the woman from earlier. I sensed the man was behind me somewhere.

“Why are you the second person who has come to harm my son ?,” she asked

“You know why,” I spat at her. I felt like a failure and I was vulnerable, but I would not let these people see it.

“A long time ago a stupid young girl  fell in love," the woman said sternly "I made a mistake. I have been punished by my own kind and turned into a pariah. I harm no one and most have forgotten about me so, Why are you Angels so bent on  punishing us ?,”

I suddenly noticed the marks in her back where her wings had been sheared. A mark of immense shame among the Demons

“You killed my brother,” I said.

She grimaced in pain and  stumbled. She lifted her blouse and I saw a dark stain forming on her stomach.

"Oh-," she began

"Go to Pius," the male voice said

A shocked sound left her mouth and she quickly left from the room. 

The man in the room was behind me and I could not see him. I sensed he was still there even though he remained silence for a long while.

 “We killed no one.” the man behind me said.” The man, Gabriel came here and asked questions. I’ll admit there were some disagreements, but he left here very much alive.”

“What kind of disagreement ?,” I asked

“Gabriel seemed to think I should be regulated by Eden since the Demon Prince wasn’t regulating me—as if I were a threat.  You all seem to think because I’m different I’m some kind of monster. I didn’t kill him--,”

“We have an informant who says differently.” I explained.

There was a long pause and a heavy sigh.

“There has been some talk of some of my mother’s friends plotting my death to get back in the good graces of the Princes. Maybe get their wings and statuses back . . .”

“Convenient story.” I said.

“ I only bring it up because 3 of our men have gone missing since Gabriel left. Demons are cruel creatures at heart, plotting my death to end their shame isn’t all the improbably. I’m not a child that needs to be protected anymore and they want their lives back. Tricking an Angel to kill me by enovoking blood for blood would only delight the Princes more.

It’s was a clever idea. Had I been blinded by the idea of a human/demon hybrid creature that I didn't think maybe he wasn't a killer ?

 I heard some creaking and the sound of the man’s breathing getting closer to me.  He  was standing right behind me, his labored breaths on my neck. He turned my chair around with a low grunt and I saw a simple sofa against the wall. He walked towards the sofa barefoot and  laid down on it and looked at me.

"I'm sorry, I can't stand now. I took an awful spill of a horse . . .," he said.

The blood was gone from his face, he was shirtless and something about him sent shivers through my body. My wings began to flutter uncontrollably and I felt restless.

I saw honesty in his face. I felt it.

I thought about how I had easily knocked him off his horse and he sloppily maneuvered that sword. No real demon or killer would have been that sloppy.

“You must be Gabriel’ sister  . . . Rin.  Before the disagreements Gabriel and I had some good conversation., He told me of your palace, he stayed for a day as a guest.  I am no murderer."

“Who are you ,then ?,”

“My name is Soul Lyre,” he said.

 “Soul ?,” I said,”Your name is Soul ?,”

“Yes.” He said,” My mother knows that Angels value the human soul more than anything. She was hopping if the Angels ever did retaliate hearing my name would remind you I have a soul.

“I will tell you what I told your brother. We have nothing, we live on the fringes and I am a simple man. My mother goes into town every week and is still scolded for her deeds. I don’t leave for fear of retaliation. I am no threat, I don’t want to hurt anyone , I just want to be accepted.”

My heart beat quickly at his words. I sensed a calm in him. My heart was aching for how I had hurt him. These were my feelings but, I had no idea how they came to be. I trusted this stranger.

“I believe you,” I said,” I do. There is a pistol in my garter.”

I admitted it as a sign of truce.

He weakly kneeled before me and I winced as his hands lifted my skirt. My wings began to flutter with nonstop causing a sound like a hundred butterflies. After fumbling with the garter holding it in place, he quickly took the pistol  and dropped it to the ground.

“I’ve never touched a weapon until today,” he said.

“It shows,” I said.

I jerked my leg causing my hem to go back down.

“ I just realized how rude  that was of me,” he said

“Yes,” I agreed.

He was still kneeling in front of me. Any pain I felt was suddenly gone

“You have to come back to Eden with me and explain this to my father. If you can identify the murderer, we can charge him with Gabriel’s death.”

“I am still part Demon, I cannot go to Eden without an invitation, right ?”

I paused, surprised he hadn’t put it together.

“I am inviting you,” I said.

“I will go then. Anything to stop this madness . Then my mother and our friends can all go back to our peaceful life.”

He took the gun and placed it in my lap, his hand touching my thigh. Giving me back the gun was an act of trust but touching me was another violation.

“Soul.” I said

“Rin.”

My mind was gone, I was gone.

I bent my head down and he kissed me.

The madness was only beginning.