It was the first time they saw him use that key.

It was a normal morning. The sun was shining, the breeze was warm, and the flowers in the patio swayed softly around them. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary at first; the girls had woken up and gotten out to bask in the sun, while Ayako, Uriel and Alexis followed their usual routine. While the two played a game of tag, they noticed Ayako walk out the gates, holding one of her bags. They supposed she was heading for one of her usual hunts, until she returned after an hour with some wooden signs in her arms. They did not pay it much mind then, as they were busy talking to each other. Alexis had gotten up as well, and had gone to his forge. What they found strange, was that today, he did not bother to close the door of that room, nor store away his tools in it after he used them. He left everything at reach, at plain sight in the garden. He looked less wary of being seen working, of being neared. It was strange, but they still refused to question their family. It was only after two hours that they noticed something that finally made them worry, address what was happening. They were sitting on a log by the gates, unaware of how Uriel was dragging some armors out, to place them at every corner of the outer fence. They only noticed his actions when he stopped organizing them and neared the gates, key in hand. They stopped making crowns with flowers under a tree when they saw him stand by the gates. With a long intake of air, Uriel did something that he had debated for a days and nights.

The girls’ eyes widened, seeing him lock the gates, calmly and surely.

Aurora was the first to react, because Ariel was far too shocked, much more knowing of how much Uriel loved this place.

“What are you doing?” Her wings trembled as she stood up from the log, flowers forgotten on the ground. Uriel looked at her warmly, noting how her claws got a hold of the gates. She tried to pull at them nervously. Her young blue eyes were full of confusion while she looked up at him. “Travelers won’t be able to enter!”

Seeing that she could not make the gates budge, she began to try to reach up to his hand to take the key. With a small silent laugh, he crouched to talk to her, still keeping the key out of her reach. His violet eyes were full of care while he caressed fondly her long blond hair.

“There are no guests, Aurora.”

Ariel finally overcame her shock. She stood as well and faced her father anxiously, shaking her head.

“Not today. But there might be tomorrow, or the day after.” She had grown to be a composed calm girl, always thoughtful and caring. Though sometimes a little prideful. “Give me that, I think you haven’t slept well. You’re not thinking clearly.”

Uriel blinked, because Ariel was swift; she moved her tail instead of her claws and snatched the key out of his hand. She walked directly towards the lock, intending to follow everything she had been taught for years, defensive of the manor Uriel loved.

She couldn’t use the key. She was faced by someone taller than her and had to step back. Ayako had moved in the way, leaning right onto the gates; she looked down at her with a grin and raise of eyebrow. Her mother retorted, firm.

“We are thinking straight. No one will cross this door.”

Ariel frowned, looking behind her to glance at her sister. Aurora understood the severity of locking the gate, but in a lesser extent; she shared the same love for the inn, but had not seen its glory for as long as she had. As the oldest sibling, it was her who had been able to compare the horrible change around them. However, both held the same worry; and so, Ariel confronted Uriel and Ayako, old enough to voice her own opinions.

“I know you’ve been down lately. If you need a break, we can help.”

Ayako pointed, adding while Uriel fidgeted nervously.

“You don’t need to help. This door stays closed.”

Ariel narrowed her eyes like Ayako would. She moved her claws at her sides, continuing.

“Why? It has never been closed!” The three had been locking themselves away a lot, talking in whispers and acting strangely. It bothered her, a lot. “I know no guests have come in a while… but that does not mean none will come at all. What if someone crosses these roads and we have the gates closed?”

Uriel answered, very calmly and gently. He loved to see her be this passionate for their work and vocation.

“That’s why I placed the armors by the fence. They will sense if someone walks by; and if really needed, I will give them hospitality. You don’t need to worry, Ariel. We have everything under control.”

Ariel was a girl that liked practicality and efficiency, much like her father.

“But…! We need to keep the inn open! It’s our job! Look how messy you’ve left the patio; Alexis’ tools are all over!” She pointed at Uriel and Ayako again, tail swaying nervously. “Don’t tell me those pieces of wood are the signs of our roads, please!”

Alexis had heard her protest, and so, had neared from his forge. He leaned against a nearby tree and nodded at the gates, not quite as serene as Uriel and Ayako looked.

“We’re taking a break, Ariel. For everyone’s sake.”

If one thing the girls respected Alexis for, it was for the fact that he was always honest. He always tried to explain, in one way or another, even if it meant he had to be blunt.

Ariel finally seemed to realize what they were really doing. It was not that they were being careless or that they were too sad to work well…  It was not a simple break. They were closing the inn for good.

She grabbed her tail in her hands, the color left her tan face. Aurora had less recollection of the days in which the inn thrived, but still shared her hurt. Her wings trembled as she looked at Alexis in question, but his amber eyes shared the same firmness Uriel and Ayako showed. He wished for them to forget the recent oppressive feel around them; he hoped they could forget the guests, even if their childhood memories involved them.

The three adults exchanged looks, having discussed this beforehand, multiple times. They had argued, a lot, but they reached a common ground. They couldn’t deny that it was time for them to stop, and give the girls the dedication they deserved. They were not doing this only because nobody visited anymore. The three had always evaded addressing the way in which they were seen and treated by some; but it was time they did. Too many times they had swallowed their anger when traveling parents kept their children away from the girls’ curious advances. The two had been spoken too many times like unhelpful young servants. And too many times they had been forced to stay and hide in their rooms while a group drank noisily in the living rooms. There would be no more foreigners in their home, no fear of being heard, and no judging thoughts.

This was their home, and they would treat it that way. It was time they could speak freely of their true nature, both demonic and angelic, without worrying to hide or seek seclusion. Their kids were growing, at a pace they found too fast. Time was flying away, and they needed to relish it.

If the girls were to be isolated, they would be in safety, not in the presence of hate and entitlement. The manor was once an inn, indeed. But foremost, it was a home.

Ariel was worried, for the coin, for the lack of commerce from the travelers, for the increased attention their garden would need for them to have enough food… but she did not need to worry. She was young still, no matter how much she wanted to grow. She wanted to mimic the ones she admired, to be as capable as them. And Uriel knew all of that.

Her passionate blue eyes were filled with surprise, when Uriel laid a claw on her shoulder and offered something she had been promised once.

“Ariel, remember my spell books?”

Ariel remembered. Her heart began to beat with longing, but there was something that kept her from embracing that joy.

“But… you said I was not ready.”

Uriel grinned, throwing everything she expected out the window. As he looked at her and Aurora, he offered, trusting.

“I think it’s time for you and your sister to learn some magic. At a small pace.”

Gone were her thoughts for the inn, they were replaced by a new wonder.

When Ariel smiled, Aurora could not help but be stricken by that same excitement. Flapping her wings, she latched onto Ariel, beginning to ask a million questions, of what spells there were, and if any would make her taller.

Alexis, Uriel, and Ayako smiled, feeling that they made the right choice while looking at the two smile.

—————-

He had not expected this reaction from them.

The two were hugging, holding each other tightly, trembling as they looked up in slight fear. They were backing away slowly, stepping away from the huge towering black figure in front of them.

He had huge claws, Uriel’s could not even compare. Their fangs were less feral than the ones that peeked from those fierce maws. Aurora’s hairy feathers were not as dense as the fur that covered those strong limbs. And Ariel’s sharp eyes could never be as deep as those void red irises.

Uriel bit a nail in his mouth, now regretting having begun the lesson like this.

“Should I change back?”

Lykaios’ voice was deep and growled, even if caring and calm. It made the girls open their mouths even more, amazed by the sight of his drastic growth.

Moving a claw, Uriel agreed, noting how the girls looked about to run out the door.

“It would be for the best, yes.”

Lykaios obliged, not without a frustrated sigh. Periodically, his body leaned, twisting subtly. His long black fur seemed to sink back into his skin, pulled back like if it was a wave. Slowly, his eyes lost some of their intense bloody color, to regain a more natural feel to them. His claws shortened, stopping being big enough to clench around them with ease. His long neck cracked a little, and his mane waved as it changed positions. At last, his broad shoulders and muscles relaxed, becoming small and unimposing. His feral features changed, losing the hints of multiple beasts, to mimic a single one. What had seemed slightly humanoid was now more animal like.

The lynx sat down, like if seconds ago he had not towered in the room.

The girls stammered, still trying to get over what they just saw. They had never seen him change, not once, because there had always been too many humans around. The lynx had never bonded much with them either, always watching, but never nearing. This took them entirely by surprise. And now they knew why they heard wailings in the night sometimes.

Uriel tried to salvage the class, as much as possible. After going at their side, he pointed calmly at the small demon, continuing to explain as much as he could.

“This, this is what magic can do. Centuries of division and evolution, aided by the study of latent arts, have brought abilities like these to some devils. You don’t need to be scared.”

Ariel whispered defensively, glancing at Lykaios warily.

“Whatever kind of magic is this, I don’t want to learn it. I prefer the kind you know! You… you just said some demons became as simple as animals, without mind. Some eat people, anyone who gets lost in the woods or deserts!”

Aurora tucked her wings close, whipping her head to ask Uriel anxiously.

“Does he want to eat us?!”

Lykaios glared at the winged demon, remembering well the day he met her father.

“No, I don’t. With how long I have been here, one would expect you to know better. I was present at your birth, for heaven’s sake.” He huffed and whipped his long mane, pridefully. “Don’t compare me to the ones that embraced their feral side completely. My ancient predecessors might have been beastly and less intelligent, but my lineage has risen over such chains. Most of us have regained our minds and intelligence; we overcame the curse of magic and used it to our advantage.”

Ariel pouted, squishing Aurora zealously in her arms, no matter how she began to squirm against her.

“How do we know you won’t lose your mind like those old demons? How many kinds of animals do you have in your blood anyway?”

“You are demons too, you know. Just because your bloodline didn’t lose control, don’t think you couldn’t. We lost those dark spellbooks ages ago, but if you used them, you would change too. We are the same.”

Aurora looked at her own nails and wings, confused.

“But we are different. You have paws, a snout, and droopy ears.”

Of the two girls, Aurora now seemed curious, thoughtful. Strangely, Ariel seemed to be distrustful; she glared while he neared with calculated steps.

“Not so different, little one.” He leaned his face close to hers, letting her look into his red eyes. “I don’t expect you to understand, you’re too young. But you give it time, and when you experience more of this world, you will know better. Humans give us all the same-”

“I think that’s enough, Lykaios.”

Uriel had interrupted him, noting his coldness and resent. He himself wanted the two to learn magic in case any humans ever tried anything, but he would never word his worries about it.

The lynx sighed and turned away from the girls, looking up to the taller demon tiredly.

“You asked me to show them what magic could do. They should learn everything about what a demon is.”

“They know enough, no need to give them a long sermon about history. Not yet at least. That’s for another time; I want the basics for now. I asked you to show them what shape shifting looked like, and you did. So thanks.”

“Hmpf, very well, teach them your way.” Lykaios padded his way out the room, looking back with a smug smile. “Don’t call me if they set the house on fire.”

Uriel shook his head, not approving of Lykaios’ sternness. He looked at the girls again and sat on a chair, in order to resume his first lesson.

“What you’ve just seen, is one of the many kinds of magic we demons can hold. The one you are more familiar with is this one.” He snapped his fingers, and a small flame tangled on them. The girls instantly forgot about Lykaios and leaned to look closely as he spoke. “Be it fire, wind, blood… or even some arcane incantations, we have a natural talent for it. However, few learn it, because even if we have it in us, we can’t forget the invaluable aid of books and knowledge.”

He took a book from a nearby shelf and began to rummage through its pages. While he searched for a simple spell to create light, Ariel lifted her hand up.

He eyed her, not understanding why she fidgeted up and down insistently.

“What?”

“I have a question.”

“And why don’t you just say it?”

Ariel clasped her hands together, tilting her horns sideways with a sigh.

“Well, I’ve heard Alexis say that classes are pretty strict, and that the teachers always scold you a lot if you speak while they read their books. So, if you said you would be our teacher, I shouldn’t interrupt you, no?”

“Never, ever, compare me to the teachers Alexis has told you about. His education was a complete asinine mess. No wonder his kind is so crazy.” He coughed, looking around nervously. “…Don’t tell him I said that.”

Aurora was paying a lot of attention, as eager to learn as Ariel was. She leaned onto Uriel and peeked at the book, considering herself free to ask wildly.

“So, what will we learn? Fire? You always use fire. Ariel is obsessed with it.”

A blush ran across Ariel’s face while she tried to deny the truth.

“No I’m not, sis.” Aurora opened her mouth. Ariel closed it with a claw before she could chatter more. “I’ve never touched any fires. Whatever Alexis has told you, it is a lie.”

Aurora was now trying to lower Ariel’s claw from her mouth, pouting and wanting to call her out on her obvious denial, because Alexis was a terrible liar and both knew. No matter how she moved or pulled, Ariel wouldn’t budge, stronger and older. Both were losing track, fast, in a silly scuffle. Uriel knew the class was over when Aurora put her game face on. She licked Ariel’s claw. Ariel yelped away with obvious dislike, and soon tackled her sister to the couch, creating a blur of bronze and black while they rolled around.

Uriel just closed the book and walked out, deciding to go make dinner.

——————-

The confusion was obvious in her eyes.

She would glance sideways and see a very bright light, beautifully fragile. The flicker flowed against Ariel’s palm, like a wave of energy, weak yet consistent with her focus. Her sister had already learnt to ease her energy into this simple spell, after trying for days.

But I…

Her wings tensed as she outstretched her claws again, huffing with silent effort. She contained her breath, much to Uriel’s worry, as he was watching over them both. Alexis was there too; he was now showing more interest in their activity, seeing Aurora trying so hard and desperately. Even Ariel lost her focus and let the light die when Aurora let out a deep growl of tiredness.

Her little claws would tremble, lean downwards with the tensest of intentions… yet nothing would come out of it. Her mouth opened, forced by her own body to take a much needed intake of air. With tears building up in her eyes, she would hold her head, having put her whole mind into it.

Uriel quickly leaned at her side, propping her up and easing her exhaustion.

“Easy there. I said to hold your breaths for a couple seconds and then breathe in, not suffocate yourselves.”

Aurora cried out, looking up to him worriedly.

“Why can’t I do it?”

Alexis stood up and neared too. After sharing a look with Uriel, he tried to calm her down, reminding that she was still young.

“Don’t worry. You’ll get it soon.”

Aurora shook her head and wings, pointing at Ariel.

“But it’s been so long. She already knows so much more!”

Uriel blinked and looked at Ariel, growing suspicious. Even if Aurora now saw that her words had hinted too much, it was too late. His narrowed eyes would not leave her, and his tone was inquisitive.

“Did you touch the books I told you not to?”

Ariel winced and quickly looked down, guilty. She had sneaked in the nights to browse Uriel’s personal collection of books, and she had been practicing on her own. Obviously, Aurora had followed her and read the spells as well, much to her shame now.

“It was only a peek… I still don’t know how to keep the flames up.”

Uriel knew the girls well. Frowning, he grabbed Ariel’s hand sharply. After holding up her nails, he summoned a flame of his own against her claw. Doing that confirmed his suspicion, because as soon as he let go to let her handle it alone, she yelped and scrambled to keep the flame under control to not burn herself. She could keep it up; rather well he had to say.

He gave her a look while she slowly extinguished the flame between her hands.

“I told you to be patient.”

“But I am patient, Uriel. I do not want to learn more, not yet.” She admitted, looking honestly sorry. “I just wanted to help her learn.”

It was true. She had not grabbed his books to try to learn at a faster pace, but to be able to aid her sister to reach the same level. For weeks they had tried, but she had not been able to even summon a spark of light in her claws. She hated to see the disappointment in her eyes, her wings drop sullen when the lessons ended.

Alexis asked Uriel, concerned in a different way.

“Do you think it is because…?”

Uriel shook his head, thoughtfully.

“Her blood should not be a problem. She IS a demon.”

Alexis retorted solemnly, with an unreadable expression.

“But from a human and… me.”

In that moment, Aurora did not understand much why they began to whisper. She watched them argue calmly, theorizing worriedly.

“Humans may not be biologically able to use magic, Alexis, but angels have always had an inner affinity for it. You are an angel.”

“But even then, maybe she can’t, because I can’t either. I don’t know any magic; I suck at it.”

“You can, you’ve seen what you can do with runes on a weapon. It does not matter if it was not willfully, or exactly in control. You’re able.”

“But we still don’t know why she is like she is, Uriel. I’m still worried about it. Maybe she…”

What is she? Most importantly… what am I, and how does it affect her?

They did not know.

Uriel shook his head again, breathing with determination. He did not want to discuss things like that. After placing a hand on Alexis’ shoulder, he promised, trying to be supporting, both to him and the girls.

“She will learn, Alexis. I will make sure of it.” He looked at her bronze wings slowly, eyes narrowed. “It’s just a matter of time…”

The angel felt unsure, but trusted the judgment of his demon.

He watched him pull her claws open, gently compelling her to follow his every move. With deep breaths, he told her to repeat his words again, an aid to bring focus. Ariel stepped in too, offering kind words and examples of the very basic spell. Patiently, they tried to help her cast the incantation… To no avail.

She was not able to cast the spell that day. Nor the next. Nor next week. Nor next month. Little by little, she would fall behind her sister, who would always hold back, in hopes she would follow soon. Uriel would give his all to her, knowing that Ariel was a good reader and could fend on her own.

Trusting, she kept trying. But she could not help but wonder why she had trouble doing something so easy for them.

—————–

She looked down on what her mother was doing, rocking her legs with boredom.

Ayako had let Aurora sit on a table in her office, having had her help minutes ago. Both she and Ariel were in the room, resting after having brought a lot of herbs and plants from the garden. She was now cleaning her weapons under the curious stare of the two. She was keeping a very close eye on Aurora, who had a couple daggers at her side on the table. Ariel was more aware of the tools and had sat on a chair.

Aurora asked, watching while Ayako took one of her daggers, unsheathing it to check if it was dented from her last hunt.

“I don’t get why I can’t do it.”

Ayako felt truly sorry for her. She smiled warmly and tried to cheer her up a little.

“Do you truly want to?”

Aurora leaned her head, not having thought much about it, not in that way.

“Why wouldn’t I want to?”

Ayako let down the first dagger, cleaned already. She took her second, speaking without looking up. Her voice was soft, caring and knowing.

“Well, do you want to do everything that your sister does?”

“Yes? Of course!”

“Hm, and why? Because you like it as much as she does, or only because she does it?”

Aurora frowned. It was rare for her to fall silent after a question, given that she was the most mentally energetic of the two. For once, she was asking herself why did she want to learn magic, and for what.

“I… I guess for both reasons?”

Ariel leaned her head, whispering.

“Remember the day I tried to teach you to hold some coal?”

Aurora shrunk a little, covering herself with her wings. That day, when no one watched, Ariel told her to try, like she did when younger. But she had been scared. She did not enjoy the idea of having fire in her hold. She truly did not feel as drawn as Ariel was.

“I’m nervous, but magic is useful.” She toyed with her own feathers, suggesting shyly. “There are a lot of things you can do now. You help more in the kitchen, and you also managed to control an armor. I should learn too.”

“I only managed to make it move an inch. Then it fell down in pieces.”

“But you did make it move.”

Ayako finished cleaning the second dagger. With it unsheathed, she pointed at her youngest daughter, with a smirk on her face.

“So you want to be useful, right?”

Aurora nodded, nervous under her intense stare. The blue eyes of her mother were full of pride, of protectiveness.

That nod was the only thing Ayako needed. After twirling both her daggers into her belt, she walked towards a wall, and then took down a very big crossbow that hanged there. Ariel gulped, seeing Ayako show an expression she was familiar with. That expression only showed when she mixed the most volatile of ingredients in her medicines, when she would head out to hunt the most dangerous of animals, or when she got ready to battle against Alexis for a really good snack.

Ayako leaned very close to Aurora and asked with a whisper, crossbow in hand.

“Now, you like meat a lot, don’t you?”

Ayako wasn’t a demon, but she could look like one sometimes.

—————

“No, no, and no. She is not going to do that.”

Alexis pulled Aurora close, almost crushing her wings against him. Ariel cringed, seeing Ayako pull her sister towards the gate in retort.

“She is completely capable of it.”

“Oh, I know she is capable!” Alexis retrieved Aurora, in a dizzy play of tug between the two. “That does not mean she should!”

“It’s just a little hunt! Just the basics!” She pulled at her again, hugging her close with a scowl. “It’s something she can do!”

“I’m all on board for her to learn new things, but hunting is not one of them.” Ayako did not let go of Aurora this time, causing that both of them had a hold of her. “First, she will be hunting some wild birds, but then you’ll be sending her after a mountain lion or… or freaking bears! Do you want your daughter to be mauled?!”

“She could probably maul them instead.” She glared at Alexis, stomping her foot. “Look, I’ve been doing this all my life, and you would be lying if you said it hasn’t been a lot of help. I’ve brought a lot of food and skins back home. She likes animals, she loved your figurines.”

“Oh, and because she likes animals she has to chase them and kill them?”

“She is not a vegetarian like you, Alex. Remember when she was a baby and she would chase the mouses that hid in the garden? She is a demon, and even back then, she acted like one. You cannot tell her the world is made of flowers. There’s a food chain, and she should learn about it.”

“No, the world is not made of flowers. It’s made of death. There’s death everywhere; I just don’t want her near it. Why do you have to be so bleak?”

“They already know what death is. Why don’t you protest about Ariel? When she accompanied me in her first hunt, you said nothing.”

“I let her, because she wasn’t the one shooting. You want her to shoot! Aurora would be better off learning to cook or cast magic. She does pick on Uriel’s love for music, and I don’t know if I want her to pick on your love for killing.”

“She is not managing to learn magic, and cooking is not for her, unlike Ariel. She needs to find something she can do.”

“And of all things, must it be that? Can she really hunt? Will she even be able?”

“Aurora is energetic, she’s fast, and she knows how to climb. That helps track animals. Hunting is perfect for her.”

“It’s not perfect… She likes to find high places, but when she does she sometimes gets nervous on top of whatever she climbs. I don’t want her in trouble.”

“Then let her get over her fears. You scold her when she climbs, so she does it less often. You shouldn’t shield her of everything.”

They only stopped when Aurora spoke up, slightly dizzy in their hold.

“Umm… So I can go or not?”

It was a lost battle. He sighed, noting the same spirit Ayako had in her. She was looking at them both with a frown, sending sad glances to the forest ahead. It was obvious she wanted to go and experience what her mother did. It was undeniable that part of her was wild, in more than one sense.

Alexis glared at Ayako, not really angry. After taking a deep breath, he pushed her hands off Aurora, demanding.

“Give me two minutes with the two of them, alright?”

Ayako leaned her head, confused. Under his fierce stare, she ended up shrugging, surrendering.

“Fine?”

“Fine.” He pulled at Ariel and Aurora, dragging them a little away. “Come with me for a sec.”

The sisters exchanged looks. After leaving them by the door of the forge, he entered alone. Rummaging sounds echoed from inside. There was mumbling, he let out a few short curses that they did not hear. He was taking his time in there. When he came out, he did with something in his hands.

They both blinked, seeing him holding Abiel, very tightly. He outstretched him towards them, displaying him angrily.

“You see this?”

They both spoke, rightfully confused under his demanding stare.

“Abiel?”

“That’s right, Abiel.” He spoke slowly, word by word. “The very same Abiel that has been the perfect pet, the one who has let you squish him, chase him, and play around with him. A dear friend, who would never bite or scratch you, even if you pulled at his long ears, and what’s Abiel, girls?”

“A rabbit?”

“Bingo, a rabbit.” They both cringed, because Alexis leaned very close, with a grim look on his face. He whispered ominously, moving Abiel so close to their eyes that they could distinguish every hair on his fur. “I will tolerate these hunts… but god help you two if you ever dare shoot, chase, or hurt one of this pure, cute, harmless creatures, you hear me?”

They rarely could see Alexis be this intimidating. They nodded quickly and nervously while holding hands, pierced by the stare of the small bunny.

As soon as they nodded and crossed their hearts, Alexis dropped entirely that grim stare. He pulled Abiel back as he smiled a little. It was like if he had said nothing; he eyed them both, ushering them away.

“Alright then! Now go with her, and make sure to be careful! If she dares put you into dangerous situations, I and Uriel won’t ever let her have any more crazy ideas.”

With that, the two hurried away, sweating.

He sighed, hugging his dear pet close.

“Why does everyone love meat so much…”

More people should be vegetarians, in his mind. Not that he wanted to force anyone, but it would sure be nice.

————–

He sometimes liked the tranquility of the night. It was comforting, a nice break from the routine of the day.

Alexis narrowed his eyes while holding his hammer, leaning closer to the fire of the smelter. He sunk strongly the heated bar of metal into a nearby sink of water. The smoke of the scorching heat shot up, yet he did not flinch. After taking it out, he slammed it onto his anvil and proceeded to hit it rhythmically with his tool.

The echo of his work was strong. It was hypnotic to him, calming even… but it was interrupted. He leaned away from the smelter, dropping the metal on the anvil. He frowned in confusion, not having expected a knock in the middle of the night.

Slowly, he patted his apron and wiped the coal off his hands. After nearing the door, he leaned on it, ear first. He asked, with a wary tone.

“Who’s there?”

“…Me.” He recognized the soft voice. “Can you open?”

He opened the door. His expression was not amused as he crossed his arms and rested against the doorframe, giving her a look. Ariel did fidget when he questioned her presence.

“Shouldn’t you be sleeping right now?”

She bit her lip.

“Maybe…” She looked nervously behind her, as if she expected to be followed. “Can I please come in?”

It took a minute, in which he looked to be debating himself. But soon, he stepped aside, inviting her with a sideways nod. She quickly stepped in, and then he closed the door with a last look out.

Once the door was closed, he turned around to look at her. He was not scolding, far from it, but he wanted answers.

“One, is she awake?”

She knew who she was. She knew she should not be, not with the moon in a position that signaled it was past midnight.

“Aurora is asleep.”

He nodded, satisfied with the first answer.

“Good. Two, is Uriel clueless about you roaming?”

She knew he did not want to be caught awake as well, and that Uriel would scold them both.

“He’s lost in his books again. He will never figure it out.”

“I hope so.” He got more comfortable on a chair, reaching to pet Abiel, who was sleeping on a nearby shelf. “Three, of all places to roam in the night, why here? I’m working right now, and Ayako would kill me if you accidentally got burned because of my forge.”

“Well, I wanted to ask you something.”

“As long as it isn’t plotting another prank for Uriel, I’m listening. I got all the blame for our little last joke…”

“No, I’m not asking you to hide his harp in the pantry again. It’s something else, and it’s why I’m here now, in the forge.”

He raised an eyebrow, waiting. She was brushing her claws shyly, much like her father would.

“Let it out. I left something in the fire and I don’t want it to melt yet.”

“I was wondering if you would teach me to forge something.”

He was surprised at that.

“You? Forge? For what?”

Ariel smiled with a blush, scratching one of her long horns.

“Well, Aurora did great in her last hunt. She has improved a lot this year. Soon, she could be better than Ayako. Last time she spotted a deer and tracked it down… but in the moment of truth, the crossbow got jammed. The bolt got stuck, and with the impulse of the trigger, she lost her balance at the top of a tree. She could have broken a wing. Ayako’s weapons are too big for her still; she hasn’t managed to hunt more than some pheasants.”

Alexis crossed his arms, making a face at the thought.

“And you want me to create a weapon suited for her… of course.”

“I know you don’t like it.”

“I really don’t, Ariel.” He sighed, shrugging. “But I’d be a fool if I denied that it makes her happy. I’ve seen how much she enjoys roaming and seeking. The birds she has been bringing seem to please Uriel; he can’t stop telling her to bring more, and that in turn makes her more eager. She is just like her mother. While you prefer to study and cook in the comfort of home, she loves to take action in the wild. And she does not go out there just because she likes to hunt. I’ve seen her notebook, her small drawings. Not only does she learn about nature and takes little notes, she also is collecting small stones and herbs. She’s having a blast out there, instead of being bored out of her mind alone in her room. The forests welcome her and calm her worries. I miss the days in which she just tried to learn to play Uriel’s harp…”

Ariel smiled, noting the hidden pride in his eyes. As much as he tried to show he disapproved, he truly supported her every choice.

“So… will you teach me or not?”

He leaned his chin onto his fist, giving her an interested stare.

“What did you have in mind?”

“Well…”

———–

Carefully, she gave it the last touch. Alexis nodded with an impressed look on his face, staring down at the bow in her claws.

“Not bad. Not bad at all.”

Ariel beamed, her blue eyes shining in the dim light of the forge.

“Is it really good?”

He took the bow from her hands. Wooden, with a lot of metallic coverage, it was elastic yet durable. There were many carvings on it, of animals. The only thing left for it to be ready was some arrows, which they would not make themselves. Ayako had many to spare.

“I would say it’s better than good, Ariel.” He gave it back to her with a smile, praising her. “I better watch out, you might steal this room and job from me.”

She laughed, tail swaying happily.

“Well, you’re a good teacher.”

“Not as good as Uriel with his magic or cooking lessons.”

Ariel looked sideways. Some light was creeping through the window, signaling that the day was beginning. They had taken a lot of time to make this and had lost track of time. Her expression became more thoughtful under the glimmer of the sun.

“He’s good, Alexis, but not perfect…” She became serious, and addressed something she had been thinking, something that they did not talk much about. “He has not managed to help her with magic. Haven’t you ever thought of trying yourself?”

Alexis winced. It was clear that he was not pleased to hear that question, at all. Ariel had heard about this before, and she was no fool.

“You know well that I know nothing I can teach her. It does not matter if I’m an angel. ”

“You really haven’t experienced anything apart form that burning spell?” He did not like that she knew about that, but teens were curious and sharp sometimes. “Nothing?”

“Not that I casted myself, Ariel.” He snarled, crossing his arms. “There’s the bond I have with Uriel, what made me fall here. But he feels it more than I, and it’s not even something of our choice. Apart from that, I don’t think I’ve ever been subjected to anything magical or…”

He blinked, remembering something.

“Wait, there was-” He quickly grabbed one of his own wrists. After pulling his own arm up, he stared at the metallic black bracelet, intently. “That’s it.”

Ariel took a step back in surprise, because he let out a short laugh and leaned close, laying his hands on her shoulders.

“There’s something else I’ve experienced!”

“And that is?”

He laughed, glancing towards the window.

“Something that Uriel will kill me for, if he ever finds out I subject myself to it again…”

————-

A small knock. He only opened the door an inch when it was repeated with a rhythm. He eyed Ariel through the door’s crack; she was standing there, in the dark.

“Do you have it?”

She nodded with a proud smile. Only when she nodded did he open all the way. He hurried her in, afraid that someone could catch them. Once inside, he laid out his hands, asking eagerly.

“Let me see it.”

She took out what she stole. His eyes glinted, fixing on a stone that was of the very same material of his bracelets.

“I knew he had some of it left.”

Ariel pointed a fact out, brushing some sweat off her forehead.

“It wasn’t easy to find. He had it hidden in some very old chests.”

“Of course he would hide it. He broke the last thing he made with this stone.”

Alexis took the material in his hands and weighted it slowly. It was light but heavy looking, smooth yet hard. This thing had a lot of reactions with magic, and one of those reactions was perfect to track people. With one single feather, Uriel had created a trinket that always pulsed towards his bracelets, which he had not been able to take off then.

If only it could be replicated…

“He told me it was an easy spell, and that it was much much easier to pull off because of our bond.”

“You and Aurora are not bound by a spell like that.”

Alexis grinned, mind running wild.

“Oh no, thank god she does not have to suffer an ache like that. But…” He pointed out with a finger, giving her ideas. “I’m an angel, and she’s still my demon. If someone should be able to pull this out, it should be her.”

Ariel smiled too, following his trail of thought.

————-

The warmth was all that she wanted.

She suddenly felt colder. The warmth that covered her went away, leaving her to whine and let out a small growl. She had as well been comfortable, lost in her own dreams. Her tranquility ended when she felt a tug, multiple pulls. She moved her claw and let out a mumble, inching a little away from that persistent dragging. Sadly, with her small resistance, that pull became more adamant. Having been lying sideways, she found herself moved, onto her own back. The discomfort came fast; with her wings below her, her muscles began to complain under her own weight.

Lastly, what brought her back from sleep was a persistent calling, which grew in tone each time.

“Sis.” It came again, with more insistent grasping. “Aurora, wake up.”

She got fed up.

Ariel gasped, her face struck swiftly by the point of a wing. Scrambling backwards, she panted and coughed, spitting out a couple of hairy feathers. From above, Aurora sent her a sleepy glare, brushing her eyes tiredly.

“Whyyyy…”

She shared Alexis’ grumpiness when woken up. But it was not time for sleepiness.

Ariel got to her feet again, and while leaning at the edge, she hushed her sister. As she whispered, she tried to compel her to get out of bed without making noise.

“Take a coat, we’re going outside.”

Aurora glanced sideways. She pointed at the reflection of the moon through the window with a blank expression.

“In the night?”

“Yes. Just follow me, would you?”

Aurora stared at her. After a minute of staring, Ariel winced, because her sister let herself go limp onto the bed, groaning.

“I don’t feel like getting up, sis… Can’t it wait?”

Ariel kept insisting by pulling at her wings, much to her annoyance.

“Come on, Alexis is there.”

Aurora mumbled against the blankets.

“Oh, so he’s trying to compete with Ayako’s sudden strolls?” She was being sarcastic of course. Her mother had been training her a little bit strictly, and she did not want to hear Alexis if he wanted to scold her for hunting more intensely. “Tell him he won’t win if he plans them in the night. I’m tired.”

“Alexis is not going to try to bribe you into ignoring her; it’s another kind of surprise.”

That made Aurora move her head up a little. After showing her fangs in a long yawn, she asked, finally whispering like she did.

“What kind of surprise?”

Ariel smiled, rolling her eyes.

“If you want to know what it is, you’ll have to follow me.”

That did it.

As carefully as Ariel had crept into Aurora’s room, both got out, tip toeing and eyeing every corner. They hid behind the armors while they crossed the corridors, afraid to alert Uriel, who never approved of roaming in the nights. They passed a living room, where they noticed the outlines of a lynx. While sneaking, they were sure Lykaios was sleeping. Luckily, Lykaios kept feigning ignorance and let them think he was really asleep, because he did not want to be bothered.

They both reached the patio, and then walked to their right, passing the garden.

Ariel, like if she was in the most secret of operations, began to knock on the forge’s door. Aurora watched baffled while she knocked in a rhythm, which she was sure was more than enough to wake up Uriel. However, Ariel and Alexis did not seem to be the most effective in subtlety. Cracking the door open by an inch, one of Alexis’ eyes peeked, glaring at them both. Like if he couldn’t really see them there, he asked, zealously.

“Password?”

Ariel gave him a look.

“The knock was the password.”

He shook his head, groaning.

“No, no. We accorded another one, to signal you got the songbird with you. How can I be sure you aren’t being followed by the lion or snake?”

Aurora frowned, baffled.

“Lion? Snake? Are those Ayako and Uriel? Who’s songbird?”

Alexis surrendered with a long sigh. He opened the door all the way and looked at the two tiredly.

“Yeah, songbird. You know, because you like the music Uriel plays, and you love to climb on trees and… well, you have wings?”

Aurora batted her wings, looking at them with one of her eyebrows raised. She looked again at Alexis, staring, perplexed by the nicknames.

He knew they couldn’t just stand there discussing the codes.

“Never mind. Just get in before we’re seen.”

He ushered the two into the forge. Once inside, he glared out again, and then closed the door behind him, very slowly.

The two acted very secretively, and not only because they were dorks.

First they sat her on the ground by some chests, and then began to whisper between each other, rummaging through trinkets. She spied the eager smile Ariel had, even if it was almost pitch black in this room now. Her sister grabbed something that Alexis took out, and turned around to face her with it behind her back.

“Sis, there are two things we want to show you. The first… is a gift.”

Aurora’s blue eyes filled with wonder, because Ariel smiled warmly and moved the object from behind her.

A bow, with many runes and decorations carved on it, not only on its wooden base, but all over the metallic coverings. It was handed to her gently, and as it rested onto her claws, she found it was light and compact. She tugged with doubt at the rope, and noticed it had been handmade, tied and trimmed carefully. It had a small dent in the middle, for her to lay the arrows more easily. It looked fragile, and she was scared of breaking it in her claws. But when she tightened her hold, she realized it had been hardened by a fire, a fire that hadn’t come from a smelter.

Ariel was now sitting in front of her, eyes full of nervousness. Her big sister was sweating, expecting her reaction, swaying her tail side to side.

“Do you like it…?”

She did not like it. Ariel huffed, because Aurora beamed and jumped to her feet, latching herself fiercely onto her with a hug.

“I love it!”

She was grinning, as much as she could. Her wings fluttered at her sides, making some dust raise up into the air. Her laugh was joyful, and louder than a whisper. So Alexis slammed a finger onto his lips and looked down at the two, warning.

“Shh. You’re not supposed to be here.”

According to Uriel, Aurora was not old enough to be near a forge and its sharp dangerous tools. However, that was mostly due to Uriel’s overprotective nature.

Aurora blushed and stopped crushing Ariel between her wings, to give Alexis the very same thankful look, this time more quietly.

“Thank you. It looks… You must have worked on it for a while.” The fact that he hated hunting only made his gesture greater in her mind. She leaned her head, asking curiously. “If we can get scolded, why did you not give it to me in the morning? Ayako wouldn’t mind me having my own bow. I’m sure she will even thank you.”

“Oh, we could have given you the bow in another moment, yes.” He grabbed a hammer, expression growing serious even if kind. “But this bow is not the only thing we’re here for, Aurora. No, we’re going to do something that no one must know about, and you’ve got to promise you won’t tell anyone. Only Ariel can know, because she will be helping you.”

“I can’t tell Ayako?”

Alexis hummed in thought, while shoving a long plate of metal into the smelter. With the hiss of the forge, he grinned, nodding with some consideration.

“Maybe half of the truth.” He pointed at her, looking right into her curious eyes. “You can tell her you’ve made a necklace.”

“A necklace?” She smiled warmly, casting a quick glance at her neck. “You are really going to make me that? Now? After making me a bow?”

Ariel nodded, holding her sister’s hands. With hope in her eyes, she told her their plan, what they hoped would trigger her magic at last.

“Not a normal one, sis. Far from it.”

Alexis was preparing everything. He took metal out of some chests, a hammer, a pocket knife to make small incisions, and a stone. A very black stone, which shined in the dark, even though there were only fiery glimmers.

Aurora stared at the stone, similar to something Alexis usually wore. Her father took one last thing out and laid it on a small table in front of them. He began to open the small box, carefully. She eyed its contents with apprehension, taking a long while to ask worriedly.

“Feathers? They are…”

He nodded, a little grimly. It only made her previously happy smile falter, with a feeling she could not recognize. There were a few in the box, his. He had not taken these from the necklace he made years ago, but from years of ache, from every time he suffered one of those horrible fevers. Aurora was rightfully shaken at their shape and form, for they were twisted, broken and malformed.

But they were angel feathers nonetheless.

“This are… mine, Aurora. I know they don’t look like it, but they are angel feathers. We need these.”

The worry was evident as she looked up to him. Her innocence was as well. She knew he had them once, yet she had never dared ponder. Alexis did not know how to explain to her his lack of wings. She knew he had scars, and she did not understand yet that other angels did not lack wings like him. She only knew that he sometimes grew feathers, remnants similar to what she had. For her, any angel could look like him; she knew barely anything about his kind. To her, life was still simple.

“Don’t worry about them looking like this. It’s normal, there are mine.” He tried to salvage his explanation, returning to what was important tonight. “What you must know, is that you, as a demon, can take this and use it to aid yourself. Uriel did it once, and in that time, he could find me anywhere. One single feather, ripped and powdered into an amulet made of this stone, allowed him to sense where my bracelets were, because they were also made with the stone and a lesser quantity of said feather. Two trinkets infused with part of me, bound by a spell that only a demon can cast over an angel. A tracking device, if you prefer it that way.”

“But I already know how to find you, anywhere. You smell a lot of coal.”

He was thankful she had no clue about most of her instincts yet. There was probably more than the smell of coal.

“With this, you would really be able to find me anywhere, not just near our home. Anywhere in this world, this thing will pulse, and point to me. Uriel does not like it, but it’s really useful.”

Ariel got in the conversation, realizing something.

“Wait, Alexis. If Uriel knows about this spell… won’t he notice as soon as he sees the necklace? No amount of books is going to keep him distracted enough.”

“He won’t notice. Not if we do it like this: first, we bend the stone and mix it with the feathers. We don’t need to do it for my bracelets because they already contain traces. Next, we let Aurora try to infuse the mixed result with her will, energy, whatever you want to call it; I have no idea how it really works, but if she fails, you try, Ariel. Then, once magical enough, we give it the form we want, to make it pretty. And finally, to ensure Uriel does not kill me for doing this, we cover the entire black stone with metal, to make it look like a simple trinket.”

“Wouldn’t that make it lose its functionality? The pulse and flow wouldn’t be visible under the metal.”

“We don’t need its functionality, Ariel. We just need her to make it. She can keep it as a trophy even if she can’t use it.” He looked at Aurora then, only needing one last thing, her agreement. “So, what do you say? Do you want to try some magic on me?”

He was sure it would work when she nodded firmly, after only a moment of doubt. Her heart was beating, hopeful, encouraged. If one thing could help her cast an incantation, it had to be him. Angels were strong catalysts for demons.

Carefully, he held her hands and taught her the basics of how a forge worked, guiding her every move. Like how he taught Ariel, he was mindful of every sharp tool and risk. Slowly, he took care of the steps she was too young to follow, aiding her at any chance he got. Ariel acted as an assistant in that moment, already having crafted more than a bow beforehand.

The stone was really fragile in fire, even if it did not look like it. This time, Ariel did not summon her own flames, for it was Aurora who needed to give life to its incantation. They let the stone heat in the smelter, and then took it out to mix with a feather. Alexis placed one in Aurora’s hands, while he held the blazing stone with some thick gloves.

“Now, rip it and crush it, however you want to. Then, place it over the melted stone, carefully.”

She did as told, not without sending him a reluctant glance. Her claws shivered as she tore the feather in two, clawing and pulling. The action made her tremble, but she didn’t know why.

He seemed satisfied enough when the feather was only an array of broken threads. He nodded at the stone and signaled her to go ahead.

As soon as the threads fell on the stone, he dashed to the anvil. By hammering strongly, he bended the material around the threads, burying them in black. It was now rounder, a base for them to work with. He kept hammering until it was compressed and smaller, small enough for it to become an amulet that could hang by a chain.

Knowing he had to let Ariel do something, he handed her some pliers, and told her to sink the blazing stone into some water. The smoke and hiss that followed did not fail to make Aurora flinch, but Ariel was calculative and precise while she did it. At last, the stone was cool enough for Aurora to hold without being burned.

Alexis sighed, and then took the stone out of the water with his gloved hand. Crouching, he offered it to Aurora, with a hopeful glint in his amber eyes. His voice was gentle, supporting, even though he was doing something that had been oppressive once.

“It’s cold now. You can take it.” She did so, almost afraid of being burned. Only when she stopped wincing did he continue, closing her hands around it. “Now… I want you to think about what you think when you think of me.”

Ariel snorted, almost ruining the moment. Both looked at her deadpanned as she joked.

“Those are a lot of thinks, don’t you think?”

“Oh, give me a break. I’m not as good in poetry as Uriel is.”

Aurora interrupted, asking for silence even though she smiled for their antics.

“Ok, I think I got it.”

Her stance was surer now, she took a deep breath. She knew what he meant, and she did not need complex explanations. After closing her eyes and holding the stone more tightly, she began to ponder in what he would always do for her. He let go of her hands, and leaned away to let her focus.

Her wings fluttered at her sides for a while. The more time they waited and she mused, the more her eyes would clench. A long time passed, but there was no spark on that stone, or on her claws.

After five minutes, she opened her eyes and stopped thinking. A million loving memories had flowed in her mind, yet she felt no unnatural magical sensations. It was hard for her to look up and see them there, frowning.

“Did it work?”

Alexis answered Ariel, as unsure as her. It made Aurora grimace, at the thought that she had not poured all her care into it, all she felt.

“It should have worked. Uriel told me the spell was ready with a simple touch and glare, it should have-”

As soon as he tried to move Aurora’s hands away from the stone, they saw it. Her claws had been clasped all over, and had been covering the surface of the stone. As soon as she pulled away, a very faint glimmer glinted on the deep interior of the void like stone. Amber glinted in flickers inside, in a pulse, very faint and weak.

Aurora was the first to say anything, all too awed to move.

“It worked?”

Alexis was only able to nod, eyes fixed on the very weak but obvious pulse. While he crouched there frozen, the girls laughed and began to swing their wings and tail, making too much noise for it to be quiet.

“It worked… I managed to do something!”

“Finally! I told you that you would be able to cast a spell one day!”

A shame they could not tell anyone. But they knew she was able of some magic, at last.

Alexis finally stood. He had ended up with the stone in his hands, because the girls were lost in their moment of triumph, looking at each other with the tightest of bonds. It was not the stone what they cared about. While they laughed, he began to move it all around him, and sure enough, even if it was weaker than the one Uriel made years ago, it worked. The flow would pulse towards his bracelets’ general direction, no matter how he held the stone. Her will was there.

“Beautiful…”

It really was. He could not avoid looking down at her, fixate on her joy and smile, things that he was told no demon would show. Not for someone like him. Part of him still felt perplexed by her love, every day.

It was sad he had to hide his uncertainty.

————

His excuses would not work forever.

This time, he could not use Ayako’s absence in his favor. She was home, she was not hunting. She could not set off to bring more food, as it would only pile up in their pantries. He would not find any tasks with which to excuse himself either. Tending the garden was something he had done too many times already. His forge was clean, and not thanks to Uriel.

When the familiar words left Uriel’s mouth, he could do nothing but try to shrink, wish to turn invisible.

“I’ll head out tomorrow, first hour in the morning.”

While letting down his fork, Alexis fixed his amber eyes on his sleeves. He stared through the patches that he had sown multiple times on his old clothes. He could not say again that he did not need new robes.

When Ariel heard those words, there came her excited sway of tail, behind the chair where she sat.

“You’re going again?”

Ayako and Uriel nodded, treating the fact like another chore, another task. The girl did not see it that way. She saw it as something rare, something she looked forward to during months spent in boring rooms and unending woods.

She was not the only one who thought of that market with wonder. One had an even bigger overestimation for it, having never seen it.

“Will I… ” Alexis swallowed and closed his eyes, focusing on breathing instead of eating. “Will you let me go this time, Uriel?”

All this time she had been denied the chance. She was told that she was too young and the walk to those lands was long. Those had been real reasons once, not recently. Ariel was rarely invited along herself, as those visits to the market caused unease in between them. An anxiousness they could not let them see, one that they always fought with Uriel’s capability, his strength.

This time however, he could not excuse he could use more hands. They had gone on for some time without new housewares and tools. He could need a full cart to bring home all that they needed.

Uriel looked up from his clasped hands. In that very moment, he had a long painful debate with his angel, even though both said no words and Alexis was staring at his plate. They had talked before, knowing that Aurora would ask. So many times she had asked in the past, and like Ariel, she had grown enough for their excuses to become invalid.

Ayako drank silently; her eyes were intent while Uriel let out what was agreed between the three in a heated argument the night before.

“You can come along, Aurora.”

She seemed really surprised. She had always been told to stay back, no matter how much Ariel would beg for her to go too.

“F-for real?” She stood up from her chair, forgetting entirely about her food. Her wings dropped behind her, as she asked again to make sure she was not hearing wrong. “You really don’t want me to stay here and sort your batches of mead? Or prepare the pelts you and Ariel will sell next time?”

She really had not expected the chance to present itself. She did not know Uriel was planning to head out either, not with how much he had postponed each journey.

The descriptions of the market Ariel would tell her in the nights came rushing back. The sight of trinkets and strange faces, which she had never seen before.

Demons… it was a word that she heard often, but not with enough context.

An angel prayed that that was it. That the conversation was over.

It was not. Her wonder had been invited once more, after being pushed back so many times.

“If no one has to stay back with me… Does this mean we can all-?”

She flinched, when her father stood rather abruptly. She watched with confusion as he coughed and averted his gaze, his voice rather nervous.

“Sorry, I think I ate too much.” He began to dodge furniture towards the door, too anxious to look back to the table and them. “I’ll keep watch of home this time.”

He always would be like this when the matter came up.  She frowned and gripped her arm tightly, eyeing the ground while she stated the truth.

“You always do.”

He never went to those forests near the nomads, always ready with an excuse. He had always stayed behind with her, but he could not resort to that anymore.

It was not the ticking of a clock what echoed repeatedly. Ayako was tapping a finger on the table, her eyes as serious as possible. She was staring at her daughter, her wings, her claws. And as well, through the walls, to the sight of a nervous angel locked now in his room.

“Uriel…”

Ariel heard her mother whisper, with a tone that held many unsaid words. And then she saw her father stand, sharply and with intent, even if with hinted reluctance.

He headed straight for a book, which he had only opened once for Ariel. A book she had promised to keep quiet about, in favor of her sister’s wellbeing.

Until now.

When her eyes saw the depictions of what she was, and what she wasn’t, all her desire for seeing that place left her. The guilt and apprehension invaded her mind, and the world seemed darker, less inviting and alluring. Their words were harsh, sudden and strange, so different of the half-truths she usually received. With the reality they surrendered, she wished nothing but to stay back, in the place where she now knew he was prisoner. All those times in which he refused to leave finally made sense, puzzled together into a grim picture.

Her kind was different from his. Dangerous.

And with the burden of that truth, she willingly accepted her isolation. When she understood his.

———————–

Her sharp eyes were fixed on the book, on its beautiful illustrations and drawings. Her long wings curled, with the sight of the ones drawn on the old pages.

Sitting on a chair in the small library, she was silent. Near her, Uriel watched, having been a mentor for years. His books had taught them many things, and this was not different.

“Your wings will probably grow to double the size of these ones.”

Her expression was serious, thoughtful. She was staring at the depiction of a young angel, at the runes in the page. Her questions were less fast and energetic this time.

“And when I’m an adult? Will mine be bigger than his had been?”

Uriel frowned, holding a claw to his chin. While pondering, he tried to answer her doubts, which he had been forced to address.

“Demons tend to show more physical strengths than angels. I can’t be sure of it, but it is possible you’ll surpass him.”

She slowly looked at her limbs, intently. She had changed feathers recently. It felt strange, similar to what she had spied when Alexis felt sick, but completely different. With her last molting, they changed. She had grown, and her wings did too. Unable to cover all her skin like the previous ones, the new ones had grown different. Long strikes of black coursed through her feathers now, contrasting with the shining bronze color they displayed. If she were to open and outstretch her wings, they would look sharper and have the outlines of a claw. They were sharp, even if still similar to angelic ones. Her fur was less smooth, raspier to the touch.

She had grown, and there was no way they could not address it.

Ariel was nearby, browsing books of her own. But it was obvious she was listening closely, to something she had seen coming.

It was only when Aurora asked the next words that Ayako looked up from her hands.

“Will I lose them?”

Ayako’s blue eyes met with Uriel’s violet ones. Both hated to speak of this, but it was not something they could avoid any longer. It was part of their life, they had known it would come, for both.

It was Ayako who answered, while Uriel looked down with a grimace.

“You will not. Wings do not fall or crumble with time.”

For years, she had wondered why those scars were there. She had her suspicions before, but she had been kept in the dark. She had to know now.

“What took them away?”

She was not foolish. She knew scars were inflicted. She just wanted to know why… why she would sense fear in him when other demons would be mentioned. The implications haunted her. The answer was already clear, but she did not want it to be real. She just wanted to cling to her innocence.

Uriel answered her, as always.