He still could not understand it.

No matter how closely, how intently he looked into those caring eyes, he could not grasp why. He was staring at the same expression he had seen once, even though they were not the same angel. He did not feel like he was in the courtroom, but in the ruins of a temple, in front of someone he had known. Her voice had been strong and firm, as he knew it to be. But as well, it was so full of that care, that delusion.

“That vile you talk of…” Reut had looked him in the eye that day, and like Alexis, she showed no sign of remorse or clarity. “That human, was my husband, Philander. I will never apologize for what I have shared with him, no matter how much you wish I do. Meeting that man opened my eyes, to the true vile present today. I won’t let you make me repent.”

She had called him a coward. She shamed him in front of her past comrades, even though he was offering her a way out. That day, he saw her after many years; but it was not her anymore.

The woman he had spent many years training with was gone. Faint were the memories in which she spoke with honor and purity. Even here in this trial, he could hear her, see her by the abyss after their daily sparring. Her eyes were much clearer then, when they shared the same convictions and beliefs.

“I will soon descend. Like you did.” She had gifted him one of her rare soft glances, always hidden under her stone like features. “After one hundred years, I will return stronger and wiser. Greater than you.”

He admired her pride then.

“I will wait patiently for your return, to test your greatness in person.”

Her eagerness, her might, her purity and strength. All gone. All changed in her. All because…

“How curious is humanity.” He neared Alexis, who still seemed lost in his own memories. “You do care for that human.”

While Alexis took his time to look up sternly, Einar snarled, all ever distant of understanding real care.

“How could an angel care for one who dares confront them, much less one who rips wings?!”

“That, I wonder too, Einar.” Philander could not be any closer. He looked deeply into Alexis’ amber eyes, hoping to find what he missed in Reut’s. “That woman changed you.”

Alexis spoke again after a long while. And Philander felt lost, like many millennia ago, because he was faced with the same look of pity.

“If she did change me, it was not in the way you think, Phil.” Alexis smiled sadly with his eyes closed, feeling true pity for any other angel around him. “She took my wings, yes, but I can’t hate her. Don’t try to shift blame onto humans now, Phil. There is no secret to it: there are no cryptic enchantments or corrupting rituals. She hurt me more than anyone could have, but only because I would have never expected it from her. Her actions were not out of malice; she thought she was facing an evil being, an angel. Most humans believe us to be monsters, like you claim devils are. I hope you can see the irony. If she had known she was being lied to, that she was being pulled by strings, she would have not done what she did. Neither of them would have hurt me.”

“Yet you were still wounded in the end.” The question came, all ever ignorant. “You keep denying their faults. How can you not see the constant pattern that those beings display? Both humans and devils sin, without end.”

Again and again, like a snake biting its own tail, all blame would be placed on others. He was so tired of it.

“Like I said, race has nothing to do with anything. The blame must be put on the ones who really want to pour blood, just for the sake of it. I really wish that your blindness was the same as hers that day, a simple spell, but I know you are willfully ignorant. There is no reasoning with you, and I won’t bother, not when Reut tried already.”

Philander took a step back, expression turning into a blank stare. Not even Einar dared to break the tense silence that grew between Alexis and him. All questioned what the angel of red wings would do next, for he had not been this tense before.

No matter how strange and foreign he found Alexis’ words, Philander was not a man who would surrender easily.

“…” Philander shook his head downwards with a small sad grin. And Alexis knew then that he was right, that there was no way to bridge their beliefs. “That child, what you must call daughter… her birth really must have been a world changing occurrence for you. Reut would rather die than admit how horrible Zelophehad’s birth was. That young demon is so similar, yet so different. What wouldn’t you do for your own blood?”

Alexis smiled too, but much more maliciously and threateningly. He did not doubt to tilt his head and pull at the shackles to get closer to Philander, just to say a few words after his pause.

“I would come get you from the grave, Phil, if you dare take one step towards that damn abyss.”

Philander did not feel threatened, not when Zelophehad had promised worse things in the past.

“She means the world to you, doesn’t she?”

Their stare down ended when Philander let out a long sigh. They were getting nowhere, and this little show of defiance had not gotten any favors from the elders, who watched them from above.

Einar saw his chance to speak, noticing that the defense was not using their time accordingly.

“This has gone on long enough.” Einar marched to the center of the room, raising his hands with exasperation. “All this has just proven one thing highness. And it is not his angelic nature. As I said, no angel would allow a human to disrespect us. We have heard enough; not only he succumbed to her attack, but he then went on and… ughh… had offspring with her. Disgusting. Completely unangelic and… we could say, devilish. I plead, highness. This trial does not need to see more suns set. Let us sentence him to the pyres and-”

“Not so fast, Einar.”

Einar turned slowly. Very slowly. His eyes could have stabbed Philander with how sharp and narrowed they got. He hated Philander’s condescending tone.

“What now.” Einar boasted, wings open, as tired of the trial as the scribes were. “What more ramblings and metaphors can you invoke to dodge the fire he so deserves? Let this demon burn like your nemesis did!”

Philander held his two hands together, walking to Einar like a disappointed teacher would.

“Have you proven he is a devil?”

Einar was prideful, and would not evade a verbal confrontation.

“I have. You can’t say I haven’t, for you have not proven anything either.”

“Perhaps. We should then consider our claims to be merely arguments from ignorance, a common fallacy.” He laughed silently, amused by Einar’s aggressive stance. “If you are so eager to reach an agreement, I have one last test, one last thing that could end this.”

Einar scoffed, glaring coldly as he taunted.

“Oh, and what could it be?” He used a defiant tone, annoyed by Philander’s past actions. “You have not allowed me to test some of my own theories, after all. It better bring a clear conclusion. Expect sanctions if not.”

“I shall expect no such thing, Einar. I promise this is all we need.” He frowned, looking sideways. “However, it must be allowed, given permission.”

The high priest raised an eyebrow, surprised by the words that were solemnly spoken by Philander next.

“Highness, I do not have the power needed to prove his blood is not demonic. That skill has only been earned by mighty angels in the past, far more ancient than I am. It is a spell long ago forgotten, too fierce to grasp by our humble hands.” He raised a wing and an arm, pointing upwards, to an angel who had lived longer and through simpler times. “There is only one who could bring this spell to this courtroom. I am in no position to demand it to be invoked, but I will plead for it to be carried through. If he must burn, let it be with that fire, the one which turns any devil to ashes.”

A deadly spell, golden and fiery.

Alexis cringed, not because he feared said fire, but because he remembered what it did when he last saw it. Flesh would melt. Bones would crack. What was once a living being would break into dust, slowly but without halt. That unnatural glow would not burn, but decompose anything it could crawl through.

Many considered burning alive the worst death of all, but it could not compare with that incantation. To see the high priest consider Philander’s request left him no doubt that they were ruthless against what they considered lower beings.

“That is a daring request indeed, Philander.” The priest smiled, like if he was not speaking of murder and tyranny. It was so similar to the day Alexis fell. “Elders are not ones to cast their incantations freely.”

Philander bowed, wings and all.

“I know, and I repent for my boldness.” He lifted his head a little, all ever cunning. “However, I must ask. Would the elders allow an angel to burn in fire that humans hold? I believe they are wiser than that, that they will only use holy fire to commit such task.”

He only needed to question the elders’ highness and ego, and he knew it well.

Einar knew it too. With one little glance, Philander could see that the prosecution felt cornered.

“Highness, there is no need for-”

He was sharply silenced, not with words, but with actions. Before he could finish, the high priest moved. But it was in a way that only an angel would, a way in which allowed him to remain seated. All the room witnessed those wings open wide, calmly yet strongly. They were neatly folded before, but when opened, the high priest allowed everyone to see how time had let them grow more than others. That single calm but sharp move had instant repercussions; the lights that were captive in crystals died out, killed by the rush of air he silently invoked into the room.

Alexis let his breath out once his vision adjusted to the sudden eerie darkness. No matter of which standing the angels belonged to, nobility, scribes and elders grew tense and silent, startled by the sudden harshness.

However, none dared to speak against it. Not even Einar. The angel of silver wings backed away slowly from the seats of the elders, small in comparison. All shrank under the figure that stood slowly. Philander moved away too, satisfied.

The high priest stood tall on the step of his seat, while eclipsing the faint light that came through the windows behind him. His hand ventured to his side while he spoke, to grasp his old long jeweled staff.

“I will be the one to decide what is of need.” He smiled a little, like a parenting figure would, and it was a threat that even the most skilled soldier felt. “No child of this world shall die like a devil.”

He made no sound at all when he descended to ground level, and it made his advancing moves all the more unreal.

Alexis took a step back instinctively, but he found himself stopped by the chains that had him bound to the stand. He looked down to them, and those seconds only made him regret looking away. Because when he looked up again, the high priest was right in front of him.

The day he fell, the day his world changed, he had seen this angel. Again, today he was examined, calmly and carefully. However, this time the priest did not circle him. Strangely, without him doing so, he felt like he was looking deeper into him. He looked at him differently.

The silence could have been grasped. The seconds that passed under his presence could not have been counted, not because of their numbers.

The priest’s hands moved at last, solemnly. The staff twisted slowly, and Alexis could do nothing but stare while it was laid on his chest, pushing against the black robes he was given. His heartbeat pulsed against the jewel that crowned it. His eyes wandered onto the runes that were engraved at its sides. And when he was spoken to, he met those smiling eyes, with true fear.

“If there is to be light in this chamber-” Words were needed to kill, and he only gave him one more second before saying them. “Let it come from the fire that ends you.”

Like an arrow being shot, the initial spark was too fast for their eyes to catch. Not even their inhuman eyesight could resist the blinding light that engulfed the staff.

Alexis cowered and tried to use his arms to shield himself, even though he knew he was not going to burn. The memory of flesh melting was that hurtful. After yanking on the chains, he fell back towards the sharp point of the jewel, which was immovable, fixed on him.

Finally, his eyes gained some clarity. He was the last one to adapt to the sudden light, due to the fact that he was at point blank. He breathed out with a grimace, as did everyone else around him.

The fire did crawl onto him, like if it was made of claws and vines. But as much as it looked like hellfire, it was all too cold. It made him shiver. It made him cringe with disgust. He stood there, eyeing warily how it seemed to be alive. It pulsed. It desperately climbed over his chest and shoulders, reaching up to his face. It caressed him, hoping to find flesh to devour. But every time it expanded, it would soon shrink and fade downwards, unable to feed.

When the fire finally recoiled back to his chest, only the staff’s glowing runes kept it alive.

Alexis breathed out multiple times, to then snarl and look the priest in the eye. The room was dismayed when he lashed out, when he snatched the end of the staff and gripped it tightly. The high priest saw something that only Philander noticed, when Alexis moved against his boundaries to whisper.

“That isn’t going to kill me.”

He had felt worse things.

The priest’s eyes showed true shock and interest, for the runes under Alexis’ hand glinted and faded. It was not the priest’s words which allowed the fire to finally die out.

Quickly, he moved the staff away, surprised to see something unusual. He did not hint it in his stance, but he could not fathom how the accused could have done such thing. It was something only a few could do; only he had been alive long enough to do so today. Until now.

Philander watched with a frown as the high priest turned away, not giving Alexis any more looks or thoughts. He did not state the obvious and spoke rather hurriedly, even though his voice was composed.

“By sword shall he die, before the entire citadel.”

Alexis glared all the way to the seats, where the priest seated again. He was evading his eyes, not daring to smile again. Philander did not know if to feel thankful for the final sentence, because it was spoken like if it was given to a devil.

“If I may, highness-”

Philander stopped, because the rest of the elders warned.

“No more debates. Only the last steps of the trial.”

“The verdict is set. And it shall be written in stone.”

“Our eyes do not need to witness more to reach a decision.

“Now your place and be grateful for your accomplishment.”

They felt generous, because death by sword was something to commend in their culture. Though, it was obvious they did not wish to gift it, not with how the high priest looked at Alexis.

But they had no choice. An angel would never be killed in any other way.

Philander bowed once more, glad that he had proven Alexis was indeed part of their kind, even though with unexpected effects to the high priest’s mood.

“Very well.”

He turned with a sigh, letting his arms rest behind him. He eyed the chamber tiredly, glad that some servants were lighting the glassy orbs in order to bring some light.

It was time, and he was glad it was.

“Alexis.” The accused tensed, not liking the way he was neared. Not one bit. “Soon, in a few moons, you shall be put down. I may have saved you from crimes that you are not guilty of, but you still have committed one I will make sure you pay for.”

The next words were truly meant. Philander resented him for something, and he ensured to whisper it to him, loud and clear.

“You shielded the monster I spent ages chasing. The one that ended countless innocent lives, not only my most valued brothers and sisters. You could have ruined everything I fought for. For refusing to confront the tyrant who reduced that world into a wasteland, I will take your family’s sword, and kill you like I killed him.”

Alexis smiled darkly, knowing he could say anything and suffer no worse repercussion.

“Finally. I was getting tired of hearing you all ramble.”

Philander frowned. Even if lenient, he did not appreciate being taunted. It brought him bad memories of a four winged devil.

“If I were you, I would consider fearing death.” He taunted back, without tone or inflexion. “I hope you can see my future slaying from wherever you are.”

“Be careful, because it may be your end what I will see, Phil. My demon is not going to just stand there while you try to cut his head off like mine. He is better at tearing through things than me. You-”

Their discussion ended when another voice called out, outraged and full of disbelief.

“Who gives you the right to claim my heirloom?”

Philander blinked and turned, surprised to see Einar glaring at him.

He soon understood. He was not the only one who wished to kill Alexis with all his soul.

“And what gives you the right to deny it?”

Einar advanced to the center of the room, while Philander did the same. Alexis shook his head while he witnessed a pointless and heated argument, which he added to the list of things he wanted to be over.

“I shall wield it, Philander.” Einar pointed the tips of his wings to his own chest, boasting his rights. “It has belonged to me since I surrendered my freedom to a warrior’s life.”

“You gave it away though. To him.”

“Yet he has proven he does not deserve it.” That was something that would not convince anyone of his right, so he added. “I am the prosecution. The defense has no right to take the executioner’s role.”

“You forget who brought him here to be punished. I defeated him. I carried him all the way to that portal, even though I was worn from battle.”

“And you pretend to use that achievement to lessen my merits?” Einar puffed out a little, eyes and stance cold as ice. “I have served in that world too. I have slayed my share of demons. You may have spent a longer time serving, but that does not mean you are owed this honor. Zelophehad was your target, your greatest ambition. I have my own.”

His eyes shifted while he said that last part. He had a murderous look on his face, and it was all meant for his son.

Philander considered pushing forward. But he knew that look. Einar wanted one thing, more than he had wanted Zelophehad dead, if possible.

He had been lenient. He had shielded him of mistreatment while in that cell. He had been just. It was time he stepped aside, to let him pay for what he did. He would do nothing but watch now.

The angel of silver wings felt a shiver of satisfaction when Philander nodded and stepped back. The way was left open for him to walk towards the accused.

At last, no one stood between him and Alexis.

One step at a time, Einar enjoyed savoring the look on Alexis’ face. Cornered, with no way out, he could say to him what he had wanted to say since the trial had begun.

Above, two eyes had never closed. Sharpened, inhuman and unblinking, every move and word had been engraved into her. She watched closely how the angel of silver wings unsheathed the longsword on his belt, like how she had watched the staff move moments ago. She paid close attention in the dark, restless in between an uncaring crowd, unable to move while that man threatened her father once more.

Angus gripped her arm very tightly, because it shook with rage while the hateful words flowed. The two were unseen as always, because all eyes were fixated on how Einar toyed with his longsword, admiring its edges and runes.

“This ancient weapon will run across your neck, from back to front, in a swift and strong motion.” Alexis flinched when Einar twirled the sword elegantly, too close for his liking. “Your blood will paint the white slabs where you shall kneel, and the runes of this heirloom will glint when-”

He paused. Einar looked closely at the runes of the sword, which he held with both hands in front of his face.

What was a tense and cold narration, soon turned into an uncomfortable scene. Alexis could see Einar’s face turn red, for the first time in his life. He smiled nervously when his father began to raise his gaze to him with an incredulous look. If Alexis could have done so, he would have pulled at his collar anxiously.

“What have you…” Einar glanced at the runes once more. Some had been messed with. Scratches and marks covered some runes that his family had defined as the most important. The two he less expected to be erased were the most insulting to find gone. “What have you done to the sword?!”

Alexis shrugged sheepishly. He really dared to shrug and look sideways when questioned about it.

Einar’s blood boiled. Once more, Alexis had managed to make him angry, to let his emotions get the best of him. It was not a pretty sight for anyone.

“Take him away from my sight! Now!” The soldiers by the stand obeyed right away, having been waiting his orders since he appointed himself as the executioner. “Take him to his cell and do not let him see any light until he meets his final day! He will pay for every single offense he has dared commit!”

Alexis huffed and gasped, shoved once unchained. The big guys at his sides did not lead him away, but dragged him strongly. Einar kept huffing, even when Alexis had already gone through the doors and was out of the courtroom.

It was worse when he noticed that Philander had roamed towards him, when he heard him whisper in an ushered manner.

“It would be best if you don’t display this rage in the execution, Einar. Don’t you think?”

Einar turned slowly. He then growled strongly, seeing that all the elders were eyeing him.

Philander smiled and walked away, leaving him alone while the whole court was slowly disassembled.

The nobility stood from the rows, but remained leisurely by them. While they exchanged formal echoes of what had already been discussed, the scribes did use their time for more meaningful tasks. Gathering their quills, papers and inkwells, they hid their sore hands into their sleeves, while making their way out of the doors that led to the halls.

Angus was not surprised when his own scribe stood like the rest. But what once were wary steps now were fast and direct dashes through the crowd.

He chased. He was the only angel of high standing that gave his servant that much attention or thought. From all those soldiers and priests, he was the only one who walked out of the courtroom early.

Aurora had won some ground away from him. She was parting from the rest, head bowed, eyes hidden even from him. He had to gently push some scribes to reach her. And when he did, he had to call in order to gain her attention.

“Wait.”

She did not answer or look back. She walked past the soldiers standing by the statues and banners, like if they were all invisible to her.

Only a strong yank stopped her. The soldiers did not feel any sympathy for a scribe being mishandled, as it was a common occurrence. What they did not know, was that the grip of Angus’ hand was caring, and not all that harsh.

It did stop her. But she did not look at him when she spoke.

“You were right.”

That was all she would say.

Aurora was thankful that he loosened his grip. Angus did nothing but stare as she followed the rush of scribes around them. She hid in between them, like she hid her tears in her eyes. Soon she could not be recognized between all those figures that headed to the streets.

He knew where she was headed. But meeting her there would not be pretty.

——————————

 

In the darkness, away from the outside world, she did not feel any safer. As she let her arms rest onto the desk and fixed her gaze on nothing, she could not find any comfort. She did not react at all when Angus entered into the forge after her. She did not feel any difference when he closed the door and the faint echoes of the city died out.

There was no silence, even though the only sound they could hear was her breaths.

“Aurora-”

“Clueless.” Angus frowned deeply. He did not protest to how she slammed a fist on the desk in anguish, in impotence. “I’ve been clueless all this time. And I still am, aren’t I?”

He whispered, knowing well that she felt toyed with, foreign near things that she should have been familiar with.

“What you have heard, I knew there was no way you would not find out. Be it today, or in the future.” He glared to the window, resentful. “You might have not had any clue before, but you are not the true fool here. They could not have kept it hidden forever. Lies are always found.”

She grinned and let her fangs show after hours of secrecy, all ever tired. She still did not turn to look back while she commented angrily.

“Every time I have to look back, every single good memory seems to have a new catch. The way he would act around me, I don’t remember those times like simple playtime anymore. All the days I would accompany my mother hunting, I can’t stop thinking of those arrows, or what she shot at. The way Uriel would pick carefully what I would read with Ariel, it has a new meaning. I smiled then. But I feel weird about it now. And my present does not look any brighter. It is so strange to find out everyone hates you. Heck, that your own grandfather hates your guts. I didn’t even know I had one, Angus. In those happy days… I b-barely even heard of you. Before I knew his wings had been ripped, this place was just a fairytale, a thing to fall asleep with. I kept on ignoring it all, blissfully. It was just… something I could not see. ” She looked up at last, and Angus’ heart broke when he noticed her dejected smile. “How many more things I will have to figure out on my own? What more will I have to hear and see? What more are they hiding?”

Some people would say ignorance was bliss. She could see why.

“I am sorry you have had to find out like this, kid.” He stepped closer, carefully. Like an animal, she was standing in the darkest corner. He did not miss how her wings flinched when he laid a hand on them for comfort. “You three seem to be the only ones he is able to fool.”

Aurora sobbed silently and narrowed her eyes. She asked with a shake of head, unnerved.

“S-so… she doesn’t even know. She really does not.”

Angus nodded, letting the notion fill her mind.

“Alexis and Uriel kept it secret. And you might have to.” Angus warned, but did not forbid any actions with his next words. “I hope you know, lass, that Uriel has kept this away for a reason. One I do not agree with, but one I understand. Your sister has no clue either. They have been so careful, for so long. Truth can hurt like…” This was not the time to curse. He changed subject. “I can’t give you the reason, Aurora. Just know that Alexis tried to lie to me too. To protect her.”

Aurora knew love when she heard it. She knew there was real care in Alexis when she heard him confess.

It was another thing what she did not understand.

“I heard that magic had something to do with it.” She whispered, fearful of doing so. “What I want to know is… why? Why would she rip them? Why would she want to forget? Why must she be the one to be protected? Why lie?”

Her mother was not one to hide. She was a woman who chased any threat, fought every conflict. If she would run, it would be to act, not to evade burden. She was a careless human who did not fear self-harm.

Ayako had promised them that she refused to hunt down an angel; one. But it was yet again a lie. All she knew to be true would always be false.

She asked herself this, while the evening turned into night. The shadows she had seen while coming to this house had grown. And with it, as promised, two shades neared unseen.

Angus took a deep breath. Her blue eyes sharpened when he offered in a reluctant whisper.

“Can’t answer any of those things.” There was a huge shadow looming over the windows. It came from above, where it waited patiently for all lights to die out. “But he may.”

Aurora turned slowly. Her expression was blank, hiding all the turmoil inside.

Like a monster in a nightmare, the doorknob twisted slowly. The figure stepped slowly in. Those violet eyes glinted in the dark room, never blinking or closing.

Uriel stood there, frozen. It was not Angus’ gaze which he found fear inducing. No, what made him freeze and hold his breath was the intense blue glint in the opposite side of the room. Like two gleaming daggers, her eyes fixed on his. Demonic, but full of fragile human emotion, they were not the ones he had seen grow through the years.

Her own daughter moved away from him, when she herself saw the pain that those eyes were accusing him of, wordlessly.

The next question came with a tone that would have shattered him once more.

“Why?”

He would have broken down. But he had to answer first. He would have to stand trial before two judges.

There was no hiding now.