Everything was silent, not a sound echoed in the dark. Not until the doors creaked open. Two hands trembled as they pushed, with doubt. Two wings shivered, both with cold and fear.

Alexis had not stopped looking for him. He had not seen Uriel since he got out of that retched place, when he ran away from him.

The hall was completely dark. Not a single candle was alight; there was no trace of him. Everything was silent, eerily.

“Uriel?!”

He hated silence. Still, Alexis ventured into the manor, dreadfully. He hoped that his demon had sought refuge here. However, part of him suspected that Uriel had not reached it, because he had not seen blood on the way. There was not a single drop of blood on the stony floor, and the doors had been slightly open, like how he left them. It seemed that no one had come back since he took flight.

Still, he got deeper into his former home; he kept looking at every door and dark room.

“Please, say something if you’re there! I don’t know what happened! I don’t…! I don’t understand!” But he knew he cut and pushed him. “I- I’m sorry!

His own voice echoed back to him, an echo that had no trace of the kind and caring voice that always answered him. He sobbed an angry intake of breath, and then began to hustle through older hallways.

He had to be here. He had to know what had happened, he had to understand. He had to be sure Uriel was safe, he had to find him, wherever he was hiding.

He opened with little care the living room’s door. He looked at every corner, at every single table and chair.

“…P-please…”

There was no fire in the fireplace.

The next place he went to was a small kitchen. Again, he did not see or hear Uriel. Not a single timid call, not a trace of the delicious smell from the food made with the most caring claws. The lights were off.

Alexis slammed a fist on the door frame. He was beginning to see blurry again, out of rage and impotence.

He was not dreaming. But he wished he really was in a nightmare; he felt like he was in one. He wished he had not seen those sharp stones, that red blood, the horror in those violet eyes, which looked up at him in pain. He wished Uriel would just come into the room and greet him good morning, like he did every day. He wanted all this to only be a bad dream, a sickening joke of his own thoughts, a play in his own mind.

But he was not there at all.

Alexis ran. He had always avoided the deeper corridors of this manor. He had always feared the dark. The rooms were gloomy and empty, but that did not halt him. He kept going through, searching in every hallway and turn. He called, praying to be heard.

“I’m sorry! I really don’t know what’s going on, I swear! Why did I-?!”

Why did I strike?

The angel halted his blind chase slowly. He stopped his senseless pursuit, of someone who was not there. He couldn’t keep going. He bowed his head, unable to keep his shoulders from shaking. His wings folded strongly against his back, almost painfully. His inner thoughts became clearer, but not less haunting.

Why did I move my wing on him?

His hands gripped the top of his wings angrily, he bended a little and screamed; he let everything out in an anguished yell. He pulled at his limbs fiercely, not caring that he ripped quite a few feathers off. His scream faded and turned into a soft cry, and slowly, he let himself lean against a wall. He had not rested since he had flown out the manor, he felt like he could break in two at any moment after what had happened.

While he rested there in despair, he leaned his head up tiredly. There was an armor near him. He dared move one of his hands up, to lay it on its helmet softly.

“God, are you there Uriel…? Please, c-can you hear me?” The armor gave no answer, and that made his heart twist. Still, he kept trying, after a long intake of breath. “L-listen, I did not mean it, I did not want to-”

Did I?

Alexis let go of the helmet with a wheeze, to hold his own head. His sudden movement made the helmet fall to the ground; it rolled at his feet noisily. His eyes stared wide at the floor, with fear, because he could hear the echo of a painful thought, which hurt to recognize.

Did I truly not mean it?

A sudden sense of dread overwhelmed him. He began to ponder his own actions.

Demons always felt forced to kill their angels, torn inside out by that horrible spell in their hearts. That spell afflicted Uriel, but he had never succumbed to it, he would never lay a claw on him to hurt him. His demon was stronger than the spell. On the other hand, Angels… his own kind never held back their wish to end all demons. They never felt the spell while they hunted, because they always had their objective clear in mind. They chased their demons, and ended their lives swiftly. They never doubted, they never ignored their duty. They wanted to follow their crusade. They always leaped willfully into the bloodshed.

Could they be…?

“D-did I-”

Did I feel compelled to push him?

Once he stepped on that precipice, and once he saw that Uriel was standing at the edge, over that huge fall… Something pulled at him; something made him swing his hand and weapon. He simply felt… cold. He acted without thought. He could not fight it in time. And then, to top it off, he helped him him fall… his own wing on his back.

Did angels feel compelled to kill at sight? That night, when he loomed over me, did I swing my sword because of it? Did I want to kill him when there could be a slim chance? Did I wish him dead?

Alexis closed his eyes and let himself slide down the wall. He held himself with his arms while he sat on the ground. His wings were shaking while he tried to cover himself; they were curling in reflex to comfort him, but he wanted them far, and kept moving them away at his sides. He clenched his hands on his chest, not knowing what he had felt. He did not know either if he had the right to apologize now.

It all dawned on him, finally, all which he had wanted to ignore. He had stabbed and pushed him, for him to fall to his death.

I have almost…

—————————————-

 

It was almost midnight.

She let out a happy sigh. Her hands gently lowered her cup of tea onto a table, as she smiled tiredly.

Ayako tucked her black cowl closer to her face and let it give her warmth, while the flames in the fireplace grew. She closed her eyes and leaned back on her chair, to enjoy the silence. In silence, she could think more calmly.

It had been a while since she paid them a visit.

She chuckled a little, because she really missed their laughs.

Maybe they were arguing right now, about all the mess in Alexis’ room. Last time she saw them, he had dropped too many feathers, in too many rooms. Uriel spent a whole week trying to find them all, only for more to appear around in unexpected places.

She wondered if Uriel had surrendered by now, or if he was being stubborn about order.

Maybe tomorrow… maybe I can fool Godric and fake another expedition. I could stay some days with them. I would only need to convince the two dorks to comb those wings, and then claim to have found another abandoned nest. If only Alexis stopped complaining that he did not want help, of course. Uriel did not seem to mind brushing the wings for him; he loves to take care of others, and he always-

A strong thud echoed at the door, and took her by surprise.

She quickly stood from the chair as she heard the knock. Someone was outside; it had not been the wind. That someone seemed to slump onto the door; some pained gasps echoed while she hurried to open.

It would not be the first time a wounded person was taken here, instead of to Godric. It was not common, but it was possible. She raised a hand to open the door, ready to help whoever needed it.

She was always ready… But she was not ready to see Uriel when she opened.

As soon as the door moved inwards… Uriel let out a wheeze and slumped forward into her cabin. She reacted fast and held him, even if she was taken aback. No matter how much pain he was feeling, he used his remaining strength to not crush her under his weight; he supported himself by laying a claw on a wall. A shiver ran down Ayako’s back, because she saw Uriel’s wounds under the moonlight. His free claw was on his side, trying to hide the long wound. His face was cut too; she could see one of his fangs below his torn jaw. He was crying, with a haunted and dazed gaze.

Uriel was broken. Not only in body. Ayako’s voice wavered; he was trying to keep himself awake, pale with blood loss.

“…U-uri?

He finally managed to look up a little after a pained exhale. Ayako did not let go of him while he held onto her shoulder.

“A-al- H-he-” Another wave of pain struck him, for the fall had almost been lethal. “Ah-gh…!”

He winced and coughed some blood. He almost crumbled down with the pain, but she held him; she did, but not without struggle. Ayako huffed, because Uriel was very tall and weighed more than others. She panicked in her own mind, but outside she held a calm stance. She did not allow herself to let go, not when he would fall onto the ground if she did.

“C-come on Uriel, hold on.”

Uriel did not object when she pulled at him carefully. She helped him limp towards her chair, and then eased him onto it. She did not make a single sudden move, deadly afraid of worsening those wounds. Once he was safely sat on the chair, she crouched at his side, to look at his eyes. He was struggling to keep himself awake.

He had run for his life. He had only been able to think of one thing, of the only person he could trust now. He ran west, where he knew she had her cabin, in the outskirts of human territory. He had been terrified, he had fled blindly. It did not do his wounds any favor.

But… here he was now. He was safe. He could feel her hands; she was running her fingers over his cheek gently, to inspect the cut. He could see those beautiful caring blue eyes, even if he had to close his eyes in pain from time to time. He knew she was not faking her care and worry.

He trembled when he heard her voice again, full of fear.

“W-what happened to you, Uriel?”

Ayako could not stop looking at the blood. She could not avoid asking herself what did this, what could have caused this much harm. She had seen a lot of blood in her life; she had fought angels and demons. She could not imagine what left him like this. He looked torn, literally. One side of his face was mangled; apart of the slash, he had multiple cuts all over his body. The blood was drying, but the wounds were still fresh. She could see too much, open flesh.

The demon tried to contain another sob, when he heard what Ayako said next.

“W-where… Where is Alexis?”

He could not stand hearing that name. He could not stand hearing it from her, not with that kind voice, that care.

“I don’t k-know.” She slowly let go of him, because his voice suddenly tainted with hate. “I- I wish I knew, Ayako. Before he knows where I am.”

“What-”

“He…” He finally opened his eyes. He moved away his claw, and let her realize that the gash was weapon made. “H-he did this to me!”

She stared at him, frozen. That shock soon faded below disbelief, she began to ponder. He was coughing blood and growling deeply. His eyes were looking at hers, like if he wanted to tell her everything with just a glance. His expression was sorrowful, angered and full of hatred.

Uriel felt more betrayed when Ayako shook her head, confused and disbelieving. Her voice trembled with doubt, and that pierced his heart more deeply than any stone could.

“This cut- Alexis?” Ayako raised a hand to her forehead, and looked again at his wounds. “H-he could have not… Uriel, tell me what happened, he would never-”

She never thought that Uriel would yell at her. She never imagined he could speak to her with disdain and bitterness. But that was what he did then, angered by her doubt. He stood from the chair with a pained but furious snarl; all his agony faded below the rage.

“He would!… And he did!” His tail whipped on the floor fiercely, his claws clenched at his sides, and his eyes sharpened with disgust. However, that hate was not for her; no matter if he was looking at her eyes, he could only see golden wings and stones covered in red. “H-he shoved me down a ledge to die! He had no guts to fight face to face! He only used lies and faked innocence to lure me to my demise!”

Ayako still did not believe his claim, not even if she saw honesty in Uriel’s eyes. Alexis would never do such thing. The angel she knew never lied. She knew he couldn’t. So she looked up at Uriel again, with a deep frown. She stood firm, she tried to reason before assuming and blaming.

“Uriel, please, tell me how it happened. It could have been an accident! He would not do this! I should speak with him, maybe… Maybe he-!”

Ayako fell silent, because Uriel laid his claws on her cheeks. They were sharp, but they did not cut her. He was holding her face gently, like how he would do with kindness; but Ayako knew better. Something in her told her to not move, something in his cold stance and gaze. His flaming eyes only had apprehension, pain… and rage.

He had come to find her, sure that only she could help him when he most needed it. He had thought she would understand, because she had understood the pain he had suffered, the deep and horrible torment from that spell. She had seen how angels could be, she had killed.

Then why does she not believe in my words now?

Uriel whispered to her with a sweet tone… which hid the resentful hiss under his breath.

“He has only fed you lies and empty promises…”

She had fallen for them as well. And she couldn’t see it.

Ayako shuddered under his gentle but firm grip; because she saw his eyes glint aflame, suddenly. It gave the room an eerie light, a glow much stronger than the one of the fireplace burning behind her. His shadow began to loom behind him and over her, taller, bigger; until it resembled the true figure of a demon: horns raising tall, a tail swaying in dashes… That shadow could very well be the manifestation of his true nature. He was a being easily lost in anger, no matter how much kindness and care he had in his heart.

Right now, Uriel’s heart was black. Ayako raised her hands to his, to try to make him let go. There were flames in his feral eyes, and she could not see the Uriel she knew anymore.

“Uriel, sto-!”

Uriel did not listen. Ayako’s words died short, a breathless sigh escaped her instead. The fire in his eyes had glinted, and then sunk into hers. The flames flowed from both their gazes, connected, warm and unnatural. Ayako was only able to shed a tear as he seized her mind.

As much as it hurt him to do this… he could not let him fool her. He couldn’t let her believe lies. He wouldn’t allow her to be backstabbed.

Angels were cold creatures. And cold was what Alexis would receive.

Uriel cried silently, but he did not show doubt in his firm expression. When Ayako crumbled and slumped down under his spell, he held her tight in his arms. He sought and took every single memory, every single second she spent with the angel. He clawed at everything; he erased, ripped and blocked it all away. He hid it in the deepest reigns of her mind, forgotten. He only left the memories of himself; he changed her remembrance of how they met. He left all the time he shared with her in her mind, but void of any glance of those amber eyes.

There was only the knowledge that an angel had roamed: his hunter, an assassin that he had refused to fight.

“I trusted him…”

Ayako could not retort or even think while his own truth settled in her conscience.

“He lied to me.”

She felt empty. Something was missing. But everything felt in place at the same time.

“He tried to kill me.”

Her head was hurting… But her heart could only beat for one thing now. She could only hear the whispers that called her, with that soft voice.

“…I need you, Ayako.”

The fog in her thoughts seemed to fade, slowly. Uriel’s spell finally let go. Their tears were still falling while the flames died.

Ayako was lying limp in his arms, a dead weight onto his chest, without recognition in her eyes. She was barely awake… but that, she did not know.

She eventually moved a little in his hold. She looked up slowly, into his eyes. He glanced down at her with sorrow, because she was clearly affected by the flames. She did not move much, but she did brush a hand against his chest, carefully. The cuts seemed to be all that she could focus on. She took a while to recover and wake from the trance.

Everything was falling into its place in her mind. Uriel knew she had forgotten all when she whispered.

“I won’t let it kill you, Uriel.”

She had no care for that monster in her beautiful voice anymore. She feared for him, and only him.

Uriel closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against hers; he sighed with extreme respite and sorrow. Ayako returned his hold and rested her head on his shoulder.

The hunter stared at a wall, with a cold and angered gaze. She wiped blindly the tear that was falling from Uriel’s cheek, to not let it fall on the cut of his jaw. Her other hand was caressing his back, while her fingers felt every drop of blood, every single stab.

An angel did this.

Her mind had no trace of her joy and kindness. It had no trace of the care she had felt. She could only feel hatred. She had reasons to hunt again.

————————————————

She made sure her crossbow was fixed on her back, without forgetting about her ammunition in her belt. She gave her cabin a last glance, with melancholy.

Uriel had finally managed to sleep. She had bandaged as much as she could his wounds. He had been trying to stay awake, anxiously.

She was leaving, but she could still hear his laments in her mind. He whispered weakly as he struggled to stay awake.

“He had a nest in the northern woods. Follow the river, Ayako. …If only I hadn’t broken that gem, I could… know where he…”

She did not need that stone to find it.

Ayako looked away from her home, in order to look ahead, with a determined and furious glare. She could see how the hills ended in the distance; she could see the huge woods ahead.

Uriel looked through the window, from the bed where he was resting. He had his hand on his chest when he heard the whistle outside.

She can find Alexis.

He let out a growl, wishing he could follow her. He was forced to rest, try to calm down, to not break the bandages or open his wounds.

He would follow her steps once he could move. He was sure that the bastard would flee, like he did the first time he saw him. So he felt like he had enough time to recover a little, and then find him alive, to see with his own eyes the fear in his.

He only had to let her chase first. Soon, he would join her.

He stopped feigning being asleep; he lied down fully and tried to rest on the bed. He was sure he was safe. Thanks to her.