Episode 20

After a brief pause, he opened his eyes and let his hands return to his sides. He spoke again, sounding almost somewhat forlorn. Perhaps even regretful. "Goodbye, Bast. They now know of your intentions, and I do wish you well. When we meet once more, and we will meet again, unfortunately, it may not be as civilized or on good terms. We all will have our roles to play." Without another word or glance, he and his escorts walked out into the night. Through the window of the door, you could see their wings expand from seemingly nowhere as their forms took off into the sky.

As soon as they were gone, I allowed my energy to stop projecting. Everyone in the dining area was instantly relieved and inhaled more fervently. Someone could be heard coughing. Alaric was still standing there with his arms crossed, leaning into the doorway that led to the small dining room behind him. His pants were made to mimic woven cotton. They looked loose and comfortable. Reasonably practical as well. A certain... area was very visually prominent in his current stance. I licked my lips and let my eyes dance slowly upward as I admired him physically. Our eyes met, and he was glowering. A smirk began to form. Maybe glowering wasn't the correct word. He was enjoying being closely regarded. He was tickled.

I ignored this and stayed the course. Normally, I would generously stroke his ego for him. I was in no mood for it. Time was not on my side, and I needed to get away as quickly as possible. I walked past him as if he were not even there. No one stopped me on my path to the door David and his crew had used. It seemed this was the favored exit. No words were spoken as I preferred, though I could feel Alaric's unwavering gaze as I moved. When I made it there and began to turn the nob, I paused. Something made me stop. I can't explain what it was. A feeling in my depths was telling me not to go. That I couldn't go. I was where I needed to be. I turned around, and my gaze shifted from person to person, landing finally on the old woman.

She did not look well. So frail, I decided I would wait patiently for her to finish recovering. She waved at Khaleel, still hunched over the sink, and pointed to a cabinet above him to the left. He grabbed a glass and filled it at the sink. The angel looked a bit green in the face, and the old lady's breath was still achingly heavy, making a slight gasp for air every so often as he handed her the glass of water. It trembled in her shaky hands as she brought it to her paper-thin lips. After a few small sips, she set the glass down, closed her eyes, and took a few deep breaths. They fell directly on me when they opened, and she gave a weak smile.

It was genuine, which was nice to see. Observing this, I decided to be relatively pleasant. Normally, I would not give them a second thought in this circumstance. My family would come and surely kill them for even having the slightest contact with me. I owed them absolutely nothing. Especially after bringing David here, effectively adding more variables into the fold! They were innocent, though, however ignorant they may be. Still, and I'll be very clear, I am not under any obligation to spare their lives. Knowing all of this, I stay standing in that doorway, feeling compelled to remain here. Maybe it was to not be rude. At the very least, I can afford them a proper farewell. Or perhaps it was the superficial pressure and warmth I felt from Alaric's gaze when it was on me. It felt comforting in a way.

This was chilling to me. I admit to knowing this to be true, and even still, I did not waiver. I should have run far away from here. This was a mistake! What I was experiencing was unfathomable. In all my lives, I have never held witness to this. My feelings were always primal. It's what I was. Emotion was simple for me at best. Black and White. This or That. As straightforward as they can get. Carnal. This was not anything like the sensations that I was normally accustomed to. It was complicated and highly involved. Layers were existing on top of one another in ways I never knew existed. It was nowhere near customary! This did not bode well. It was beautiful, though. I found myself feeling a need to experience more and test its limitations. More importantly, I need to find a way to block them out entirely when needed.

His green eyes devoured mine every time they met. They were begging to be let in. I held his peering eyes fixedly, and a tantalizing chill ran down my spine straight to my desire. There was an itch building within me that I needed to scratch. The heat was building in my chest, and my eyelids fell slightly. My lips parted briefly. This was new. Once again, I am finding myself imagining my unconscious form being dressed by another. Now, instead, Alaric is the one set to the task. His large, strong hands brushing over and lingering in certain places. The heart that was in my chest made a sort of fluttering. These sensations, indeed, were new and fresh. They were frightening. I should've made my hasty retreat, floating out of the tiny house unnoticed.

Instead, here I stood before them, unmoving. I sucked in a short breath and broke eye contact, addressing the room entirely, "It would be best if you did not linger here. Grab everything you need and leave this place." The grin on Alaric's face slowly disappeared, and Ryn became a bit wide-eyed. Khaleel remained hunched over next to the sink. He must come from a weaker bloodline. The old woman remained seated silently regarding me. No one made a single sign that they would be moving anytime soon, so I reiterated in another way, hoping their feeble minds might understand, "It is no longer safe. Do you have somewhere else where you can rest for a few days?"

To this, Ryn cast her eyes around the room. Alaric stood with his brow furrowed and large arms across his muscular chest, deep in thought. The old woman sat there as if she were waiting for something. I shook my head and continued. What was it that they didn't understand? I know that lessers can be a bit daft, but this is unprecedented. "Any relatives... Friends? Think of places you can move through and rotate. This may be a pattern you must maintain for many years." Ryn's head snapped to me, and I could feel her wide chestnut eyes bore in. Moisture started licking the corners of them.

Khaleel, who finally recovered, still looked quite pale. His eyes slowly surveyed the room. Maybe I was finally making some headway here, "You heard David, yes? There will be beings and forces you can't possibly comprehend coming to look for me. They will not be patient, understanding, or kind. They will not ask any questions, but they will take their answers. I have been kind to you, for you have been kind to me. These beings will not bat an eye as they own little to no perception or perspective of empathy for creatures such as yourselves. They look for me as we speak and will invade your mind for what they need. Then, if that doesn't do it, they will destroy you. It is a pain beyond anything you can fathom and if perchance you did survive, you would be damaged beyond repair!"

I needed them to listen. My entire being needed them to heed this warning. The grandmother cleared her throat, but it was Alaric who spoke. His tone was rather critical, and I did not like it at all, "So do something about it." He was now standing with fists balled at each side. I blinked at him. He sounded too accusatory for my fancy. I then glared at him. I couldn't help but not. The gall of this one. His green eyes attempted to thrust a hole right through my head. I took in a breath intending to respond, but the ass cut me off, "Nothing to say, huh? I'll repeat myself. Do Something! Sounds to me like you're the reason we're all in danger. You got us into this mess!"

Rage. Pure unadulterated rage. I raised my brow to him, and the earth beneath us began to rumble softly. If he kept this up, this entire city would fall. My voice came out low and seething with my anger. I couldn't help but laugh at him, "I got us into his mess?! You are irrefutably out of your gourd! Who awoke who? Hmmm? Do you get visits from David often then Alaric Black thee third?" He flinched at the use of his full name, but the moment was fleeting. "How dare someone like you be so brazen as to speak to me in such a manner! You truly don't know what you're doing to yourself right now. You will be taught an immensely good lesson by me one day." He would. I would make sure of it. I smirked briefly. This conversation was not meant for a time like this. "This aside, I implore you to listen to reason. Spare yourself and your loved ones by following my warning!" I boomed the last part at him, causing the rumbling beneath us to grow. I could feel the apprehension in the others without even looking around the room.

Arms crossed his large and firm chest once more as he let his head fall back and forced a scornful and hearty laugh up from his chest. He cut it off as quickly as it had begun, and his head shot back up straight as his cold, piercing scowl fell upon me once more, "Says the only being in existence that, with its help, would be the ONLY chance we would even have at surviving!" He was getting louder, a solid crescendo to match my volume, and I could no longer hold the disdain from becoming visible on my face.

I couldn't argue with it, though. The point being made was very valid. There was no chance of survival for them on their own. Still, I was no keeper of children. They would only slow me down and get in the way. Underlings. That's all they ever did. A hindrance and nothing more. Though, it wasn't their fault, they were physically and mentally inferior. Still, it was rather inconvenient for me and almost certain death in the end for them or possibly us. It always ended the same. I had hoped I would have more time. A strange, impossible glimmer of hope that maybe I could attempt to enjoy this life this time. The ways of communication must be growing for how quickly forces are moving.

Before I could form my rebuttal, he threw his arms up in the air at me and scoffed, "You are all the fucking same, you know? Come into our lives and completely ruin everything. All the stories pretty much say the same shit about every one of you fucks. Since the dawn of fucking time! Why should anything change now?! You come here from wherever the fuck and just meddle and destroy us. What are you even still doing here? Mission accomplished! Now DO something about it, or get the FUCK! OUT!!!"

The ground shook beneath our feet, and the house groaned. Knickknacks and a large photo of an old man came crashing to the ground beneath them in piles of glass, clay, and porcelain. Then everything stilled. What was this man? A crossbred man. Of what, though? Too much, that was easy to ascertain. However, it didn't make sense. From a genetic standpoint, none of these ancient features should've presented themselves whatsoever. It just wasn't supposed to be possible.

He had said that word a lot... fuck being the root. It was used with much diversity. I knew by the tone and the inflection that it was meant to be insulting this time. I was still furious about having been disrespected. I should've ended him right on the spot. Indeed, that was punishable. But I found myself instead intrigued for the first time in a long time about the mystery that stood before me, shouting at a God and chastising the rest with no care and open contempt in his tone. I didn't know what to say. The room was still, and Alaric's eyes glared at me. The red hue returned and left like a flash of light. Intriguing indeed.

My head was then distracted and pulled toward the southeast. I could feel them. They were already moving, getting closer. At their current speed, if they stopped for rest twice, they would be here in days, maybe less. My heart started to pick up speed and force in my chest. It was clear that the window for their head start point had passed if that would've done them any good, to begin with.

Why did I care? I could disappear right now and be on the move, far away from the incoming forces. Why did I even warn them to begin with? I usually would've left them to their fate with not a second thought about them the moment we parted. What was wrong with me? Am I defective?

"What is it, child?" the old woman spoke in a whisper that broke the silence. Child. I laughed inwardly. Nothing I had or would ever experience.

I turned my attention back to the room to see all the worried glances looking at me. Even Alaric showed some nervousness below his once-fuming expressions. They were right to be concerned. David was telling the truth. Most angels did, and if they didn't, they were easy to read. They were on their way, and there were a lot of them. All of them working together did not bode well, even for me.

I tried to sound as soft and calm as possible so as not to frighten anyone further. They had no idea what was coming, "Pack everything essential... and hastily."

*Thank you so much for reading this far. I will be taking a short break to manage some health issues, but I will return ASAP! After roughly two weeks or so, I should be back to my regular weekly schedule. Until then, happy reading!*