89 Red and Asrael

He stepped inside, gazing at the room shrouded in darkness, bringing about a cold quietness. It was familiar to him. He used to live like this, in a room like this one. Only now, after having spent his time in that house with the rest did he realize how lonely it felt.

The empty room made one feel empty. Turning to Little Red, he could now hear the faint buzz of her computer turning on. It lit up her face, and somehow he felt that he was seeing her for the first time. The girl in the painting didn't matter, and neither did the one ruining his plans. He understood the girl at that desk, while Little Red was alien to him.

It didn't seem fair. She had messed everything up. She'd caused him to lose Chrysanthemum. Yet now he sympathized with her. Fine. Forget it. It didn't matter.

Asrael wasn't that understanding and forgiving. He was angry, but the momentary loneliness that threatened to devour both him and her overshadowed that.

"How's your brother?" Little Red suddenly looked at him.

"He's happy." Asrael liked to think about that. How, even though he couldn't really change their rocky relationship, his brother was still okay now. "Arius is good to him."

"Arius? He told you his name?"

"Immediately after meeting." Asrael wasn't really surprised that she knew about Arius, considering she knew practically everything else.

"What are they like?" Little Red turned to look at the computer screen, looking through files, and acting as if she were only making small talk.

"They're comforting." Asrael saw through it. "They would like you."

Little Red glanced at him. She didn't say anything, but it was as if she was asking whether or not she would like them too.

So much was understood, and yet there was so much Asrael didn't understand. Even though she had such good control of her immortality, why did she chose not to age? Why did she never let her wounds heal? And... "Do you still have that Phyrraium?"

As if it didn't matter to her, she opened up a drawer and threw something towards him. It drew a glowing red line as it flew through the air, and once it fell into his hands, he noticed his body now felt heavy. It was like waking up from a dream, and in his palm was crystallized mortality. He had to control that feeling that made him want to avoid it's touch.

"Don't let the others know about this." Asrael spoke in complete seriousness. A scary thought... If they knew of it, would they want to die?

"When would I even have the chance to?" Little Red looked at him sceptically.

"You'll have the chance. I'm bringing you back with me." Asrael hurriedly tossed to her the crystal.

"What?" Little Red was taken back for a moment before coming to a conclusion. "Hey now, I get that you think I need help, but it's not your problem! Okay?"

"It's not for you. It's them." Asrael knew that they'd want her.

Little Red didn't like the arrangement. She felt like bargaining, but didn't think it would work with Asrael. There was one thing though, that she could try using. "One of them... her ability is problematic. I'm sure I might be able to do something about that, so maybe instead we could work something out?"

Asrael couldn't tell if it was a lie. Either way, he wouldn't agree to her proposal. "If you come along, I'm sure that you'll fix the problem anyway."

She glanced at him and then didn't respond. Asrael just lost someone important to him, and yet not a single strand of hair was out of place, and nor did he look like someone with something missing. Some things had stayed the same, at least.

He looked as if his tranquility had been disrupted, but it only lasted so long before it ceased it's chaos. His presence still, was unsettled, but he wasn't misplaced.

"Did you know? I can see your energy?" Little Red knew it well. It was something of an aura, and everything that was alive had it. It was impossible for anyone without her abilities to sense it, though. No one knew it existed, as it was something unmaterialized. It wasn't carried, but dispersed from every living being.

Asrael wouldn't have known what she was talking about, but still, he asked. "You can see it? Then what does it look like?"

She smiled, an almost genuine smile. "Yours is the worst I've seen. A mask hiding guilt and your own selfworth."

Asrael was taken aback for a moment. He couldn't know if the 'energy' she spoke of was predestined, or something she made up on the spot to insult him.

"Irionic since you have the ability to change your appearance." She spoke.

it wasn't actually an ability worth mentioning though. He could manipulate the pigment of his eyes, hair, skin, or even the texture. But, in truth it was useless. He didn't care to change these things.

Asrael was taken aback for a moment. He didn't know if the 'energy' she spoke of was predestined, or something she suddenly made up to insult him.

"Irionic since you have the ability to change your appearance." She spoke.

it wasn't actually an ability worth mentioning though. He could manipulate the pigment of his eyes, hair, skin, or even the texture. But, in truth it was useless. He didn't care to change these things.