9 9th Wing

We savored the metallic taste and placed our hands into the small basin again. The mirror thing glowed up once again and this time a door appeared from it. A huge wooden door that you would see at a castle.

We took a step closer and hold the metal ring attached to it. Well, it is really not just an image. I pushed the door and to my surprised, it’s lighter than it looked. We walked through it and it was empty. Well, this is a bummer.

“Kiel, did you feel that?” Araxiel turned to me looking a bit shaken.

“What did you feel?”

“I don’t know just a bit chilly I think,” I looked at him closer and noticed that a cloud of smoke like things started to surround him.

“Xiel, why are you cover in smokes?”

“I think we both are,” I looked down and sure enough I’m in the same situation as me.

Araxiel moves and hold my hand and closed his eyes. I followed his actions and felt a sharp cold hitting my face. For awhile nothing but the cold was what we felt. A small gasped from Araxiel made me opened my eyes.

“I know this place,” I glance around and the familiar surrounding brings back the memories of last night.

“I think we need to go this way” Araxiel move to the left and just kept on walking as if he was possessed.

“Hey, wait up,” I jogged up to him but he just kept on walking.

The Halls of Angel holds a lot of memories but for some reason, I can’t remember most of it apart from the layout of Eden and the quarters that we called home once. Walking through all this structure made me felt nostalgic.

I was surprised when I bumped into something solid. Looking at what it was, I came back to my sense. It was only Araxiel. We stopped in front of yet another door. A raspy scream shook us both.

“I’ll open it,” I pulled Araxiel behind me, shielding him from any potential harm that may appear from the room. To our surprise, my hand went through it.

“I think we ceased to exist in this time and just appeared as a shadow in the past,”

We entered the room and to our horror blood was everywhere. Like if you were to picture it, it was as if as we were in a slaughterhouse. We scanned the room and noticed that it was quite large rather than the regular room where a normal angel would inhabit.

A low chuckle caught our attention. As if we were hypnotized by it, we followed the sound and what was beyond us was horrifying. I felt Araxiel holding me tight.

“Please not now, Kiel breath please,” I shut my eyes and took a deep breath.

“I know her Xiel,” I rasped out.

“I know her too,” I looked at him shocked, how did he know her when the only memory of him and me was only on earth after we were exiled.

I looked at the woman again. Her body was ash white as if hinting at the oncoming death due to the blood loss. Every inch of her body was carved with runes and pentagrams. The red lines were a contrast to the deathly pale complexion.

A man came into view. He picked up a small dagger and begin opening up new untouched flesh on her thighs. The raspy yell now was weaker. More blood trickled down to the tainted tiles.

“Why are you doing this?” the woman whispered.

“Well my daughter dearest, we need blood,” he laughed sadistically.

His hand moves to her hand again. The glimmer from the torch caught the blade of the bloodied dagger. He pressed it to the unscared flesh. Twisting and turning along the spent of her fair arm. Blood poured out of the newly open flesh.

He then moved to her abdomen continuing the carving as if it's the most pleasant thing one could do to their own kin. Her scream was deafening and toe-curling, Araxiel was affected by it. He was releasing a distressing scent and he was visibly shaken by the scene and scream. I pulled him close.

“I'm sorry you have to watch this, but I need to get closer,” he looked at me as if I'm a madman.

“It's okay,” I kissed him and moved forward.

Upon getting closer, the metallic stench grew stronger and the carving became clearer. They were no mere carving it seems to be some sort of rune. I knew it somehow but can't lace my finger on where I saw or what it meant.

My eyes trailed back to her left shoulder where the new cut was made. My body grew rigid and I lose focus until a small but firm grip on my shoulder pulled my line of vision elsewhere.

“Kiel looks at me, look at me please,” his soft voice pleading.

“Xiel look at her shoulder,...”I took a deep breath to calm my emotional turmoil.

“Look at it, what do you see?” I asked once more gazing at him with eyes laced with fear.

He slowly turned to the dying lady and carefully scanning her wounds. A sharp intake of breath made me shield his eyes from the horrendous sight.

“K...K...Kiel...uhh....mmm” my hold on him tighten, my wolf whimpered at our mate's trembling state.

“Kiel...why does the mark same as mine?” I glanced at the red gore ‘XIII’ on her shoulder once again, mind reeling for some sensible answer but all was left was a blank dot.

I take a step closer to the dying woman with Araxiel still clinging to my chest. This time I took time to study her ashen face. Somehow it made my chest tighten, and my eyes watered. Why does she look familiar? Still looking at her hoping for an answer or something. To my shocked, she turned her head slightly to us and smiled. Her eyes were kind and warm.

“My love...I'm glad you are well,” Solas whispered.

I smiled as tears start to fall. Araxiel shifted and took hold of my face wiping the tears. Then it hit me. It was like a thousand brick crashing down. They are the same person. How could I miss this? I was so stupid.

“I see you already know,” Solas whispered again. A gasp left Araxiel. Well, I think it's safe to say that he already get what she was saying.

“But how?” Araxiel turned to look at her.

“Just wait, everything will be bare in a short while,” as soon she finished the sentence, the door creaked again.

We were prepared to see the man again, but the sight of Cassiun took us by a surprise. Her movement was hurried and a quiet sobbing was heard. Her hand shook as she took Solas's limped hand in a firm grip. Solas was still smiling even though she knew her time was almost up.

“Cassiun I have a request, can you do it for me?” she whimpered holding her tears. Cassiun just nodded wordlessly.

“There's a crystal vile on that table, take and bottle up as much blood you can take from me,” her hand shook violently as she pointed to the same torture table from before.

Cassiun quickly retrieved it and hold it against one of the fresh wound. In no time the vile was filled. Cassiun clasped the attached chain to her neck and move closer to Solas once again.