Chapter 147: WHAT LIES BENEATH

(Ken's POV)

I woke up, feeling something sticky dropping down my forehead,

More than that, I felt a sharp stinging pain and when I opened my eyes,

I was horrified to see something red.

I really thought it was a dream, until I saw it drop and soak my hands,

I tried to slap myself, but it's real and I'm damned.

I was about to curse when I was overcomed by the strong head ache,

The hell with this thing, I always end up damaged.

Was it something I ate? Drank? A side effect of training too much?

No...I was pretty well when I slept last night.

And so, I hurried out my chamber,

Hand in my left, yet weird enough, my vision didn't blur.

It's as if I hit it with something, but I wonder what.

And when I tried to look for a cloth to wrap it with, I was greeted by a very shocked Mar.

Her eyes stared at me, and went to my room,

Searching the place, looking for what could have harmed me,

After a minute, she quickly gave me Stacy's handkerchief.

"What ever happened to you, sure is hard to believe."

I sighed and nodded, as I try to swallow the pain,

Surely these days, have been insane.

Where on earth would you find someone who was just sleeping,

Then woke up, for no apparent reason, heavily bleeding.

And well...the archangels were completely speechless.

They helped clean my wounds, telling me my left eye was reopening or something..

It was creepy to look at, very.

But when I looked very closely...

Why is my right eye...sort of turning blue?

I pushed my seat away from the mirror,

As the other people around me started to murmur.

They began to talk to me, comforting me as I panic,

One mother even told me, that though abnormal, nothing of today can be truly out of the possibility.

She sighed upon knowing she did not erased the horror on my face,

But she tried to teach me how to breathe in and out anyways.

Soon enough, the archangels arrived once more,

Much worried and bewildered than before.

"Ever since I invited that Stacy, this started to happen,"

Archangel Selaphiel remarked, as Sir Gabriel agreed with no problem.

I couldn't believe it, it shouldn't be.

She caused no troubles, not once to me.

I defended her name, knowing how good she was to me since we met,

And the sacrifice I owe her brother, I'd never forget.

I don't know if my efforts would seem fruitful,

Since the angels were as wary and suspicious.

But than what I expected,

They actually listened to what I was to say.

Angel Lluming told them that he knew her brother,

And that Stacy was just a friend, who seeked good shelter.

Sir Selaphiel, although still wary, agreed anyways,

Trusting Lluming's judgement, as he finally tells everyone she could stay.

Sir Michael felt relieved, all got along,

Still, that didn't resolved, the mystery of it all.

I still felt some occasional head aches,

And I was told to take a bit of break.

"It may be too much exposure to an angel's radiance,

You need a good rest, from too much physical activities, you should distance."

Sir Michael told me as he leans closer,

Checking my eyes, "Did your vision became weaker?"

I shook my head, "It didn't changed one bit,"

"Well then...you should rest for at least a week."

However, Stacy stands between us,

"If I could go outside, I may find ingredients to numb the pain,

I am a doctor at the demon's place,

I want to be of use, in any way."

"The outside is still dangerous,

You do not know what's lurking,

I'll send an angel to fetch it for you,"

"But I'm still coming.

What if the angel picked the wrong plant?

That kind of mistake, I simply can't."

"Hm, there's no stopping you, huh?

Very well, I allow you go now,

But make sure you come back before noon,

For at that time, the evil spirits are much active to roam."

Stacy nods as she turns to me and smiles,

"I got your back! So you'll be fine!"

The same sweet smile she used to give back then,

Was present now, making me feel hope once again.

...

Stacy's POV:

It would have been better had that archangel not send some stupid guard,

Maybe he's suspicious? Ugh, they're too smart.

How can I do things more efficiently if they're always on my tail?

Ugh, I wonder how I could avoid such fails.

I looked at the angel with a fake assuring smile,

As he announces he's called Joseph, with those oblivious happy eyes.

But I couldn't care less of who he's supposed to be,

I want to be out of his sight, somewhere he can't see.

So when we're on the forest, as I pretend to grab random weeds,

I tasked him to collect a certain flower seeds.

I gave him a sample, and he complied with no hesitation,

And when he was out of sight, I poured a mix of liquid, as I whisper the cave's direction.

I chanted a spell to make it reach Samael,

Without him, the plan could backfire in many ways.

When I finished, I didn't saw the angel still,

So I waited, but he's still nowhere to be seen.

I laughed, knowing the reason.

That kind of flower I preserved, don't grow this season.

So I looked for him, and found him a bit further than my location,

Looking carefully at the flower beds, as I poked his back to ask a question.

"Did you found any?"

I asked.

He nods his head.

"But I can still try?"

I laughed and lied that I found an alternative,

But in reality, I have the pain killer since day 1 with me.

Good thing the angel is somehow easy to manipulate,

He's too kind, even for my taste.

It's quite unnerving actually, I wonder if somehow he's just pretending,

Or if that's how angels are, kind, trusting, than cunning.

I packed up my things, stuffing some herbs I think could be useful,

As I looked back at the angel, now staring at the sky for some reason.

He sighs, and looked a bit gloomy when I called him to come.

He quickly changes his look, smiling as he hopped.

Weird.

His personality changes like a switch.

I wonder what could have happened though,

That made an angel feel such thing.

I brushed off the thought,

I shouldn't be developing feelings.

Emphaty, understanding,

Throw it away.

An enemy should not be pitied.

"So..you lost your brother?"

Joseph asked as we walked together.

I sighed. I don't really remember who I was supposed to be.

All Azazel told, was that this body was a gift for me.

I am just some black energy blessed enough to live in a body,

And that whatever messed up thing or story-

This body once have.

It's not me. So I should be glad.

I looked at Joseph, as I try to make my face as sad as possible,

"Yeah...I miss that...my, if...if only we're still together."

Joseph's eyes began to look teary as he points at himself,

"I lost mine too, worst thing I've ever felt.

So if you ever have a problem, tell me and whoever you trust,

We'll help each other, restore your smile into what it once was."

I looked the other way,

Wondering just why such kindness stir my chest,

Azazel is my god, and I should do what he want,

I should not be attached no matter what.

"Yeah...but eh, you shouldn't mind me much,

I'm a strong girl, I've already went through a lot,

All you had to worry, is the present and the future,

The past should only be remembered once in a while,

It really has no use to us,

We have to choice but to move further."

"Ah, I see...but I could detect fakeness in your words."

I stopped at my tracks, as he changed his tone of voice.

"Stacy, you're lying, aren't you?"

I froze, I couldn't speak,

How could he knew?

I felt my eyes water in fear,

And my knees began to feel weak.

The angel was not smiling anymore,

Have I underestimated their power?

"I..."

But my mouth felt dry.

No words could make up for an already found lie.

Any more blabbers will make it worse.

Was the best option to kill the angel?

I wish I know.

I knelt to the ground,

As helpless as a trampled flower,

As I think about what awaits me,

If I ever managed to come back,

oh the horror.

He'd kill me, he'd kill me like what he did to the others.

So slowly and brutal, too late to cry with such pure terror.

The angel stepped nearer,

Still not breaking into his smile like before.

"I knew it, you were truly lying,

I now know what lies beneath,

A woman pretending to be strong

and all-knowing.

You're still grieving..."