Chapter • 51

♱ •⋅ 1750 B.C ⋅• ♱

She came in, the blond hair, the blue eyes and that aura.

It was as if Elaine simply shone - a golden glow and charged with heavenly energy. I held my breath as I stared at her and for some reason - her eyes were not fixed on Callisto, but on me.

"Put the handcuffs on," Callisto said, and his voice was cold and sharp as he ordered it done.

"This did not happen in the novel" I thought as the guards approached with large iron handcuffs, there were so many symbols carved on them that I wondered if it was more an instrument of torture than something to "seal" the divine powers.

"Callisto..." Azrael's eyes widened "is this necessary?"

Even I wanted to question him about it. It was about Elaine that we were talking about, the girl who was barely 1.64 tall and her arms and body were too thin for her height; Elaine was like a child who forgot to grow up, who does not feed properly for months.

"She is still the saint of that God" I remembered as I fixed my posture; Elaine's eyes still remained on me, but now her wrists were tied with those chains, those handcuffs.

It was obvious that she felt pain, her eyebrows united with the sharp discomfort.

"It's not your problem"

"She's an enemy, Azrael" Calisto coldly replied "I don't remember that angel having compassion when he tried to murder my son and as far as I can remember, Loren is just a child."

I took a deep breath, Calisto was right. I hated to admit it, but he did.

Azrael lowered his head as he murmured "you're right... sir" but even if he said that, his hands closed in fists.

"Now go, Azrael," Callisto said and his Quartz eyes stared at Elaine.

My heart missed a beat.

Would he fall in love with her? Is this where Elaine would see him as she saw him in the novel, a man like any other?

Azrael opened his mouth, but could not do anything, it was his king after all and even though he commonly could speak to Callisto what he thought freely - now it was different -, there was the "saint", there was the duchess (me), and there were guards, many guards.

"Sure, but I... Majesty" was all that the fallen could answer and soon, his furrowed lips opened to let out the air he had held before speaking "come, Your Majesty wishes to be alone."

He reached out to me and the guards began to leave.

"No" Callisto said "the duchess stays."

Azrael's eyes widened, but he again could not say anything, so his hand closed and he nodded.

"As... as you wish."

I heard the door close behind the one I knew to be a traitor and with all I knew of Asra's powers, I muttered an incantation to protect that room; no one could hear, no one could break, and should it occur... that their blood be shed.

I took a deep breath and then when Callisto opened his mouth, I saw Elaine tremble.

"What were you doing in front of Samael Cathedral?"

He was direct, too direct and yet the saint's eyes remained on me - it was almost as if she was in a trance.

"Just... heard a voice" she said and I could almost recite her next line, so I whispered her mentally.

"The voice of a God, a God who had long been forgotten and became nothing but a memory, he called me and on a morning full of dark clouds and crimson, I awoke. I do not remember it was before that, I do not remember anything but my name, I am the one he sent, I am his light, the light of humanity, Elaine..."

Just like in the novel she repeated those words and her voice seemed hoarse and tired.

How long has it been since that girl slept? How long has she not been served a glass of water?

"It's not my problem" I tried to remember and still found myself watching every detail of his body. Dirty.

They had kept her in the dungeon - just as Asmodeus had said. They had left her there, trapped, like anyone - as an enemy of the kingdom.

I should feel sorry for myself, right? I liked Elaine while reading the work.

"So, Elaine..." Callisto practically growled his name "where is he who symbolizes the voice of his God among men? Where is the pope?"

The clear eyes finally headed for Callisto, she stared at him - for a few seconds, but still did so -, only to briefly arch her lips and whisper.

"I am the voice of God among men."

I sighed and with one hand touched the king's shoulder.

"Let me try" I told him and when his eyes met mine, I felt his concern.

He still remembered well what had occurred to me when I first saw her, it was almost like looking directly at my wound - at the scar that the saint left me that day.

"I'll be fine," I muttered and almost as if wishing to say otherwise, I felt a wave of magical power surge across the room.

It was Elaine who now fell to the ground grunting in pain.

Why would she do that? It was obvious the purpose of those handcuffs, so why try?

"Better not..." Callisto whispered so that only I would hear him, but my fingers touched his face fondly.

"Dear... I wasn't asking your permission" my tone was straight, sharp and I knew I was being too sharp, cruel at one point - and I could see the rosy eyes widen with surprise and melancholy.

"I'm... sorry..." he whispered and I sighed as I turned my gaze to Elaine, the saint who was still lying on the ground looking at me from the corner.

She wasn't afraid? That wasn't what I remembered, that wasn't the right feeling, so what was wrong?

I slipped through the table of Callisto and stood in front of the saint, standing, with the tip of the heel in front of her eyes.

"Hello... sweetie" I called her and as if that nickname looked familiar, she looked at me.

"As...ra..." I heard her murmur, her hoarse voice almost guttural, just as it had been the first time.

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