Chapter 14: Epilogue to Trauma

A few minutes later, Abaddon arrived in a panic.

"What's going on? Are you okay?" asked Abaddon as he looked into the carriage.

Aine was still crying her eyes out and clinging to Daegal tightly.

"Aine? What's wrong?" Asked Abaddon as he hopped on the carriage.

Aine kept on crying while mumbling her words. Aine released Daegal and clinged onto Abaddon instead.

"Aine?" Abaddon said, confused.

"I'll fill you in later," said Daegal.

"Aine, you have to let go, please," said Abaddon.

Aine released Abaddon and cried in a dark corner of the carriage. Daegal sat in front of her, trying to comfort her. Abaddon got down from the carriage and investigated the corpse of Cyrus.

"Lieutenant," said Abaddon to himself.

"Don't tell me this was the guy who wanted to volunteer," said Abaddon.

Abaddon inspected the corpse further. There was a tattoo on the back of his neck with a very familiar pattern to Abaddon. The pattern was three circles stacked on top of each other with a line going through them.

"Kali, show yourself," said Abaddon as he stood up.

"How observant, Abby," echoed Kali's voice.

"Who said that?" Said Daegal from the carriage.

Daegal grabbed his bloody knife, anticipating the worst.

"She was so fun to play with. I like the way she struggles," said Kali.

"No, it wasn't Kali. Enough games! Show yourself!" Demanded Abaddon.

Kali emerged from the tattoo as a form of black smog. From the smog came a seductive figure walking out of it. Kali laughed maniacally.

"Look at her crying! Oh, darling! Let me comfort my little baby," said Kali as she walked towards the carriage.

Daegal readied himself, wielding his murder weapon with both hands. As Kali walked closer, Abaddon drew his greatsword and tapped its point at Kali's back. Kali slowly raised her hands to the sky.

"Ahahahahaha, Abby, do you dare draw your sword at me?" Said Kali.

"You hurt Aine; you will get no mercy from me!" Abaddon said and pulled back his sword, preparing for a slash.

Abaddon slashed his sword downward. Kali promptly dodged the slash and turned to face Abaddon. Kali fired multiple dark arrows from her hands. Abaddon blocked the arrows with the shield emitting from his sword.

"I'm coming, Abby!" Shouted Kali as she pushed the shield with unparraleled force. A loud banging noise could be heard emitting from the impact.

Abaddon was pushed back from the impact, and Kali's hands were still pushing against the shield. Abaddon ignited his shield on fire to get Kali's hands off of it. Kali's hands were set ablaze, and Abaddon deactivated his shield and slashed his sword.

Kali parried the slash with her bare hands. A sonic boom deafened everyone in sight. Both Abaddon and Kali were knocked back. Kali crashed near the carriage.

"Forward!" Shouted Abaddon from the distance.

He charged forward at Kali with his sword, acting as a lance. Fire infected his body as he reached unfathomable speeds. Kali tried to get up and deploy a magic barrier. But Abaddon was too fast and too strong; he broke through the barrier and stabbed his sword right into Kali's stomach.

"I can see your tricks from a mile away," said Abaddon.

"I must say, I underestimated you. Thankfully for me, I never play fair," said Kali.

Kali's body exploded into a bunch of black smoke, leaving nothing behind.

"Was that Kali? Deimos' wife?" Asked Daegal.

"It was but an illusion that she created," said Abaddon.

Aine got down from the carriage, her eyes red from all the crying. Aine's crotch was still exposed as the undergarment hadn't recovered. Aine walked towards Abaddon and hugged him.

"Please don't leave me ever again," said Aine in a shaky and quiet voice.

"Alright, I understand," said Abaddon as he gave the undergarment some magic to recover its broken parts.

Abaddon lifted Aine up and placed her in the carriage. Daegal got in the driver's seat, and they continued their journey to Pulchra City.

Meanwhile, in the Parthenon, Kali was walking down the royal hall. Deimos was sitting on his throne as Kali kissed him on the lips of his helmet. Deimos was wearing a helmet that covered his whole head and had the face of an Egyptian dog.

"My husband, it seems little Abby has enjoyed his vacation," said Kali seductively as she touched Deimos' body.

"I assum'd thee did play with his associates?" Said Deimos.

"Of course! If it weren't for his friends, she could've felt a pleasure that would even weaken a god," said Kali.

Deimos rubbed his chin and began to ponder.

"Coequal, if 't be true, thy attempteth did fail; thee didst leaveth h'r quite traumatiz'd. I wouldst sayeth t wast quite the success, mine own jointress," said Deimos.

Kali laughed in delight.

"Thank you, my husband!" Said Kali.

Back on the road to Pulchra City, the atmosphere was heavy. Aine had stopped crying and was sitting aloofly in the corner of the carriage. Daegal was in the driver's seat, and Abaddon was also sitting quietly inside the carriage.

"Aine," called Abaddon.

Aine turned her head ever so slightly to face Abaddon.

"That was Kali. The First Herald and Deimos' wife," said Abaddon.

Aine turned her back around and stayed silent. She used her hands to cover her crotch. Even though the undergarment had covered it once more, the shame was not easily healed.

Daegal was wiping the blood off his face with a piece of cloth.

"I don't care if it's the first herald; someone needs to give her a reality check," said Daegal as she glanced at Abaddon.

Abaddon scratched the back of his neck.

"That illusion was merely a fraction of what she's capable of. Her true form will not fall that easily," said Abaddon.

"You beat her flawlessly," said Daegal.

"She's the first herald for a reason!" shouted Abaddon.

Everyone went silent once more. For the next few hours, no one made a peep. The deafening silence went on endlessly until they eventually reached Pulchra City.

Abaddon was about to jump off the carriage so he could prepare a room for Aine, but Aine grabbed a piece of his cape. Abaddon looked back to see the mentally-destroyed Aine clinging on to his cape.

"Aine, I'm not going anywhere; trust me," said Abaddon.

Aine looked at Abaddon with a dead-pan look in her eyes. Her mouth is sealed shut, but she can sense Abaddon's honest intentions. She let go of the cape and let Abadodn turn into a crow and fly away.

Daegal looked back at Aine.

"She's really a slave now-a slave to fear," said Daegal.

Abaddon flew ahead to the royal mansion. The mansion was located right before the Parthenon. The mansion functions as a guest house for everyone rich enough to pay or people Deimos has connections with. Heralds can also book rooms.

Abaddon went to the guards of the mansion.

"I need a room ASAP," he demanded.

"But sir, you had no bookings," said one of the guards.

"Give me one immediately, or I will have all your heads in a guillotine," threatened Abaddon.

The guards rushed to arrange a room for Abaddon.

"Ten minutes, or it's off with your fucking heads!" Shouted Abaddon.

Daegal was driving his carriage through Pulchra City and going to the mansion Abaddon said to go to. Aine peaked her eyes out to see the residents of Pulchra City. She saw them as nothing more than snobs.

Daegal made it to the mansion, and Abaddon was waiting in front. He walked up to the carriage.

"Aine, your room is ready," said Abaddon.

Aine lightly nodded and clinged onto Abaddon. Abaddon walked into the mansion as Aine trailed behind him while holding his cape. The guards made no eye contact with her, as it would seem disrespectful to cast a judgmental gaze on one of the herald's associates. But it still felt like the world was looking down on her.

They walked into the mansion and went up the stairs. As they walked, Aine was always on the verge of tears. Her room was on the 5th floor. Aine ran into the room and shut herself in. Abaddon sighed in sadness.

"Guards!" Shouted Abaddon.

Two guards ran towards Abaddon and bowed.

"How can we help you, my lord?" said the guards in sync.

"Guard this room with your life. No one in, no one out. The only people allowed in are me and Daegal, the couchman," ordered Abaddon.

"Understood!" Said the guards as they stationed themselves beside the door.

Abaddon gave them a nod and walked down the stairs. Daegal was just about to reach the 5th floor when Abaddon was walking down.

"How is she?" Asked Daegal.

"Locked herself in," answered Abaddon.

Daegal sighed.

"I'm sorry; I should've never allowed that lieutenant on the carriage," said Daegal in regret.

"It wasn't your fault; clearly, she wanted to help. We couldn't have ever foreseen this happening," said Abaddon as he rested his hand on Daegal's right shoulder.

"Let's take our leave; I have something for you," said Abaddon.

"Will she be okay?" Asked Daegal.

"I don't know, but we did our best; let's go," said Abaddon.

Daegal and Abaddon took their leave. Meanwhile, Aine laid on the bed and covered herself with the blanket. All she wanted to do was stay as far away from anyone as possible. An unspeakably large wound had been left to her dignity and mental health. For now, it would be best to leave Aine to process her own thoughts.