Argathripe - Book 2 ~ (The Dead City Series)

☆.｡.:* Chapter 17 .｡.:*☆

 They didn't move. They didn't even flinch. I opened my tightly shut eyes. I realized I had jumped over the whole couch itself and my wings were unfurled, in my battle stance position. I saw who it was and immediately felt stupid. It was A.

"Feeling a little jumpy now, are we?" She asked calmly.

She took a hand and directed my knife away from her neck. I dropped my hand and put my knife back in it's slot in my belt, putting a hand on my face in embarrassment. I saw that Scarlet, Katrina, Theo and the crowd were looking at me and whispering to each other.

"Why did that angel do that?"

"Is that A?"

"Is that a human?"

"What's that angel doing?"

"Woah! Did you see how fast he jumped over that couch?!"

"Holy Salhom..."

"Why is he sweating so much?"

"Was this some sort of prank?"

"Why does that dude have black spots all over him?

"Are those Grinesolians?!"

The voices echoed in the huge room. I felt guilty. I had practically just attacked A. because she was wearing black. Wait a minute... I looked at what she was wearing. She was wearing a sleeveless and strapless solid black dress that went down to her knees. She had the same solid black Mary Janes on, and fishnet tights. Then I looked more closely at her dress and saw there very faint lights flickering every once and awhile as if they were stars.

"Why are you sweating so much? What's wrong with you?" She asked, seeming to be annoyed. "Everyone else-- Get back to your own business!!" She shouted at the crowd.

People quickly turned their head and continued talking to their peers and such. The music resumed, and the strobe lights kept going. I walked around the side of the couch and sat down. All four of them were looking at me. We stayed in silence for a few moments.

"Followers of It are here. Hunter probably thought you were one of the people in black. So it's technically not his fault. He was just acting out in defense," Theo said, surprising us all.

A. was silent. She didn't make a peep. I stared at her. She hadn't sat down, so for once I had to look up at her. Not very much, but still a little. She sighed.

"I may or may not have been about to ditch you since I have a mission up in the mountains. But there's a reason I came back," She said somewhat sheepishly. "Take a wild guess why."

Scarlet looked offended. "Without saying goodbye..?"

A. didn't answer her. Katrina looked at her thoughtfully. Theo looked attentive. He was acting strangely lively. Scarlet still looked offended.

"So they actually are followers? Shouldn't we evacuate the area?" Katrina asked in a serious tone of voice.

"No. It'll only cause a panic. They also aren't really doing anything other than watching you four. So we just need to take you guys someplace different, and it should all be fine," A. said, answering Katrina's question.

Scarlet chimed in with an unspoken question I had wanted to ask. "What's with Theo? Why doesn't he seem as... weak? He's acting weird."

Katrina looked at Theo then back at A. and nodded in agreement. I nodded slightly to agree with the both of them.

"Actually, she's right. I feel completely normal. As if I wasn't sick at all," Theo said.

"Yeah, I feel the same way. I feel normal, like him," Katrina added.

"Probably a side effect from the followers. Since their 'Master' created the darkness, with them around it's like he's around as well. Therefore the darkness has its own sense of awareness that it's creator is around and has come to deal with the person himself," A. said, surprising me.

"How do you know it's male?" Katrina asked.

"Huh? Oh, um, I just assume that's It is a male. Whenever he talks, it sounds like it at least," A. said.

She seemed to be hiding something, but I had no clue what she would be hiding. When had she heard 'him' speak?

"Okay, so just the four of us get out of here somewhat casually?" Scarlet asked.

"M-hm. But you need to act as casual as possible. If they catch on, they might not follow. And having them here with the Royals kinda defeats my whole purpose of being here," A. said.

"I thought you were just our bodyguard?" Theo asked.

"I'm your bodyguard, and the Royals' bodyguard if I have the chance during this whole thing. Now, c'mon. I can get you guys some better food," A. said, crossing her arms.

"A?" I said, as we all stood up.

She looked attentive and waited for me to speak.

"Sorry..." I said, putting my hands in my pockets.

She didn't say anything at first.

"It's alright. You were just trying to protect yourself and your friends. Never be sorry for wanting to protect someone. We all make mistakes. Now come with me, all of you. I have already alerted the Royals about what's happening," She said oddly reassuringly.